A Battle we CANNOT Lose

Within the heart of every man there is an unquenchable desire for freedom and liberty.  It is a fire that can only be subdued for so long until it erupts with forceful rage.  Throughout history we see this repeated over and over again.  There is only so much that man can and will take before he rises up from a tyrannical government to reclaim his rights that all individuals inherently have.

To most Americans terrorism became a reality on September 11, 2001 and we were recently reminded of its devastating effects in the aftermath of the Boston bombings.  The fear that these two events inflicted on Americans is understandable, as is the call for extra security and more government intervention.

Freedom and liberty have always been in a constant battle against man’s desire for “security.”  In America we claim to be the “land of the free” and for so long that has been our identity.  Our freedoms and liberties define us as a country and have set us apart from the rest of the world.  Our forefathers laid their lives on the line fighting for these very principles.  Some of them were wealthy men who were willing to give up the comforts they already had for a chance at true freedom.

So why is it that Americans today are willing to give up some of some of their liberties and freedoms for a little more security?  I believe there are two reasons.

1.       We have forgotten what it is like to be truly free as well as enslaved by government.

2.       Americans believe that security is more important than freedom and liberty.

Since the beginning of our country, especially over the past 100 years, we have been sacrificing our freedoms and liberties for “security.”  We have been bamboozled into believing that government is the answer to all our problems.  We have been told that the Constitution is irrelevant and that we know better than those that were willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedoms that we are able to enjoy.

Americans have allowed government to create a plethora of social programs that take from those who have earned it and give to those who have not.  Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare and Federal Student Aid, just to name a few, in the hopes of creating a society where all our worries and fears are dissolved.  As is evidenced by the inefficiency, fraud, waste and abuse in each of these programs, it doesn’t work.

Instead of helping society, these very programs have driven our nation into over $16,500,000,000,000 in debt, and as some argue, on the brink of bankruptcy.

And now we have the fear of terrorism hanging over our heads and the desire for more security waiting in the shadows, ready to pounce at the chance to destroy our freedoms and liberties.  Some may argue that we as a nation have not yet come to this point.  I would argue that we are way beyond it.

Americans such as me, watched in horror as the full force of government rained down onto Watertown, MA.  The city was on lockdown, police in military type vehicles roamed the streets and SWAT teams searched the homes of private citizens, forcing them out at gunpoint in search of the terrorist suspect.

In spite of the full force of government, what led to the suspect’s apprehension was a concerned citizen contacting authorities because something seemed out of the ordinary.  I believe that is a lesson in itself.  We can solve problems and overcome terror without infringing on the individual rights of American citizens.

Was the Martial Law type atmosphere worth it?  Was it worthwhile giving up our freedoms and liberties for “security”?  I say no and I believe it will become painfully obvious in the future.

Life does not guarantee us security.  We are only guaranteed freedom and liberty as long as we fight for these principles that are contained both in our state and federal constitutions.  Giving into the fear of terrorism  will ensure that terrorism wins and that ever increasing power to limit our rights is given to a government that our forefathers warned us about.

The question each and every one of us needs to ask ourselves is this.  “Do I value liberty and freedom more than I do a little security”?

I’ll leave you with a quote from Benjamin Franklin.  “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”