Where The World Meets™
Copyright © 2005-2007 LALLOUZ INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission  is prohibited. I Terms and Conditions
Freedom! A term that has a multitude of meaning to so many people. Freedom to think. Freedom to speak. Freedom to explore. Freedom of choice. Freedom of love. Freedom to be... free!
 
Free will, the ultimate gift.  And yet so many of us feel and act as though we have no such liberty. How can this possibly be? Is it that we are conditioned to submit to the pressure of our environment? When we are an invited guest and graciously offered an apéritif,  how many times do we respond with a “no thank you”. And how many times have we heard, “oh go on, one little drink isn’t going to kill you”. I’ve certainly heard it on numerous occasions.
 
The same goes for our adolescent society. So many young teens feel pressured when it comes to the moment of truth... ‘saying no’ when offered a substance, legal or non; be it beer, marijuana, uppers, downers, x, crack, smack, coc... whatever the happy, it bears no prejudice. It enters the best of homes. It enters the worst of homes. It destroys promise. It destroys hope. It takes everything, and gives nothing in return.
When meeting a perfect stranger, would that person offer you an expensive piece of jewelry... to keep? Would they open their wallet and give you money? And would you dare to accept such an extravagance or inappropriate offering? I think not. For the most-part, we are raised to have scruples -- to know what is shamefully unacceptable behaviour. Would you dare to walk into someone’s home, admire a painting, and simply take it off the wall because you like it? Should you behave in such a manner, a blatant thief you would be.
 
There are societal rules. A standard of norms by which we live. So why on earth would someone feel they bore any right at all to convolute your principles? There is a fine line between hospitality and misuse.
 
Social indulgences; social smoker, social drinker, social eater, social recreational drug user... superfluous behaviour no longer classifies as “social”. The only ‘best to be gotten’ is from you!
 
That is why I am free. Free to allow others to have their indulgences. Free to refuse. Free to accept. Free to live my life as I please without infringing upon another’s terrain. And so I encourage everyone to stand up and grasp hold of your freedom. I commend those who have already done so. I admire those who are taking steps toward embracing such liberation.
Vive la liberté!
Contessa Rhonda von Sternberg
Editress-in-Chief
Letter from the Editor
 
Painting of “RHONDA” (Portrait of Contessa Rhonda von Sternberg) by Elyahou Lallouz. Copyright © 2003-Present. Galleria Lallouz, Corp. All rights reserved.
 
A persona is similar to that of a feast A facade, an appearance, to say the least An outer shell, a protective gear To hide the frailty, to suppress our own fear So we live our life with a common goal Do good unto others, give reprieve to our soul With morals as such, we are brave, we are strong A step closer to ‘freedom’ and away from ‘wrong’ Who bears the power to refuse or accept That is you my dear friend, the master adept And for this I hold faith that you’ll be more than alright For you are the champion of your very own plight ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
 
“RHONDA”
by Elyahou Lallouz
Mixed Media on Canvas