- Thomas Jefferson (before any ill-informed members of the community accuse me of making quotes up again!).
To what extent do you agree? I know it comes down to where one draws the line, but it strikes me that hysterical elements in western societies are too quick to trade their freedoms for security guarantees, real or merely promised. Authoritarian-minded governments are only too quick to exploit this.
What do you think?
2007-02-20 03:13:14 · 7 answers · asked by D 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I agree whole-heartedly. If we give up our liberties to the government in exchange for safety, what have we then to protect us from the government? Government, as well as any organization, is subject to abuse by those in control, if they have the mind to do so. The beauty of the American democracy is that we have left a way for the people to fight back. No one can ever may you truly secure and only you can decide to be free. We all will die someday, many of us from tragic events, and giving up your freedoms can not change that. It can only make the time between now and then less enjoyable. Most of us have far more to worry about with regular criminals, gangs and hoodlums, than we ever will from foreign terrorists.
2007-02-20 03:22:28 · answer #1 · answered by fly guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. Here in San Diego the police, who are always complaining about their low salaries, have installed SEVEN spy cameras along Mission Beach. Sure there is the occasional fight sometimes, but there always have been; actual, serious crime on a beach is virtually impossible. So now we will be spied on. Great. To me, the "Presumption Of Innocence" means exactly what it says--if they don't have any reason to believe you are actually doing something wrong, you are to be presumed innocent and treated as innocent, which means they do not (or SHOULD not) have the right to spy on you on the beach or anywhere else. Unfortunately people love authoritarianism. Hitler and Stalin were very popular with their people; the made them feel "safe". So freedom is dead. People hate freedom. Til its absence actually effects them, then they notice. They always want young people to die to protect "freedom", but there isn't any. Don't waste your time protecting something that does not exist.
2007-02-20 11:22:23 · answer #2 · answered by jxt299 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're all minorities making up a jigsaw without being the whole picture: when they've come for the ethnic and religious and racial and political minorities, and trade unionists and humanitarian campaigners etc., the neighbours may still be there to ask what's happened...
2007-02-20 12:31:47 · answer #3 · answered by eyvind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely! It's ridiculous that people now have to go barefoot in airports and search warrants are no longer needed to invade your home. What comes next I wonder?
2007-02-20 11:20:50 · answer #4 · answered by Becky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Your incorrect if You do in fact believe this. History has a way of repeating itself, You enjoy quoting, read a bit and perhaps it will change Your perpective.
2007-02-20 11:17:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree, there are things we can do that do not involve removing our liberties. However the airport is one place where we don't need these liberties... unfortunately... buts seem to be growing...
2007-02-20 11:17:07 · answer #6 · answered by poseidenneptune 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a great quote!
Yes. I agree.
And think the same principal applies to work, play, politics, money...but with one exception...
Relationships.
2007-02-20 11:19:16 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋