"We Shall Be Free"

International

With Independence Day coming up here in the U.S., and with things going on in my personal life with my extended family, it’s gotten me thinking about freedom. It’s such an important thing, and it’s not as universal as we might like to think. There are a lot of people in the world who are oppressed in one way or another (yes, even here in the good ol’ U.S. of A), and I count my blessings that I don’t have the difficulties that some do. People I care about do, however, and I find that unacceptable.

So this is a swap about freedom. It’s something that many of us take forgranted, but that we all cherish when we’re reminded of it.

What is entailed in this swap is personal interpretation. Express yourself, one way or another, on your feelings about freedom. Use whatever medium you feel like using. You can make something, buy something, burn a CD, whatever. You can send an ATC, make a collage, make a CD of songs that personify freedom in your eyes, knit or crochet something, write a story or poem, use some form of art to express yourself using an existing poem or lyrics to a song, make a matchbox around the theme, whatever! Do more than one thing if you like. If you’re not artistic, but you feel the need to try for this, go for it. It’s not the ability that’s important, it’s the ideas and feelings and thoughts behind it. If you lack the confidence to be artistic (which I might, I haven’t decided yet), go ahead and buy something for your partner.

I’m not putting a dollar limit on this, because freedom is priceless, isn’t it? And you can’t really put a price on someone’s art, either. I ask also that you write a letter about freedom. Make it from the heart. Just talk about it and see where it goes. No limit on length. Some will find it easy to express themselves in a short letter, while others might just keep going and going. Hand write it or type it, whichever you choose.

Rules

1. Rating of 4.5 or better, with no more than one no send in six months. Go ahead and message me if you’ve been rated unfairly at any point or have a good reason for your lower rating or the no sends, and we’ll talk. I’m certainly open to listening.

2. Don’t judge the art you receive because you don’t think it’s very good. That’s not what matters. The expression and feeling behind it are what matters. We’re not art critics.

3. You’re only required to send one thing, but if you want to send more, go for it. You might have more than one way to express your feelings, or you might have more than one theme you want to use.

4. Newbies happily allowed, but fill out your profiles. Your partner might just want to personalize it, and it’s easier to do when you know something about the person. No filled out profile, you’ll be banned.

5. Communication is key. If you’re going to be late with the swap, let your partner know. If your partner tells you he/she is going to be late, and keeps up the communication, give him/her a break. Sometimes things come up that just can’t be helped.