Essential Liberty vs. Temporary Safety?

Question

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

If terrorists hate us for our freedom, why does our government appease them by restricting our freedoms for the war on terror? I know 9/11 has changed America, but do you think we have allowed it to change America for the better, or for the worse? Have we allowed fear to overcome our actions, and if so isn't that a victory for the terrorists?

Yes, but his words are timeless. We should be aware of what those who claim to be our enemies do, but we should not allow fear to challenge our liberties. The tactics used by our government which are purported to protect us can not only been used against terrorists, but eventually against American citizens. One can say, if you do nothing wrong, what do you have to worry about? But, it is who decides what is considered wrong that I am concerned with. I am not asking what effect this will have on terrorists, I am asking what long term effect this will have on American society?

The details above are directed towards sociald.

Answer 1

I find it hard to believe that the answer to why terrorists hate us is as simple as hating our freedom. There is more to it, but the excuse of them hating our freedom is what our gov't would have us believe. I think 9/11 has changed our country for the worse in the long run, some people are so afraid that we will have to fight them here that they will sanction any sort of international behavior on the part of the US. People don't realize that it's not as simple as "fight them there or fight them here". It's just another form of fear that people buy into. Fear has overcome our actions. If you say anything disagreeing with the current administration, people will call you un-patriotic and say keep you're opinion to yourself while we're at war. Patriotism has nothing to do with politicians, or presidents, or supporting wars, or getting revenge for terrorism. Patriotism is upholding the constitution and our freedom. If we allow fear to overcome freedom, we are lost to much more than our perceived enemies.

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."

"We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it."

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government."

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."

"Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education & free discussion are the antidotes of both."

"I have the consolation to reflect that during the period of my administration not a drop of the blood of a single fellow citizen was shed by the sword of war or of the law."


"I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country."

-Thomas Jefferson

Answer 2

Well Ben is wise we all know that.
But to be fair there weren't many people flying planes into buildings, suicide bombing, unaccounted for material to make dirty nukes .... etc... during his time

A handful of people during Franklins time could not take out many thousands .. or even more.

But also during Franklins time... a person who was commiting acts like terrorism would have been hunted down relentlessly and hanged or shot.

--I understand what your saying. Essentially your making a 'slippery slope' argument and I will not contend that it should not be a concern.
I hope you understand what I am saying though. There 'are' differences in the era of Franklin compared to today and something needs to be done about that.
Also my other point was. the people in the era of the forefathers 'would' have taken swift action.

Answer 3

Spot on. Fear is what the terrorists want, an Bush gave it to them in abundance. That's what emboldening really means. Taking our rights away in the process is just an added bonus.

Answer 4

i ponder whether you recognize that this has greater skill context than choosing between wiretapping or terrorism. there is likewise the tradeoff of Social protection as against financial freedom, seatbelt and helmet rules, huge-unfold healthcare, and the record is going on and on. Are there particular styles of protection which you fee greater desirable than the attendant fee of Liberty? Or are you a single-problem philosophical poser?

Answer 5

You have put your finger right on the problem.
Scare tactics to get votes.

Answer 6

Yes...its one thing to be wise to them...its another to be socially paranoid about what if's.