My county tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Second only to Life, Jefferson listed liberty as one of the aims of American Independence, and yes, a God given right. Liberty is to the human spirit what air is to the human body. We inhale it’s fragrance and revel in it’s power.
As a child I learned of the horrors of communism, we were told that in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics people were tested as children and assigned to a job in which they would serve the republic. A drudgery relieved only by death or disablement. Perhaps my juvenile way of understanding magnified this terror but to believe that Government would chart your life from cradle to the grave seemed an abomination to all that I hold dear.
Our liberties in America are bounded by our government and we are free to change our Government and laws as we see fit. If a portion of our Constitution becomes onerous we have the means to change it as well. If we become dissatisfied with our station in life we are free to change it. If we dislike the weather we are free to seek a better climate.
Liberty is an awesome responsibility because it makes us all individually accountable for our actions. We are free to press to the pinnacle of success and we should be free to fall in the chasm of abysmal failure.
We are free to speak our mind, but with that freedom comes the power to impede the freedom of others. You are free to express yourself, but it is incumbent upon each of us to refrain from shouting down or stifling some one else’s free speech.
When I witness anyone stepping on another’s freedom of speech it screams louder than words that they do not believe in the superiority of their position. If your logic is unassailable then you allow your enemies to dash themselves upon the ramparts. The free exchange of ideals can only work absent physical or emotional intimidation. A majority achieved does not imply superiority and the lone voice of dissent may just be the only voice present with the solution to our problems.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Life
People are eager to declare that this is the end of the line for conservatism in general and the pro-life issue in particular. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Jefferson said these were God given rights in the declaration of Independence. They are also the core of Conservatism.
What is Life? It is nothing more than this brief period during which we can determine our own end. The founding fathers thought that it was the paramount function of our government to ensure that every one gets that chance. It is the responsibility of all governments to ensure the safety of their citizens. Citizens of any state that does not value them will naturally seek a better state. Where do people go seeking a better state?
They overwhelmingly seek the United States of America.
A nation that devalues life will inevitably become a cruel tyrannical place.
When this value is placed upon unborn children people get all wrapped up in it. I’ve heard people come unhinged on both sides. The simple fact of it is, “If it is not a baby, you are not pregnant.” A bumper sticker slogan, but it’s true none the less. A woman who is pregnant has no constitutional right to kill the child to further her education.
Jefferson’s “Life,” does not have any addendums to it. Aged life, young life, fit life, paralyzed life, rich life, poor life, it simply says LIFE. My life. Your life. Think long and hard before you begin discounting any life, you may just forfeit yours.
If this is the issue upon which a political campaign is lost then I would lose a thousand before I relented. Principals are principals. If the progressives ever convince a majority of Americans that life should not be a sacred right, then our Nation will join all previous great nations on the dust heap of history.
What is Life? It is nothing more than this brief period during which we can determine our own end. The founding fathers thought that it was the paramount function of our government to ensure that every one gets that chance. It is the responsibility of all governments to ensure the safety of their citizens. Citizens of any state that does not value them will naturally seek a better state. Where do people go seeking a better state?
They overwhelmingly seek the United States of America.
A nation that devalues life will inevitably become a cruel tyrannical place.
When this value is placed upon unborn children people get all wrapped up in it. I’ve heard people come unhinged on both sides. The simple fact of it is, “If it is not a baby, you are not pregnant.” A bumper sticker slogan, but it’s true none the less. A woman who is pregnant has no constitutional right to kill the child to further her education.
Jefferson’s “Life,” does not have any addendums to it. Aged life, young life, fit life, paralyzed life, rich life, poor life, it simply says LIFE. My life. Your life. Think long and hard before you begin discounting any life, you may just forfeit yours.
If this is the issue upon which a political campaign is lost then I would lose a thousand before I relented. Principals are principals. If the progressives ever convince a majority of Americans that life should not be a sacred right, then our Nation will join all previous great nations on the dust heap of history.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Common Sense Consevatism
There is a lot of hand wringing and soul searching going on in the conservative movement these days.
The Republicans are debating a move to the center which means a move leftward.
“Facts are stubborn things,” John Adams proclaimed in his defense of the British Soldiers indicted in the Boston Massacre. He was famously correct and the beleaguered soldiers were exonerated. Principals founded in facts are equally stubborn. At least they should be.
People talk of the Reagan revolution and Newt’s contract with America. These movements or platforms succeeded overwhelmingly when presented to Americans with clarity and conviction. Making things simple with out being simplistic, conservatism is and always should be able to be summed up, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Life requires security, a strong national defense. America is the shining city on the hill. It is in the limelight constantly, not every one will love us and see us in a favorable light. That’s their problem, doesn’t bother me a bit, unless they undertake to assault us. If the shining city on the hill is known to be guarded by the greatest military force in the world it deters nefarious deeds against it’s citizens.
Liberty also requires security, but with out life, liberty is meaningless. Being free to make your own decisions only has meaning if you feel secure in the exercise of your liberties. If you are coerced, leaned upon, encouraged in a particular path, are you really at liberty to decide for yourself?
The Pursuit of Happiness occurs when the first two conditions are met. If you are secure, if you are free, wouldn’t you naturally choose a path that will make you happy? The vast majority of people would, and if you get your kicks off of flagellation, self inflicted-pain, knock yourself out. When you look on your neighbors being happy in their pursuits, smack yourself harder, just don’t smack them. Your right to achieve nirvana by beating yourself up is your right, but you have no right to endanger the life or liberty of others in your misery.
There it is, conservatism in a nutshell. If we hold these truths to be self evident and facts are stubborn things, so should our fact based principals remain equally sure.
The Republicans are debating a move to the center which means a move leftward.
“Facts are stubborn things,” John Adams proclaimed in his defense of the British Soldiers indicted in the Boston Massacre. He was famously correct and the beleaguered soldiers were exonerated. Principals founded in facts are equally stubborn. At least they should be.
People talk of the Reagan revolution and Newt’s contract with America. These movements or platforms succeeded overwhelmingly when presented to Americans with clarity and conviction. Making things simple with out being simplistic, conservatism is and always should be able to be summed up, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Life requires security, a strong national defense. America is the shining city on the hill. It is in the limelight constantly, not every one will love us and see us in a favorable light. That’s their problem, doesn’t bother me a bit, unless they undertake to assault us. If the shining city on the hill is known to be guarded by the greatest military force in the world it deters nefarious deeds against it’s citizens.
Liberty also requires security, but with out life, liberty is meaningless. Being free to make your own decisions only has meaning if you feel secure in the exercise of your liberties. If you are coerced, leaned upon, encouraged in a particular path, are you really at liberty to decide for yourself?
The Pursuit of Happiness occurs when the first two conditions are met. If you are secure, if you are free, wouldn’t you naturally choose a path that will make you happy? The vast majority of people would, and if you get your kicks off of flagellation, self inflicted-pain, knock yourself out. When you look on your neighbors being happy in their pursuits, smack yourself harder, just don’t smack them. Your right to achieve nirvana by beating yourself up is your right, but you have no right to endanger the life or liberty of others in your misery.
There it is, conservatism in a nutshell. If we hold these truths to be self evident and facts are stubborn things, so should our fact based principals remain equally sure.
Monday, November 10, 2008
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