Power of dissent


Measuring freedom in full bloom
The real test of liberty can be measured in the power of dissent.

It's not how many agree with you, it's how many can disagree with you WITHOUT having a gun pointed at their head.

Maybe I am just hyperaware of this. After all, my politics, my faith, and my idea of personal relationships do not fit the American norm. Yet for the most part, my choices are my own as long as I accept the consequences.

There are exceptions of course. The global warming scare was one. The War on Drugs is another. But mostly, I can choose not to participate. That is just as important as the right to participate.

I never have understood the appeal of American Idol, but as long as I am not forced to watch it, I don't have to understand it or even make sense of it. But it sometimes makes water cooler conversation a little interesting. And don't get me going on televised professional sports. Or the sex lives of some celebrity. I don't have to pay attention to these things, so I usually don't.

Now let's compare that with some who want to make some religion the Law of the Land. Or their opposite numbers who want to make no religion the Law of the Land. Does it really surprise you to find out that I oppose both for exactly the same reason?

I don't care if you make the right choice or not. All I demand is that you accept the consequences. And yes, if you messed with the rights of another, you can expect your rights to be curbed.

Dissent is the only constant badge of freedom that I know of.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Tue - March 20, 2007 at 02:54 PM  Tag


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Pagan Vigil "Because LIBERTY demands more than just black or white"
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