What do you all think of this quote by 'terrorist' Benjamin Franklin? I think him 100% correct.
2007-12-26 00:36:23 · 11 answers · asked by gortamor 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
That quote cuts both directions.
I take that quote to refer to welfare programs. Those programs also trade liberty for security, and prove themselves repeatedly, to be strong disincentives for independent, responsible citizenship.
2007-12-26 00:48:08 · answer #1 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
Very correct and a very good question for those who shy away from taking a stand for good.
As regards the quote in your question, essential liberty encompasses basic human freedoms. Giving these up in effect reduces a person to a nobody and to someone with no basic rights to exercise.... in effect - a state of bondage.
What is so ironic in the statement is the giving up of those basic rights to be a person, and for some 'safety' that is neither permanent nor guaranteed.
Such safety can be withrawn at any time by those holdng all the cards who effectively have all their own basic human rights and freedoms intact to do what-so-ever they may wish and at any time of their own choosing.
For the person who gave up his essential freedoms for temporary safety .... when the time arrives for the sellers of the temporary safety to withdraw such status, he would be left with no basic human rights, no freedoms to live as a person and no rights with which to demand and live in safety.
He would in effect live in perpetual bondage and reliant on the mercies of his Masters who have all the cards .. and their willingness to throw them some 'crumbs' when they feel they should do so.
No-one should ever contemplate giving up their essential freedoms and rights which include living in a safe and comfortable environment for a life of perpetual bondage, nomatter the promises made to them at the time, and the limited attraction temporary safety might provide.
The Palestinian / Israeli situation provides a case in point. The world communities must never allow such a diabolical scenario to happen again. What we see is one group having all the power to exercise all its freedoms and the other group having no rights whatsover to any basic rights to fulfil basic human needs. These should include safety always and dignity in existence.
Palestinians are left to exist in limbo and to forever look up to the Masterful Israel to throw down some crumbs in a very limited fashion, just so they could perform actions of daily living - which after all is every individual's basic human right to expect.
2007-12-26 09:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ben Franklin would be in Guantanamo Bay right now... Along with most of the rest of the American founding fathers.
I think you are absolutely right! The problem is that apathy reigns in America right now. Most people (69% the last time I checked) are unhappy with the way things are going but no one does anything about it...
2007-12-26 08:51:07 · answer #3 · answered by Geaux Ghoti 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Bush supporters will call him a traitor.
(EDIT)
wanna know how twisted these Bush supporting GOP faithful are? just read the post of the guy right below me. An example of pure fascist like spin. These guys can make it out to be that up is down and war is peace, and that being a Christian in the spirit of Jesus is actually being devilish. The quote clearly is talking about national security in exchange for liberties..as is the case in a fascist state. But somehow he turns it on its head to attack something he does not like.
UNBELIEVABLE.....SHOWS how they are liars as well.
2007-12-26 08:44:45 · answer #4 · answered by me 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
A slaveowner like Benjamin Franklin ought to know.
2007-12-26 09:53:24 · answer #5 · answered by robert c 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
j whole-heartedly agree with Benjamin Franklin. But the people of both the U.K. as well as the U.S. are apathetic.
2007-12-26 10:39:09 · answer #6 · answered by LEONARD W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Odd quote for an RA man sorry Sinn fain man to ask about. doesnt like idea of id cards either. agenda gort?
2007-12-26 10:13:52 · answer #7 · answered by voltairef1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its spot on and a really vivid reflection of the world just now. Its only in times of fear that govs can get away with imprisoning people without charge starting illegal wars and bringing about 1984esque ID cards.
2007-12-26 08:41:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Ben was absolutely right.
2007-12-26 09:44:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Spot on!
2007-12-26 08:41:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋