blatantly bhakti

How much of our lives do we truly choose, and how much is shaped by forces around us - history, society, our aspirations, the expectations we battle?  While freedom is essential for self-fulfillment it has a cost and there are consequences. Personal stories are always intertwined with historical events - shaping destinies in ways we often fail to recognize. History lives on in our lives and shapes the world we live in.  There are many rights we take for granted in our democracy - from leaders respecting the rule of law to freedom of speech, from the freedom to criticize the government to the peaceful transition of power after free and fair elections.  Tragically, throughout history, many people have discovered how fragile those rights and democracies can be when extreme polarization leads to despotic rule and the erosion of democratic norms. Love alone cannot sustain people when their desires and life paths diverge too drastically.