I hope you enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing and patriotic July 4th weekend – I know I did.

Dr. Viktor Frankl, although Austrian, had a lot to say about our American ideals about Freedom and Liberty:

“Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.”

Viktor Frankl’s insight—that freedom without responsibility can become hollow or even dangerous—feels more urgent today than ever. In modern times, individual freedom is often championed as the highest good, particularly in democratic societies. People assert their rights to speak, act, and live according to their own will, and this autonomy is rightly celebrated. Yet, as Frankl warned, freedom divorced from responsibility can devolve into self-indulgence, polarization, or even nihilism. In an era of social media echo chambers, misinformation, and cultural fragmentation, the consequences of untethered freedom are evident: freedom of expression without accountability can fuel division, and personal choice without regard for its impact on others can erode the very social fabric that allows freedom to flourish.

Frankl’s call for a “Statue of Responsibility” on the West Coast isn’t just poetic—it’s prescriptive. It reminds us that the full meaning of freedom is realized only when it is paired with a conscious commitment to others. In our globalized, interconnected world, personal decisions reverberate beyond the self. Whether it’s our environmental footprint, the tone we set in public discourse, or how we participate in democracy, the choices we make affect countless others. Responsibility gives freedom purpose—it transforms liberty from a mere absence of restraint into a force for collective flourishing. As we navigate complex social and ethical landscapes, Frankl’s words offer a guidepost: true freedom is not doing whatever we want, but choosing what is right, especially when it costs us something.

How will you choose to LIVE our ideals of responsible freedom today?

Artist’s vision of The Statue of Responsibility – moving forward in the State of Utah.