Freedom is not free but it's the citizens who have to fight for it

WOMAN: Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: A Republic, if you can keep it.

(source)




One thing that's becoming increasingly clear is that the enemies of freedom are divided into two camps: foreign and domestic. Much has been written about the foreign group, but little has been written about the other group. The more dangerous group are those who threaten freedom at home.

I was reminded of this while reading Adirondack Musing blog.

He wrote about a resolution debated by the Plattsburgh city council calling for the impeachment of President Bush. The vote failed 3-2, which was surprisingly close for a town in conservative upstate New York. Though I'm not convinced that a local government body is the best place to debate national issues, I suppose a compelling case could be made to the contrary.

But what's really interesting is some of the reporting from the Plattsburgh Press-Republican article on the 'debate' before the vote.

The most emotional voice against the impeachment idea came from Ron Long.

Long, his voice rising and face twisting with anger as he spoke, said the president has the right and responsibility to do whatever he has to in order to deal with enemies without and within.

"Hang the traitors, death to the left," he shouted as several in the crowd wearing veterans hats cheered.

One of the city councilors, William Provost, immediately stood up and denounced Long's comments.

"You are clapping at a call for death," he said.

"That's un-American and you should be ashamed of yourself."

Provost is absolutely right: Long should be ashamed of himself.

A man named Rodney Wright, who's not even from Plattsburgh, offered an echo of a comment heard frequently throughout the country, "I know you're not happy, but you are sending the wrong message to the troops who are over there."

Even this seemingly more moderate voice completely misses the point. The city council is sending EXACTLY THE RIGHT MESSAGE to the troops: they are fighting for freedom and we are exercising it.

They are also sending the right messages to Iraqis. Such as, democracy does not get suspended when it becomes inconvenient. You can criticize the leaders of your country and not get thrown in jail. In a democracy, debates are settled via a clash of ideas, not with violence (unless extremists like Ron Long get their way).

While one could make a shaky argument that US soldiers in Iraq are fight for the freedom of Iraqis, I do not accept for one second that they are fighting for the freedom of Americans. And this is due in part to scum like Ron Long. People who insist the soldiers are fighting for our freedom and yet seize every opportunity to denounce Americans who actually exercise those freedoms.

And even more disgraceful than Ron Long are the veterans in the crowd who cheered his Fatwa. If anyone should respect freedom, like the freedom to disagree with the Leader, it should be those who wore the uniform of the United States military. Those who swore an oath that began "I,(name), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States..."

Freedom is not free but it's the citizens who have to fight for it.