Faithfully Yours - A free society is a responsible society
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- Published on Sunday, May 31, 2015
By Neil Strohschein
As I write these words, our American neighbors are celebrating Memorial Day. It is one of two days each year on which they pause to recognize the heroism of their armed forces and to reflect on the blessings their sacrifices have brought to all Americans.
Like citizens around the world, Americans also observe November 11th. They call it Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day focuses on the sacrifices of those who fought in past wars and who, upon returning home, worked on farms, in businesses, in factories and in government to make their communities, states and country better places in which to live.
Memorial Day focuses on those who died in active service. Speeches are made, wreaths are laid, concerts are held and people pause to offer prayers for those currently on assignment (many of whom are family members).
But today more than ever, American citizens (and I would argue citizens of all countries) are asking the question: “What—what are we fighting for? What is our goal in the wars we ask our armed forces to fight?” One of the frequent replies to this question goes something like this: “We are fighting for freedom;” to which I reply: “What is freedom? How do you define it?”
Many years ago, I read this definition of freedom: “Freedom does not give you the right to do what you want to do. Freedom releases you to do what you ought to do.”
Some people argue that a “free society” should allow people to do whatever they want with (but more often to) whomever they may. This attitude does not produce a free society. It produces anarchy and chaos. This attitude has been the basis of countless attempts at “cultural genocide;” the act of one race claiming the right to dominate, enslave and ultimately exterminate another. It is also the root of acts of violence, criminal acts and other violations of another’s rights.
The free society described above is an illusion. It does not exist today. It will never exist because it can’t exist. Those who argue that they should be able to do what they want to do will be the first to complain when others, who believe the same thing, do what they want to do to them.
A free society is not a lawless society. But neither is it a “micro-managed” society. No society can thrive when governments stifle personal initiative and try to regulate every moment of every day for every citizen. Free societies balance individual rights with the rule of law. Free societies set boundaries within which their citizens are able to move about, interact with others, choose the occupations they will pursue and the relationships they will enjoy. In a free society, the law only restricts those actions which would harm the economic, social or emotional well being of others.
In other words, a free society is a responsible society. In a free society, people look out for each other—not because someone in power says they should; but because they love their neighbors as they love themselves and know that they are only truly free when they use the privileges granted by law to affirm and defend the rights of all people everywhere.
Past members of our armed forces have fought and died to give oppressed people around our world the opportunity to establish and live in a free and responsible society. This is the only reason we should ever send them to war today; because it is the only cause that is worth fighting for and dying for.
