I believe in freedom.  Freedom is the right to be one’s self, to act in one’s own behalf without interference.  Freedom provides wide latitude of action, but freedom is not free.  It must respect the rights of all other people.  Martin Luther said it well, “Love God and do as you please.” 

The problem is that there are many in our society who don’t love God.  Instead they love power over others.  This equals some freedom lost.  Of course some freedom must be forfeited to maintain an orderly society.  Yet many in power are not satisfied with order and prosperity.  They want everyone to conform to their ways of thinking. 

The powers that be cannot impose their will to destroy one’s rights in one huge gulp, but a nibble at a time may not be noticed by many and may be welcomed by a few who are not affected.  A few more nibbles may become the gulp that affects everybody.  Environmentalists, for example, posing as protectors of rare species have shut down many projects for the sake of a snail darter, a rat or a fly.  We may say, “So what, it doesn’t affect me,” but it probably will eventually. 

Freedom is a fragile thing, and once lost may never be regained.  I believe that all who value their heritage had best be vigilant and resist attacks on the freedom of not only themselves but upon anybody else.