[rob777]

I don't give a crap about people's morality -- as long as we're free, and their morality isn't interfering with my person or property.





In the long run, freedom is impossible apart from morality.
Respecting the rights and freedom of others is a moral stance. In the absence of morality, the only rational conclusion is that justice consists of the "Advantage of the Stronger". Moral relativism ultimately leads to "Might Makes Right". This is an old argument from the Sophists at the time of Socrates, to Machiavelli to Friedrich Nietzsche.

On the other hand, the western view of liberty rests on a moral view of human dignity. Of course, the notion of morality presupposes the idea of free will, so it is not compatible with coercion.

[MsJefferson]

I think that's why we have the Constitution, which is a moral document -- which combines both Christian morals with Enlightenment philosophy -- you're right -- it is a moral stance -- but the only moral stance I care about is already layed out in the Constitution. It is, of course, lucky that we have a morality spelled out for us.