in our modern age of free, open and fair elections? Is there a single issue that can't be argued peacefully in a functioning democracy?
2006-08-29 05:21:23 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Jefferson wasn't talking about a functioning democracy where you can argue without penalty and everyone can walk away afterwords and agree to disagree. Occasionally that democracy is threatened from outsiders who want to impede or disable or destroy the process. What diplomacy can't rescue must be defended with the blood of committed men and women. Tyranny never surrenders to opinion.
2006-08-29 05:32:57 · answer #1 · answered by Norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the majority in a democracy elected representatives that voted to take away a right that that was worth fighting to keep, Jefferson's belief would come into play. The fight would come when the governments agents come to take what was rightfully yours. What is moral is not what is necessarily legal.The government coming to take might be after a long court battle that you lost, or maybe there was no court battle at all. The majority made your right into a wrong and came to get it because they knew you had it.
Here is an example. You are a doctor who performs abortions. Roe vs. Wade gets overturned. Or the U.S. Congress passes an amendment to the Constitution that makes abortion illegal at any point in a woman's pregnancy. Or the Plan B pill is banned. The government files charges against you for performing illegal abortions or making Plan B available because you don't stop helping pregnant women who wish to terminate their pregnancy. Abortions or the Plan B pill were legal yesterday; today they are illegal. You believe that it is immoral to prevent women from having control over their own bodies. You fight it in court, but lose. The government sends their agents to shut you down. You won't let them in. They kick the door in after warning you to come out or they will take you by force. They see you and shoot at you. If they don't miss. a patriot's blood has just been shed in the name of freedom.
Was this an extreme example? The majority decided. The representatives were freely elected after open debate. You believed in the freedom of women to choose. Your side lost. The right to choose was just made into a wrong. Either it was always a right or it was always wrong. It can't be right one day and wrong the next.
2006-08-29 12:53:13 · answer #2 · answered by SunnyGlo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freedom requires us to put the effort in. Not necessarily by bleeding literately, but by being willing to risk, and being committed to the goal.
And whether it's shedding blood, or being imprisoned for standing up against the govt, there are often serious costs. And the practice of democracy thru voting does not always get us where we need to go.
We have only those rights we choose to defend. Only those rights we can defend.
2006-08-29 12:24:14 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My position is that Jefferson would not be surprised at the Republican party that protects the right to bear arms ,but he would be amazed that an armed populace has not risen up against this tyrannical government that has shredded the constitution with the patriot act.
2006-08-29 12:32:14 · answer #4 · answered by tough as hell 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think we need to get back to our roots.....BOSTON TEA PARTY STYLE!! We are a country of many sheep and it is sad. I am glad to see not all of us are sleeping though!!!! Sorry I know that did not address the above question it's just that I do not feel we are the democratic country that are forefathers set up for us to be....we are having the rug pulled out from under us.
2006-08-29 12:41:00 · answer #5 · answered by Miss J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shedding blood or shedding liberties to maintain "Freedom."
How much different is the Patriot Act from the Stamp Act?
2006-08-29 12:26:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There can be if all are willing to follow well founded principles. But, unfortunately some are willing to lie, cheat and steal to maintain control.
Just as it all happened when this country was founded.
2006-08-29 12:40:47 · answer #7 · answered by Jack G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
does terrorism count? There is nothing to settle "peacefully" with them
2006-08-29 12:24:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When our leaders have committed treason...how else do you deal with it.....2008 should be an interesting year.
do you believe in your 2nd amendment rights?
do you exercise them?
http://www.spp.gov
check it out
2006-08-29 12:53:23 · answer #9 · answered by bill6866 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋