You
can't separate
peace from freedom
by Dan "Frodo" Litwin
For the first time in
many Americans' lives, it is abundantly clear that we are not at
peace. We are not insulated from the problems of the world.
We are at war.
On top of that, under
the banner of "Enduring Freedom" we are now forced to give up
some of our freedoms - supposedly to regain our peace. We are told
that peace and freedom don't come in the same package.
But what if, as Malcolm
X said, "You can't separate
peace from freedom"? Just exactly how are
we gaining any sense of peace - inner
or otherwise - by giving up our freedoms?
I believe exactly the opposite
of what the political machine tells us. I believe Peace depends
on our personal freedoms - the very freedoms we are now told we
cannot have.
Let me explain:
9/11
What if the airlines, on
September 11th, 2001, had simply been allowed the freedom to have
armed guards on their planes?
This
may come as a surprise to you, but our politicians would not allow, and
still will not allow airlines to offer you choices for armed security
in-flight. Airline security is and has long been dictated by the
FAA (a federal government agency). And the bottom line is:
The
Federal Government won't let the airlines offer you any choice of real
security plans.
What's going on
here? Even liquor stores have armed security. Surely,
multi-million dollar planes would be protected by guards - if only it
was legal.
So again: what if the
airlines, on September 11th, 2001, had simply been allowed the
freedom to have armed guards on their planes? Would box cutters
have been any real threat?
Americans have lost the
freedom of self-defense...
...and with it, our
once-peaceful lives.
"You can't separate
peace from freedom."
Lose freedom. Lose
peace.
Fortunately, it works
both ways: If we had allowed airlines to have armed
security, September 11th probably never would have occurred (imagine box
cutters against armed security...).
Allow the freedom of
self-defense.
Increase our chances to
live in peace.
Peace depends on
freedom.
"You can't separate
peace from freedom."
Gain freedom. Gain
peace.
Another
story:
In the 1920's, Americans lost the
freedom to drink hard liquor. This resulted in a huge bonus to
gangs who made and sold bootleg alcohol and turned the streets of
Chicago into war zones to protect their turf.
Americans lost the freedom to
drink.
Americans lost the peace.
"You can't separate peace
from freedom."
Today's version of the war on
alcohol is a war on drugs. Today's gangs are international
terrorists, cartels, and rogue governments who make billions selling
drugs on the black market. That's how they finance some of their
terrorist attacks.
Politicians go
beyond crime, outlawing certain less popular freedoms
("sins").
And so, America
endures black-market-financed
gang warfare, terrorism, and much more.
Nothing changes reality:
Outlawing peaceful freedoms
disturbs the peace.
But there is great news, because
again, it works both ways: If we end the war on drugs, we will
seriously undercut the financing of international terrorists and
gangs. In 1933, we re-legalized alcohol and crippled American
gangsters. In this new century, we must end the war on drugs and
cripple all manner of terrorists.
Free the people.
Live in greater peace.
Moderation
for Peace & Freedom
The purpose of a reasonable,
moderate government is simply to keep you free, so you can enjoy the
peace. That's why Libertarians promote traditional laws. For
instance, Libertarians will prosecute real criminals, such as murderers,
robbers, rapists, trespassers and con-men. That's keeping you free
to enjoy the peace.
But today's lawmakers are neither
reasonable nor moderate:
Today's anti-freedom gun
controllers disarm planes.
Today's anti-freedom drug
warriors finance terror.
Anti-freedom.
Anti-peace.
Libertarians are in the
middle. We don't promote drug use, but we also don't support the
opposite extreme of prohibition, which finances terrorists. And
while we don't want to force everyone to own guns, we also don't support
the opposite extreme of laws against self-defense.
Moderation in a world of
extremism.
Libertarian.
Restore peaceful freedoms.
Restore peace.
"You can't separate peace
from freedom."
Thankfully, we don't have to.
Let's build a responsible future,
not of anarchy, but of small government and greater freedom, and let's
watch as peace inevitably returns to America. Let's dust off and
polish up the beacon of liberty to a luster never-before known.
Because only then - by our example, and not by force - will the
American ideals of peace and freedom have a chance to sweep the globe.
Peace & Freedom.
We can win them, but
only if we
Come Together against the machine.
