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Current Events » in reply to re: "The Left" includes anti-evolutionists and anti-stem cell advocates?

"Give me liberty or give me death"
azstrummer — (archived)

I think the two of us view that statement differently. The conservative mind today seems to think that our society can only function when external mortal conflict is utilized constantly to ensure our liberties.

I see the statement as a statement of last resort. If I faced the kinds of dictatorial abuses our Founding Fathers did prior to our Revolution, that statement would be an integral part of my thinking. However, I think the goal of an evolved society is one which holds the phrase on the shelf to ensure those conditions don't entrench themselves again.

The dangers we're facing from the rest of the world today do not require us to put our lives on the line daily to protect our liberty. I can categorically state that even if there were 10 times the number of "terrorists" aligned against us today that the chances of them invading our shores and taking over our powerful nation are zero. Sure they can take their shots and some of those shots could kill a great many of us but, at the end our strength would not be even dented by the attack. What would wound us would be our response to it, falling victim to the fear they intended to induce.

That destruction of our national character and fabric of fairness is where I would consider evoking the phrase you so revere. Patrick Henry did not intend its use against an attacking force. We were at that time British citizens. His message was that his life was available to give to protect us from ourselves.

Art

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