Utilization of Modern Opportunities

One of the most significant opportunities available in contemporary times is what we now call “freedom.” The revolutionary French thinker Rousseau famously began his book The Social Contract with the sentence: “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” This phrase became the creed of the modern age, evolving into a universally accepted belief that freedom is a birthright of every human being. It is an inalienable right for individuals to act according to their convictions, with the sole condition being that this freedom must not involve aggression and must be exercised peacefully. Two illustrative stories shed light on this principle. Three hundred years ago, when America gained political independence from Britain, an American citizen took to the streets to celebrate. While walking enthusiastically, he swung his arms vigorously, accidentally hitting a passerby on the nose. Angered, the passerby demanded, “What is this nonsense?” The American citizen replied, “Now that America is free, I can do whatever I want.” The passerby calmly responded, “Indeed, you are free, but your freedom ends where my nose begins.” This anecdote eloquently encapsulates the modern concept of freedom: individuals are granted complete liberty, provided they do not resort to violence or infringe on the rights of others. Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi, who learned this principle during his education in the West, applied it effectively in India’s struggle for independence. In 1857, Muslim leaders in India had launched a freedom movement against British colonial rule, basing their efforts on violent