It is perhaps (or perhaps not) coincidental that as the United States celebrated its independence, Egyptians were freed from a man who, though democratically elected, had quickly become a tyrant no better than the one he'd replaced. The future of Egypt is very unclear, and we should not be naive enough to think that the motives behind any of the parties in Egypt's troubles are pure. But the fact is that two dictators have been pushed out of power in just over a year, and that is at least a cause for cautious optimism.
It is the natural state of mankind to be free. We were created with a natural curiosity and compulsion to push back the horizon. We are naturally drawn to reject limits, and without outside influence we generally desire to better ourselves. Simply put, we want to be better and go farther. There is no greater natural draw than the unknown, and no more naural enemy than imposed restriction. Unfortunately, those who seek to dictate to or enslave others usually do so with not only guns and force, but with a far more powerful and seductive tool. Economics. Terrorists and dictators today and throughout history have always used economics to win territory and enslave people when military might would not have worked. Just as Adolph Hitler initially gained support in post World War One Germany by promising to make the country strong and proud again, and both sides in the Vietnam War learned the value of winning the hearts and minds of the people, terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Al Qaeda frequently gain footholds in strategically located towns and villages by promising and delivering economic aid and improving infrastructure. They are in effect buying the hearts and minds of the people.
This tactic even extends to politics. Candidates throughout history have sought to buy votes. This has sometimes been outright, but especially recently has been more clever and insidious. The idea of basing one's vote on which candidate will put more money in your pocket (or the infamous 'free stuff') may be distasteful and politically incorrect, but it is also undeniable. This is not a new phenomenon. It has simply become supercharged and more of an art form. Make no mistake though. When you allow a politician to buy your vote, you are selling a very important piece of yourself. You are bartering your freedom for that 'free stuff'.
When our Founding Fathers declared independence from Great Britain, they were essentially giving up the free stuff. They were stating to the world that their freedom from a distant tyrant was more important to them than the protection of one of the world's superpowers of the day. They were aware of the risks to not only their personal fortunes but to their lives and their families' lives. They risked everything material for something far more important. Freedom and self-determination.
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. Simple and eloquent.
I'll finish with my words from July Fourth. The Egyptian people have reminded us that freedom must be fought for. It is not safe. It is not easy. It is not cheap. It risks injury, ruin, and sometimes death. Its frontline soldiers come in all races, genders and classes. They will be vilified. They will be opposed. They will be arrested and beaten and sometimes executed. But they will not be silenced, and their enemies will know defeat. The frontline soldiers of freedom fight not only in Tahrir Square, but all over the world and every state in the United States. Never forget the price that others have paid for our freedom, nor the price that others today are paying for theirs.
No comments:
Post a Comment