Blog 450 – 10.30.2016

Someone has said your liberty ends where the other fellow’s nose begins. But since I like to view things slightly askew I’d like to twist that a bit and say the other fellow’s liberty should not end because you choose to poke your nose in – his or her business.

One of the original driving factors for so many people leaving Europe and coming to the New a World was personal liberty. Government and Religion, often the same thing in those times, dictated the details of everyone’s lives and those who tried to live differently were treated harshly even executed in many cases. Sadly in many cases the people who fled religious and political persecution to this country were often equally intolerant of other religions and lifestyle choices here.

That brings me to my point – choice. For you see that is how I think Liberty is best defined, in terms of freedom of choice.

Laws, rules, and regulations are said to be the guiding principles of civilization but in most cases they are actually one of three things:

•  Knee jerk reactions to particular perceived problems and usually overkill at
that

•  Moral judgements of the ruling class or even the majority which are actually
only personal preferences

•  Laws, rules, and regulations actually designed to financially benefit one
group or individual over others usually that person or group with the most
power and influence

Often it is one or all three of the above that causes people to hate and distrust government. Actually one rule is enough, The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I know many of you think The Ten Commandments should be the rule. But the first three are religious in nature and would be forcing others to accept and follow a particular religion. And the other seven are actually covered by the one rule. Another problem I have with the Ten Commandments is they are all negative, “Thou shalt not…” I came across a more positive code to live by some years back called Ten Intentions for a Better World. If you’re interested you can find it online. I will share the first intention with you.

“I refrain from opposing or harming anyone. I allow others to have their own experiences. I see life in all things and honor it as if it were my own. I support life.”

I think that is one of the best descriptions of Liberty I have ever read. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Does what you think or believe set you free? Are you more concerned with how other people live their lives than living your own? Are you forever putting your nose in the way of someone else’s liberty? Maybe you should let yourself and the rest of us off the hook. Or as the young people say, “Free your mind and the rest will follow.” It was Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” If you are not living according to your own highest and best intentions you are a slave to something or someone else and that to me, my friends, is like being a zombie or one of the living dead.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White