HARRIS VERSUS TRUMP: QUO VADIS MODERN FREEDOM?

The world is anxiously watching the US election unfold. A battle that reaches far beyond just Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump. It is about freedom and unfreedom, democratic principles versus authoritarian populism. The outcome will impact not only America's future, but also to a large extent the world order. More than ever, this tipping point requires a critical spirit - a duty that lies with every one of us.

Freedom comes on foot and goes on horseback. Harris stands for an America in which freedom, responsibility and respect for each other are central to justice and inclusiveness. Trump favours a 'freedom' that is selective and polarising, focused on control and exclusion. For him, freedom is not a universal right but a privilege for a few. True freedom can only flourish in a strong democracy that actively encourages criticism and debate. Without this, democracy dilutes into a facade, a populist theatre that stifles any critical reflection. History, especially the lessons of World War II, tragically shows how dangerous blind docility can be.

The populism fueled by Trump is a deliberate invitation to riot. His message is laced with vindictive statements and plays on the darkest sides of discontent. Trump is not calling for reconciliation, but for revenge. His campaign is all about retribution. For four years he has been able to prepare this, bolstering his supporters to sow discord. Regardless of the outcome of this election, instability seems inevitable. The United States will face prolonged unrest, with inevitable consequences for global political and economic stability.

A new, subtle but dangerous threat looms in the political arena: Elon Musk. His ambition goes beyond business interests; he wants to turn political his influence into world power. Musk has taken an unprecedentedly deep interest in this election and seems to see the future as his own playing field. His technological and economic power - from public discourse to space and transport - gives him a grip on crucial pillars of society. He increasingly shows the traits of an autocrat who uses technology not for the benefit of humanity, but for his control over it.

There is a duty of Disobedience. With Musk taking more and more power to himself, cultivating a critical mind becomes not a choice but a necessary duty. As philosopher étienne de La Boétie describes in his "Discours de la servitude volontaire", people tend to submit to power when lulled to sleep by habits and false promises of security and convenience. De La Boétie points out that submission is often not imposed but voluntarily adopted by people who give up their own freedom and allow their critical thinking to be silenced. He argues that this form of self-submission opens the way for tyranny. This warning is more topical than ever: a society that gives up its critical spirit loses its autonomy. Trump and Musk are each in their own way leading to the same danger: a world in which citizens unwittingly submit to forces that control and silence them. Without active questioning and resistance, freedom risks becoming an illusion, on the altar of power and control.

Not having an opinion is no longer an option.? The critical mind is our strongest ally, our lifeline. The duty of disobedience becomes vital.

On November 6, we may wake up to a different world. And that world requires action and vigilance. Freedom survives only in a society where citizens actively assume their roles, think critically to stand up to any threat that undermines freedom.

These elections demand our vigilance. Only by remaining alert to threats against our freedom can we ensure real, lived freedom. Disobedience here is no longer a choice, but the ultimate path to a future in which the human spirit can flourish, free from power and oppression.