True freedom lies in mental liberation—not in trusting institutions or leaders—especially in times of political and social turmoil
For interview requests, click here
When speaking in Nova Scotia in 1937, Marcus Garvey, a descendant of people who had been brutalized by forced labour in Jamaica, said, “We’re going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because while others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.”
Viktor Frankl came to a similar conclusion while enduring the brutality of a Nazi concentration camp. He said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Their words remain profoundly relevant.
We are facing uncertain times. U.S. President Donald Trump is nothing if not unpredictable. He has made alarming remarks about annexing Canada, Panama and Greenland, floated sweeping tariffs on all imported goods, and begun rolling back protections for vulnerable groups, most notably the transgender community. Whether these policies materialize or not, their intent is clear: consolidation of power, division among people, and destabilization of the international order.
These policies are not without consequence. World leaders are already taking steps to protect their nations from his erratic decision-making. Some are negotiating new trade deals among themselves, while others are reducing their dependence on the American dollar. Many are looking to the BRICS alliance—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—which seeks to counterbalance U.S. economic dominance and provide an alternative to Western financial influence. The world is shifting, and fast.
Of course, global powers also fear U.S. military aggression. The U.S. and its allies have carried out aerial bombardments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and other regions—actions that, under international law, could be classified as war crimes. Yet, despite the destruction, these campaigns have largely failed to achieve their military goals. Worse, they have significantly eroded America’s diplomatic standing, as fewer nations are willing to trust a government that claims to promote democracy while waging endless wars.
Even within the United States, unrest is growing. Many of Trump’s measures are being met with mass protests and legal challenges.
This is why the wisdom of Garvey and Frankl is so important now. In times of upheaval, it is easy to look to institutions and governments for stability. But what happens when they prove untrustworthy? That is when we must turn inward—toward what we know to be true within ourselves.
So how do we free our minds and effectively choose our way? We focus on principles, not institutions or leaders. Institutions fail. Leaders change. But the principles that guide us—truth, humility and respect for all who share this earth—will not. If we remain committed to seeking truth, we will keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles placed in our path.
And if we live in this spirit of integrity, we will also see contradictions for what they are. This is important because those who seek control often use manipulation and deception to maintain power. If we know our own minds, we will recognize what is untrue.
One clear example of media manipulation is how Western institutions frame the Israel-Palestine conflict. In colonizing nations, political leaders and major media outlets discourage calls for equal human rights, often labelling them as partisan or even dangerous. We are told that calling for the protection of all human life is “taking sides.” We are told that one cannot love both Israelis and Palestinians, that one cannot love Jews, Muslims and Christians at the same time. We are told that certain statements are antisemitic when some people make them but perfectly acceptable when others do.
But for those who know their own minds, this sort of gaslighting—being told that we are not seeing what we clearly perceive—is completely ineffective.
Because when one has a personal sense of integrity, the choice is simple. One would rather face short-term consequences than knowingly do what is wrong.
Not everyone embraces these principles. There will always be those who gain from manipulation and oppression. But what they fail to understand is that their tactics—targeting the vulnerable, sowing division, keeping people distracted—are predictable. And what is predictable does not endure.
The coming years will be difficult. But our greatest hope lies in freeing our minds, standing firm in truth, and refusing to let fear or deception dictate how we see the world—or how we live our lives.
Gerry Chidiac specializes in languages and genocide studies and works with at-risk students. He received an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust.
Explore more on Freedom, Human rights, News media, Lying
Troy Media is committed to empowering Canadian community news outlets by providing independent, insightful analysis and commentary. Our mission is to support local media in building an informed and engaged public by delivering reliable content that strengthens community connections, enriches national conversations, and helps Canadians learn from and understand each other better.
