Let me second that entire paragraph. There is a HUGE difference from when Ben Franklin wrote his words -- times have changed. However dangerous they thought the world was, it has gotten 1000 more times dangerous today if not more than that.
People need to remember that their freedom and their rights stops at the next person doorstep -- to call people Morons for wanting more security even if they sacrifice some of their Freedom is distasteful and not right or do they not have a right to their own opinions?.
What Freedoms are we talking about here -- I still have my freedom of speech, freedom of where I want to worship, freedom to drive my car, freedom to attend sporting events, movies, plays, freedom to go out to eat, freedom to own a gun and carry it concealed if I want to, freedom to do almost anything that is not against the law, so what freedom have I sacrificed for more Security? All I can see is that it may take more time to do certain things like check-in at an airport and I think that is great but it certainly has not taken away my Freedom to fly!
The sky is falling crowd seem out in force on this thread. What is the old saying -- Freedom isn't free! Well many people over the centuries have sacrificed their lives for our Freedom so it seems to be that we could all sacrifice something for the Security of this Nation they fought to preserve. If people are not criminals, I still don't see what Freedom has been lost unless they mean Freedom to do whatever they want, when they want and it doesn't matter that it just might infringe on the next person's freedom!
You ain't kidding. Their coming outta the woodwork!
I think these people, that exhibit such an exaggerated fear of government, are extremely paranoid individuals. Also, they can't seem to talk about things rationally, so they revert to name calling and personal insults.
Thanks for your support PKM!
I am sorry to have to differ with you, as I am sure your heart is in the right direction.
I has hoped that you would read my three threads, previously referenced to you.
Many rights, which you do not actively defend, have been and are being stripped away.
You have had the right to discrimnate on the basis of a person's skin color, given the facts known to you regarding a description of a like person who has demonstrated injurious harm to the public --- but that right is being taken from you, by a Congress "hell-bent" upon eliminating your freedom of choice in such a matter.
You have had the freedom to choose, but again, see the previous paragraph.
You have had the right to keep and bear Arms, foremost because of the martial power resolved in the authority of the legislative bodies of the States, made up of our duly elected representatives, to affect the Muster --- we have the right to defend ourselves with martial power and organize and train accordingly, ie. be "well regulated" in our exercise of these rights; but nowadays, this basis is being stripped away from our teaching and history of the American Heritage; and you are losing that right too, what was meant by the Founding Fathers and Framers, in the expression, "a public education," the maintenance of our understanding why we are free.
In the absence of other Americans having the rights which you have enumerated, then we are losing ground, because foremost in our minds must be our duty to protect not only the rights, but the foundations of them, for others than our selves.
While it is the obligation of government to remain within the powers delegated to it on the list enumerated in our Constitution.
It is the burden of government and its agents, to have to weary from knowing and constantly being reminded what its limited "rights" are and how it will suffer when it transgresses; any advance beyond the limits, to be dealt with by the vigilant, some of whom are here at Free Republic.
An advance by government, but especially by social engineers, is the loss, to you and me, of more of our rights.
The rights you are losing are your authority (and again, the foundations for it); you have it, but you are not aware of it; and your government is taking it away from you, piece by piece.
Really? Throughout the Cold War we faced an adversary who possessed tens of thousands of nuclear warheads, and they had the means to deliver them (and they still do, come to think of it).
During those days, the people who constantly harped "times have changed" had a rallying cry - Better Read Than Dead. Like many here, they also presented us with a false dilemna - We'd better do (fill in the blank) or we're all dead! Basically, the left used fear-mongering as a tactic to advance their politcal agenda - just as many on the right are doing now.
The more things change, the more they remain the same. I'll stick to the wisdom of Ben Franklin.
You got one thing right.....Freedom is not free
THe price of freedom is the willingness to accept risks in order to keep it.
Think about it.
You hold up as encouragement to surrender liberty those who died defending the USA from would be tyrants. In doing so you spit on their graves.
Think about it.
Regards
J.R.