Liberty and Freedom
By ignoti
@ignoti (68)
United States
December 27, 2006 11:25am CST
With all the problems in the United States concerning the war on terror, I often hear of people claiming that in order to be free we must give up some of our liberty. I find it extremely difficult to even understand this point of view considering that liberty and freedom--at least in the sense the American system was based on--are essentially the same. Giving up liberty IS giving up freedom.
"That government is best which governs least." --Thomas Paine
What are your opinions?
2 responses
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
27 Dec 06
Couldn't agree more. The larger the government becomes the less free we are. Freedom is not a security blanket. Probably the safest place you can be is in a prison in solitary confinement. There's no freedom, but no one can hurt you there either. To give up freedom for the sake of security is playing with fire.
@ignoti (68)
• United States
28 Dec 06
No one can hurt you other than the authority that oversees your stay, but I'll leave prison reform for another discussion. I am constantly amazed at how antithetical and contrary the views are of many people who claim to be the true Americans. Somehow, questioning authority and not accepting the administration's decree has become anti-american sentiment. The very liberties that we are allowing to be taken from us are the ones that were set in place to prevent this sort of situation.
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
28 Dec 06
What liberties are you giving up right now? I'm not sure we're on the same page about whats actually happening in America.
When were you effected by the Patriot Act?
@ignoti (68)
• United States
28 Dec 06
From your response, I am unable to discern an actual stated opinion rather than implied sentiment. I too feel that we are not on the same page but don't want to make hasty remarks that might not actually apply to your position.
Due to this, rather than answer your questions directly I will simply state that my sense of scope and history put me directly at odds with the patriot act. The patriot act is sufficiently vague that any American who speaks of dissent, change, or disagreement with the administration can be seen as a domestic terrorist. My recommendation, if you have not done so already, is to read the patriot act.
