Written by: Lenina Close
I recently overheard someone declare “America has become a nation of cowards”. The thought lingered in my mind like a bad taste in one’s mouth. Upon further reflection, I had to consider whether America’s unconditional acceptance of various cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds had become more highly valued than the notion of protecting our freedom as the foundation of our existence. Had “we the people” become so enamored with tolerance and open-mindedness that we failed to recognize that without freedom we wouldn’t have the option to accept or reject any other way of life?
Former Congressman Bob Schaffer once said “weakness threatens freedom”. This profound truth has repeatedly materialized in numerous historical accounts over the centuries. Yet the idea of defending freedom is often viewed as a rejection of the “acceptance” dogma which we proudly honor in this country. The conundrum is defined in terms of acceptance or rejection of diversity. Under this pretense, either an individual accepts all walks of life, or they don’t. But let us be clear on the choices. If one chooses to defend freedom, one may indeed reject those ideologies that do not honor freedom as an absolute, but in this case, one is choosing freedom, not necessarily rebuffing diversity. Americans should reject any belief system that would tyrannize freedom, but the higher value is a vote for freedom and defending that ideal upon which our nation was founded.
In our country’s Declaration of Independence, the elemental conviction, was a pronouncement that “…all men are created equal.” It was clearly recognized as a “self evident truth” that each individual is equal to another; not necessarily in ability or talent, but equal before God and therefore should be acknowledged and treated as such.
There is an oft overlooked danger in absolute acceptance and tolerance. If we choose to accept those walks of life that don’t honor freedom, instead of defending our freedom at all costs, then we portray the very weakness that in turn threatens that freedom. One can only accept another who is different if one is free to do so. One can only consider all men equal as long as the higher principle is to defend the freedom to think in such terms. The ability to accept another religion, another culture, or another life style is threatened by any group who tries to oppress freedom as a fundamental value.
Dr. Yaron Brooks of the Ayn Rand Institute states that “Political correctness is ruling and ruining our lives.” (May 11, 2007). Our distinguished nation is indeed a glorious melting pot that celebrates the strength of diversity. American citizens are a blessed and fortunate people. We get to choose whether to accept (or reject) ideals different from our own. But we are only privileged to the degree that we are willing to unwaveringly preserve the freedom that allows us this opportunity. Without freedom, we no longer have a choice to accept any view other than the one that subjugated our freedom in the first place.
Ronald Reagan once said ““No arsenal … is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” As we enter this New Year, and this new legislative season, please consider freedom as a nonnegotiable value and the defense of that freedom the highest priority.
Offer thanks for those who have given their lives to defend American freedom and celebrate the privilege you have to make choices about the ideas you personally accept or reject.
Tags: diversity, Freedom, tolerance
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Just a small comment on the “we have become a nation of cowards.” I firmly believe that this statement is true. Sad, but true. But with that said, I think that it has little to do with diversity. I think (and it is only an opinion), that it has mush more to do with the darned television set. With 100+ channels of crap to watch every day, more and more Americans spend an ever growing amount of time sitting in front of the darned thing instead of going out and living life.
Back in my father’s time, he knew all of his neighbors – all of them. Was friends with many to most of them, and if he ever had a problem with ANY of them, he would simply go to their house (or call them on the phone), and discuss the issue.
Today, most of us have no idea the name of the people living right next door to us, much less taken the time to get to know them. Should that neighbor do something that bothers us (playing the stereo too loud, parking the car too closely to our drive, etc… etc…), it has become the norm to call the police to ‘deal’ with this ‘problem.’
That is what I call a coward. And from this has grown a much larger level of cowardice. Right up to the point where we are afraid to defend ourselves against a business owner who wrongs us, or a neighbor who mistakenly offends, or a door-to-door salesman that we simply cannot face to simply say “no thank-you”
Call the police, that has become the rallying cry, and our politicians have been paying attention, and now, rather than taking the responsibility for rolling up our sleeves, we have a congress that just plunged us head-long into socialism.
I just saw a clip on internet where a man called 911 because his order was not correct at a fast-food drive through – now that’s cowardice. I just gave a man a ride who was hitchhiking. He told me of the coffee shop owner who called the police on him when he offered to clean up the garbage in front of man’s restaurant in exchange for a hot cup of coffee and perhaps a sandwich. Here’s a business owner too much a coward to simply say no thanks, I like garbage in my parking lot. I wonder how much excrement he will have in his Jockeys should any actual danger find its way into his shop.
No, tolerance isn’t causing the cowardice, our self-isolationism is (or so I think).
Cowards? you bet, but it gives me cause for hope. Seriously, I have been in the fight for liberty for more than a decade now, and I can tell you that I have never seen so many patriots as I do now. It tells me that the heroes are realizing that they are becoming outnumbered by the cowards, and the uprising is beginning.