Explore the profound impact of GNU Emacs as a beacon of software freedom in this 21-minute conference talk from EmacsConf 2019. Delve into the empowering nature of Emacs, its customizability, and its role as a flagship program of the GNU Project. Discover how Emacs embodies the vision of a computing environment centered on user freedom and empowerment. Learn about the ethical values that have shaped Emacs' success and its inseparable connection to free software principles. Gain insights into how Emacs enthusiasts can contribute to furthering its egalitarian spirit and bringing joy back to computing. Examine the importance of community-driven development, documentation, and the spread of software freedom ideals. Reflect on the potential for Emacs to serve as a model for a more user-respecting computing future.