The Question of Freedom?

July 4, 2006
There is perhaps no word, so powerful, and yet equally enigmatic. Everyone has their own meaning for this concept. Is it the the right to religion, to speech, to pursue ones dreams, or even more basic? Perhaps as follows the debate of ecclesiastics, the question of freedom is simply the ability to choose right from wrong.

To add to the dilemma, every answer brings up a new round of questions. What is freedom of speech? Does the same freedom for a peacetime press apply to that in times of war?

Some people in America today suggest that the military personnal that leaked the information to the New York times reporter about some of our methods to track Al Quada through financial records should be executed for treason.

This leads to the crux of the matter.

If we take our final definition, as perhaps the most inclusive, that is freedom is the ability to choose right from wrong, then we must assume that some people will choose wrong.

From this assumption, to protect freedom, then a free society must have the ability to protect itself from the tyranny of man. For this reason we have laws. It is through the enforcement of these laws that justice is dictated.

For this reason, freedom is problematic.

In a free society, where-in lies the authority to dictate law. To take the principles of the American experiment, we would say that authority lies in the mandate of the people.

This is a heavy burden, that must always be carefully examined, lest it lead astray. Take note from the French Revolution. The riegn of terror ended with the execution of thousands. All to protect the republic.

Today we celebrate as a nation, the 230th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. While it is a time of celebration, it is also a time for reflection.

As a nation we set off with lofty ambitions, the great experiment it has been called. Can a society of free men, perserve these self-evident rights?

"that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

We live today in a brave new world. The dangers we face as a society, are very real. The threat of war, the threat of terror, the rapid shifts of our economy, and our technology, impacts our society on every front.

There is a dream that is America. It is a fragile dream, and yet it is vibrant, and full of youthful energy and vigor.

Today it is time to take a simple step. To pledge, that for the next year, we will preserve our freedom, once more, as we have 229 times before.