your post is too long for me to read now, but first let me say that liberty is not a sport. it's a matter of life and death. I see by scanning your post you appreciate this.
Ciao invisible hand,
No, I was speaking in metaphors. The concept was that yes, freedom is something to fight for, but also requires the good sense of knowing how to lose elections, how to make loyal opposition.
The thrust of my post was proving the importance of our Judeo-Christian ethos.
But your critcism made me think some more, because it is very correct. Politics are like sports inasmuch as one may speak of an arena of conflicting ideas and values. But whereas it is almost impossible to think of situations in soccer or baseball that have not been covered by rules... the arena of human interplay is constantly called to redefine fundamental issues and move on.
States rights?
Slavery?
Woman's right to vote?
Alcohol?
Gun ownership?
The rights of the unborn?
Etc,
This is where having a good ethos is so important. And the good ethos tells us when and how to fight, when and how to surrender, when and how to struggle.
The danger is thinking ONLY in terms of freedom. Then everything is radicalized and on every issue, people reach for their guns.
America and the Anglo-Saxon tradition, more than others, have taught the world how it is possible to govern the ship through very stormy seas and dangerous shoals.
Kind regards
H