For the month of May we are kicking off a series, I’m calling foundations. This is the first episode in that mini-series.

Freedom is one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—words in the English language. In this extended deep-dive, TJ traces the word from its ancient Proto-Indo-European roots to its modern cultural clashes. Along the way, we examine what freedom meant to medieval peasants, Civil War soldiers, civil rights activists, post-9/11 veterans, and protestors across the globe. This isn’t just about politics—it’s about language, identity, and the stories we tell when we say we’re free.

This episode is dedicated to all those who have stood up, spoken out, and sacrificed for freedom.

Sources

• Oxford English Dictionary, "freedom," "free"
• Online Etymology Dictionary
• Declaration of Independence, U.S. Archives
• The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream," 1963
• FDR's Four Freedoms Speech, 1941
• Arabic chant translations from the Arab Spring
• Scholarly work: Orlando Patterson, Freedom in the Making of Western Culture
• John Lewis interviews and writings
• Jon Meacham, The Soul of America
• Various translations from native speakers & linguistic databases

Music Credit Courtesy of Alegend from https://pixabay.com/users/jeremusic70-25199461/

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