Showing posts with label civil liberties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label civil liberties. Show all posts
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Freedom
Recent, firsthand, eyewitness news reports from Iran via Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sources have been depressing and, at times, shocking.
Citizens expressing themselves and their rights in peaceful, public demonstrations end up caught in terrible violence, cruel beatings, arrest and who knows what else?
As a freedom loving person, it is impossible not to be moved and concerned for our fellow human beings on the other side of the world in Iran.
I know that I take for granted the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of this nation.
I am grateful that our nation is not ruled by a "supreme ruler," an unquestioned religious leader who claims the sanctions of God to justify every action, even those involving brutality and torture. Today, I am most grateful for "the separation of church and state." I am thankful for our open, secular, social fabric that allows each of us to work out our own faith without imposing or being imposed upon by some overriding authority. I am grateful for our forefathers and mothers who saw and understood the importance of such openness of religious expression, including no religious expression at all.
I am praying that the cleansing power of liberty would wash all such madmen away in its powerful wake. I am praying that as a people we might understand again the importance of diversity, freedom of expression and basic human rights.
Today, I am praying for the spread of liberty into places where it does not exist. I am praying for those who in this very moment are making tremendous, painful and dangerous sacrifices for the cause of liberty.
And, I am thankful for what we have in this nation and for the freedom we enjoy that allows us to work hard at making things even better.
Citizens expressing themselves and their rights in peaceful, public demonstrations end up caught in terrible violence, cruel beatings, arrest and who knows what else?
As a freedom loving person, it is impossible not to be moved and concerned for our fellow human beings on the other side of the world in Iran.
I know that I take for granted the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of this nation.
I am grateful that our nation is not ruled by a "supreme ruler," an unquestioned religious leader who claims the sanctions of God to justify every action, even those involving brutality and torture. Today, I am most grateful for "the separation of church and state." I am thankful for our open, secular, social fabric that allows each of us to work out our own faith without imposing or being imposed upon by some overriding authority. I am grateful for our forefathers and mothers who saw and understood the importance of such openness of religious expression, including no religious expression at all.
I am praying that the cleansing power of liberty would wash all such madmen away in its powerful wake. I am praying that as a people we might understand again the importance of diversity, freedom of expression and basic human rights.
Today, I am praying for the spread of liberty into places where it does not exist. I am praying for those who in this very moment are making tremendous, painful and dangerous sacrifices for the cause of liberty.
And, I am thankful for what we have in this nation and for the freedom we enjoy that allows us to work hard at making things even better.
There will be celebration today in our home. . .and thoughts for people and freedom around the world.
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