Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.
Abba Hillel Silver.
The framers of the United States Declaration of Independence recognized what Abba Hillel Silver wrote. They wrote,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom perhaps is mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. Provided that is they are not harming anyone or any thing. As it has been said,
“your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
When God created man, He gave man complete freedom to do as he wished. That freedom included the right to believe in Him or not.
That freedom included the right to live life they way the individual whished. Even if it is a life not pleasing to God.
Sadly many Zealots, be they Christian, Atheist, those of other faiths or Terrorist, are blind either deliberately or without realizing it to what true freedom means. They want things their way.
You cannot impose freedom on anyone. Like I said true freedom is allowing people to do as they wish providing they do not cause harm to anyone or any thing.
We as people living in a free democracy need to realize that fact, and be willing to stand up for the rights of even those with whom we vehemently disagree.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive. Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints. People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.
-Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism. The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991).
Martin Niemoller wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin Niemoller
Niemoller knew what he was talking about. He seen first hand what happened in Nazi Germany.
For me the best way to ensure freedom is to practice what Jesus taught. To love God, our neighbour and even our enemy.
To do follow the words Jesus said when he said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
Please think about it.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.
Abba Hillel Silver.
The framers of the United States Declaration of Independence recognized what Abba Hillel Silver wrote. They wrote,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom perhaps is mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. Provided that is they are not harming anyone or any thing. As it has been said,
“your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
When God created man, He gave man complete freedom to do as he wished. That freedom included the right to believe in Him or not.
That freedom included the right to live life they way the individual whished. Even if it is a life not pleasing to God.
Sadly many Zealots, be they Christian, Atheist, those of other faiths or Terrorist, are blind either deliberately or without realizing it to what true freedom means. They want things their way.
You cannot impose freedom on anyone. Like I said true freedom is allowing people to do as they wish providing they do not cause harm to anyone or any thing.
We as people living in a free democracy need to realize that fact, and be willing to stand up for the rights of even those with whom we vehemently disagree.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive. Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints. People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.
-Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism. The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991).
Martin Niemoller wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin Niemoller
Niemoller knew what he was talking about. He seen first hand what happened in Nazi Germany.
For me the best way to ensure freedom is to practice what Jesus taught. To love God, our neighbour and even our enemy.
To do follow the words Jesus said when he said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
Please think about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment