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Some years ago I found myself at dinner with a small group of people. We had a pleasant time, but soon enough, someone brought up my "weird" opinions. I explained that I was an advocate for freedom and opposed restrictions on it.

A spirited debate followed, of course, and at one point I said something about disliking servitude. In response, one of the people at the table - a medical professional - asked:
"What's so bad about servitude?"
At first I was shocked, because I had never heard anyone say such a thing. I'm an American boy, after all, and I grew up surrounded by at least an implied demand for freedom.

But once past that, I realized I didn't have an answer to the question. I had always taken it as a given that servitude was bad - not only from what I had heard and read, but from what I knew in my bones. I dug within myself for a serious response to the question, but I came up dry. I had no answer to give.

I continued the conversation as best I could, and perhaps I did some small amount of good. But, as I drove home, I realized that I had a problem. This man asked a simple and essential question, and I didn't have an answer to it.

The Answer That Should Have Worked, But Didn't

Needless to say, I did eventually come up with an obvious answer: Being in servitude means that other people control your life, and they can lead you into disaster at any time, purposefully or not.

I saw the man again not too long afterwards and brought up our initial conversation. I gave him my answer to that first question. His response?

"I'm doing okay."

In other words, he didn't care. Now that really bothered me.

By all outward appearances, he was in control and successful. But, aside from work-related activities, he avoided almost every subject I brought up. He didn't want to explore any new thought, had no measurable curiosity, and was threatened by the very idea of freedom.

Why?

The answer, it turned out, was a simple one: This man liked the idea of other people running his life for him. That way, nothing would ever be his fault, and if things went badly, there would always be someone to blame.

No doubt you run into such people all the time - your friends, family and coworkers. To put it another way, my doctor friend didn't really appreciate life itself. He grudgingly exerted himself in his medical trade, but wanted no further responsibility. He was happy to remain as minimally conscious as possible.

Now, I don't want to pick on the fellow too much, but he makes a good example.

People have a tendency to hide behind masks. In this man's case, the mask was "doctor." There's nothing wrong with being a doctor, of course, but to limit ourselves to a single role in life - even a good one - is a big mistake. We are vibrant, creative creatures by nature. You can see this in small children, who simply throw themselves into whatever subject interests them and expect to discover the truth of it. That's our nature too, regardless of how badly it's been beaten out of us over the years.

Freedom and Life

The feeling of zero restraint is exhilarating. And it's wonderful to feel your natural preference to do good, separate from the fear of punishment. But even so, what's really important about freedom is that it allows life to flourish.

In other words, freedom is a means, not an end.

It allows life to expand and to express itself. Again, the example of the child: He or she naturally wants to explore, to know, to see, to learn... to live, as opposed to merely existing.

Freedom allows life to operate. Servitude, on the other hand, limits life to narrow channels.

The truth is that people lose their love for liberty when they lose their love for life. For this man, following rules that others set made sense - it's a safe position. But once there, he'll never really grow again, and he will be cut off from a lifetime of discovery and satisfaction.

What's bad about servitude is that it prevents us from living.

Bad News, Good News

The bad news you already know: To one extent or another, we've all let our love of life dim and have taken 'safe' positions. We live in a tough world after all.

The good news, however, is that we can regain what we've lost merely by changing our minds. As Earl Nightingale was famous for saying:
We become what we think about.
To repair ourselves requires that we think about these things - to notice when we begin playing a role, to act on curiosity when we feel it, to stop defending our previous choices, to expect surprises and opportunities.

Try it. You'll like it.

Paul Rosenberg
FreemansPerspective.com

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Freedom and Servitude: Could You Have Answered This Question?

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Some years ago I found myself at dinner with a small group of people. We had a pleasant time, but soon enough, someone brought up my "weird" opinions. I explained that I was an advocate for freedom and opposed restrictions on it. A spirited debate followed, of course, and at one point I said something about disliking servitude.

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History and Culture of Assateague Island

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History and Culture of Assateague Island

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Assateague Island became dedicated as a National Seashore on September 21, 1965, but its rich history and culture begins long before.

At one time Assateague was not an island, but rather was connected to the popular Fenwick Island. A storm in August of 1933 ripped through the long island opening an inlet between the southern end of Ocean City and the new Assateague. Taking advantage of this new opening, the inlet was fortified to keep it open, allowing passage from the ocean to the bay. To this day you can stand on the tip of either island and view the other from across the inlet.

Prior to this split of land, beginning in about the late 1850's, there had been a few small but not permanent communities. Of these, the most notable were Green Run, located in the present day Maryland district, and Assateague Village, located in the present day Virginia district. The majority of residents in these small villages supported themselves working as watermen or for the United States Life-Saving Service. The USLSS was comprised of four stations on Assateague from 1875 until 1915. It was then combined with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the United States Coast Guard. The village of Green Run had a resort hotel which provided livelihood for many. Assateague Village located below the lighthouse, was the largest community on the island. In 1890 the county constructed a one-room school and hired a single teacher for grades one through six. This village was partially isolated and villagers were able to till ground for vegetables, and kept horses, sheep, hogs, chickens, and ducks. The population of the villages had declined by about 1922.

In the 1950's, there were plans to create a resort town called "Ocean Beach". This community was to have 15 miles of continuous beach with the entire area platted for housing, commercial zones, coastal highways, streets and parks. A second development was also located at the north end of the island. The pamphlet for the community proposed houses 100 feet wide by 200 feet deep on about a ½ acre land all "at the average man's pocket book". The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 ripped through Assateague destroying existing structures and roads, making it obvious that the barrier island was too unstable to support permanent structures on its ever changing topography. The federal government then purchased the land. Although this community was never realized, Assateague still attracts over a million visitors each year who come to relax and recreate on its undeveloped beaches.

The Maryland side of Assateague and waters surrounding the entire island became a National Seashore on September 21, 1965 for the enjoyment of present and future generations. A two mile portion of the Maryland district is Assateague State Park (est. 1956). The National Park Service was able to include the entire island and surrounding waters as a National Seashore through funding and building a bridge. The bridge connected the preexisting Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (est. 1943) which is located in the Virginia district, to Chincoteague Island and its communities. No longer would people rely on boats to visit the undeveloped beaches and its wildlife.

Additionally, the waters surrounding Assateague are valued by the aquaculture industry providing a livelihood for many in the surrounding area. Watermen "farm the water"; raising and harvesting clams and oysters. They mark their leased underwater grounds with poles to distinguish their private boundaries from public grounds. You may also notice structures over the water that look like small shacks on stilts. Those raised shacks from the past are watch houses where watermen would stay to keep watch over their harvest and store aquaculture equipment. Should a trespasser attempt to steal from a waterman they would likely be confronted. Surprisingly, due to small town populations watermen often knew their trespassers, or were even related to them!

Today, Assateague serves as a public land where visitors can come to relax, recreate and immerse themselves in the resource. Popular activities include walking the beach, swimming, surfing, wildlife viewing, birding, crabbing, fishing and kayaking. Over 1 million visitors come to Assateague each year, including the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge located in the Virginia district of Assateague Island.

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History and Culture - Assateague Island National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)

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Assateague Island became dedicated as a National Seashore on September 21, 1965, but its rich history and culture begins long before. At one time Assateague was not an island, but rather was connected to the popular Fenwick Island.

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The wild horses escape the mosquitoes and flies of the marsh by spending time on the beach.

Assateague's wild horses are well known, even to many people who have never been to the island. The "wild" horses on Assateague are actually feral animals, meaning that they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state. Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant mosquitoes, stormy weather and poor quality food found on this remote, windswept barrier island have formed a unique wild horse society. Enjoy their beauty from a distance, and you can help make sure these extraordinary wild horses will continue to thrive on Assateague Island.

Local folklore describes the Assateague horses as survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast. While this dramatic tale of struggle and survival is popular, there are no records yet that confirm it. The most plausible explanation is that they are the descendants of horses that were brought to barrier islands like Assateague in the late 17th century by mainland owners to avoid fencing laws and taxation of livestock.

The horses are split into two main herds, one on the Virginia side and one on the Maryland side of Assateague. They are separated by a fence at the Virginia/Maryland State line. These herds have divided themselves into bands of two to twelve animals and each band occupies a home range. The National Park Service manages the Maryland herd. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company owns and manages the Virginia herd, which is allowed to graze on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, through a special use permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The permit restricts the size of the herd to approximately 150 adult animals in order to protect the other natural resources of the wildlife refuge. It is the Virginia herd which is often referred to as the "Chincoteague" ponies.

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Assateague's Wild Horses - Assateague Island National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)

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Assateague's wild horses are well known, even to many people who have never been to the island. The "wild" horses on Assateague are actually feral animals, meaning that they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state.

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assateague indians of eastern shore native american tribes delmava peninsula

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In the beginning the Assateague Indians of the Eastern Shore were friendly, but it was not long before their attitude changed, as European newcomers began to covet the lands.

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Native American Tribe - Assateague People of Delmarva

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Welcome to the Assateague People of Delmarva's website. We are a tribal group comprised mainly of local people with Native American Indian blood in our heritage.

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Watch Famous Ponies Swim in Chincoteague Island Tradition | National Geographic

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Assateague Island is 37 miles long and actually home to three separately managed parks. The story of how it got divvied up goes back a few hundred years. Find out more at http://delmarva-almanac.com/history

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The nature vs. nurture debate is the scientific, cultural, and philosophical debate about whether human culture, behavior, and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture.

Nature is often defined in this debate as genetic or hormone-based behaviors, traits, and dispositions, while nurture is most commonly defined as environment, culture, and experience.

History of the Nature vs. Nurture Debate

The nature vs. nurture debate is an ongoing one. The modern debate often centers around the effect genes have on human disposition as opposed to the influences that early environment and development might have. As culture changes, so have popular understandings of this debate. In the 1960s, for example, psychologists-and pop culture in general-were heavily influenced by the theories of behaviorism. This theory led to the widespread belief that human personality is primarily influenced by experience and training. It was during this time that researcher John Money attempted to demonstrate that gender was a product of early conditioning by raising a boy, whose circumcision was botched, as a girl. His experiment seemed successful in the beginning but ultimately was a failure.

In recent years, the nature side of the debate has gained more attention, with headlines trumpeting newly discovered genes for virtually every behavior. Evolutionary psychology and sociobiology are two branches of science that attempt to demonstrate the evolutionary roots of human behavior. Books authored by scientists in these fields are extremely popular. However, critics still emphasize the important role of early childhood environment, development, and cultural influences. Many have argued that sociobiology and evolutionary psychology are deterministic pseudosciences.

Twin and Identical Twin Studies

Several studies done on twins separated shortly after birth reveal that genetics do play a significant role in the development of certain personality characteristics, sexual orientation, and religiosity. The bond between identical twins was also suggested to be genetic by these studies, as 80% of identical twins reported that they felt closer to their twin than they did to their closest friends, despite having just met their twin.

One study also suggested that genetics play a significant role in the development of personality: Environment had little effect on personality when twins were raised together, though it did have an effect when they were raised apart.

How Nature Affects Mental Health

While nature, or genetics, has been proven to be an important factor in the development of some mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and major depression, the development of mental illness is not entirely genetic. Nature, or genetics and disposition, has been proven to be an important factor in the development of some mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and major depression. Bipolar, for example, is four to six times more likely to develop when there is a family history of the condition. However, although the importance of genetic factors cannot be denied, the development of mental illness is not entirely genetic. For example, identical twins share their genes, yet if one twin develops schizophrenia, research shows the other twin only has a 50% chance of also developing the condition. This indicates that nature, while it plays an important part, is not the only contributing factor.

Another area where researchers may place more emphasis on nature than on nurture is that of addictions. Research indicates that alcohol addiction, for example, can recur in families and that certain genes may influence how alcohol tastes and the way it affects the body.

How Nurture Affects Mental Health

Certain genetic factors may create a predisposition for a particular illness, but the probability that a person develops that illness depends in part on environment (nurture). When a genetic variant indicates the possibility of developing a mental illness, this information can be used to direct positive (nurturing) behavior in such a way that the condition may not develop or may develop with less severity.

James Fallon, a neuroscientist who discovered that he had the brain of a psychopath, has stated that he believes growing up in a nurturing and loving environment helped him become a successful adult and may have been effective at preventing him from fully developing traits of psychopathy. Similarly, the basis for addiction is not thought to be entirely genetic by most researchers. Environmental aspects, such as the habits of parents, friends, or a partner, might also be significant factors contributing to the development of an addiction. A genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction may be far more significant if one is routinely exposed to binge drinking or other forms of alcohol abuse and comes to view this as normal alcohol use.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool recently found that while a family history of mental health conditions was the second strongest predictor of mental illness, the strongest predictor was in fact life events and experiences, such as childhood bullying, abuse, or other trauma. This supports the idea that nurture plays significant role in the development of mental health issues.

Nature vs. Nurture in Therapy

In the mental health field, some therapeutic treatments and approaches may be nature-based or nurture-based, depending on which paradigm to which they adhere. For example, an extremely nature-based approach might seek to address mental health on a biological or genetic level, while a nurture-based approach could be more likely to address a person's learned beliefs and behaviors. Most approaches borrow from both nature and nurture-based philosophies, and many seek to address the interaction between nature and nurture.

For example, using medication to treat a mental health issue may be a primarily nature-based approach, while behavioral therapy, which stems from behaviorist psychology, addresses a person's upbringing and conditioning and takes a nurture-based point of view. Meanwhile, therapies based in cognitive psychology may be more likely to address the effects of both nature and nurture.

It is possible to find a therapist who takes a more nature or nurture-based approach to treatment. However, many therapists today consider multiple factors, including how the nature and nurture work together, during a session.

How Nature and Nurture Interact

Many scientists eschew the nature vs. nurture debate by emphasizing "nature x nurture." In this schema, nature and nurture are inseparable. Some genes, for example, cannot be activated without certain environmental inputs. The development of vision is a prime example of this. People cannot develop normal sight without exposure to visual stimuli.

Similarly, some environmental inputs may be undermined by some genes. For example, some lifelong smokers may never experience smoking-related illnesses, and this may be due at least in part to their genes. Environmental toxins may alter the expression of some genes, and genes for many behaviors presumed to have a genetic basis have not been discovered.

Developmental systems theory, among other theories, presents an alternative to this debate that does not require scientists to advocate either for nature or nurture.
References:

1. Agin, D. P. (2010). More than genes: What science can tell us about toxic chemicals, development, and the risk to our children. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2. Alcoholism Nature vs. Nurture. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dualdiagnosis.org/alcohol-addiction/nature-vs-nurture.

3. Facts about Bipolar Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2015, from http://adamhscc.org/en-US/facts-bipolar.asp.

4. Iliades, C. (2013, February 7). Mental Illness May Be In Your Genes. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/mental-iillness-may-be-in-your-genes-1751.aspx.

5. Lewis, T. (2014, August 11). Twins Separated at Birth Reveal Staggering Influence of Genetics. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/47288-twin-study-importance-of-genetics.html.

6. Ohikuare, J. (2014, January 21). Life as a Nonviolent Psychopath. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/life-as-a-nonviolent-psychopath/282271.

7. Moore, D. S. (2003). The dependent gene: The fallacy of nature vs. nurture. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

8. Putt, G. (2013, October 20). Nurture Over Nature: Mental Illness and Traumatic Life Events. Retrieved from http://www.decodedscience.com/nurture-nature-mental-illness-traumatic-life-events/3836.

Last Updated: 09-28-2018

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Nature vs. Nurture Debate - GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog

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The nature vs. nurture debate is the scientific, cultural, and philosophical debate about whether human culture, behavior, and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture. Nature is often defined in this debate as genetic or hormone-based behaviors, traits, and dispositions, while nurture is most commonly defined as environment, culture, and experience.

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A brief description of Indentured Servants as discussed in American History.

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Location of Assateague Island
Location of Assateague Island
Map of Assateague Island
Map of Assateague Island
Assateague Timeline
Assateague Timeline
Horse photograph
Horse photograph
Animal Bond
Animal Bond
Family love..
Family love..
Parent Sacrifice..
Parent Sacrifice..
Freedom and Servitude
Freedom and Servitude
History and Culture of Assateague Island
History and Culture of Assateague Island
Assateague's Wild Horses
Assateague's Wild Horses
Native Americans of Assateague
Native Americans of Assateague
📎 MAN
Assateague Indians
Assateague Indians
Pony Swim
Pony Swim
 

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Location of Assateague Island
Location of Assateague Island
Map of Assateague Island
Map of Assateague Island
Assateague Timeline
Assateague Timeline
Horse photograph
Horse photograph
Animal Bond
Animal Bond
Family love..
Family love..
Parent Sacrifice..
Parent Sacrifice..
Freedom and Servitude
Freedom and Servitude
History and Culture of Assateague Island
History and Culture of Assateague Island
Assateague's Wild Horses
Assateague's Wild Horses
Native Americans of Assateague
Native Americans of Assateague
📎 MAN
Assateague Indians
Assateague Indians
Pony Swim
Pony Swim
 