On Slavery

I originally posted this on Facebook on February 11, 2009.

The English, from whom we draw much, but not all, of our heritage were once a proud people having forced the monarchy into a figurehead status where they were no longer governed by divine right or whim but by their own elected parliament. In the 21st century, however, we see them as again being subjugated to the ruling class. Not to King or Queen but, even worse, to politically correct politicians. They cannot be sure of decent health care having surrendered that to the government bureaucracy. They cannot be sure of the supremacy of their own courts as they are now on the verge of allowing shari'ah law among a significant portion of their own citizenry. They cannot be sure of their own right to worship freely or to banner their own religion for fear of offending those of a different religious stripe.

How did this happen to those whom we proudly fought along side in defeating tyranny? How did they allow themselves to become enslaved by the State that owed it's existence to them? I submit that it was their willing abdication in allowing the government to assume control of what was rightly their personal responsibility: That they provide and care for themselves. The process was not a quick one, nor did they plan for it. It began when the government, the tool of the people, began making people the tools of the government. The socialized standards that were imposed "for the good of all" took liberty from all.

Sadly, they have little redress. They could, of course rise in rebellion but that's been bred out of the English. They long ago surrendered their own right to bear arms to the government "for the good of all" failing to realize that the main difference between a slave and a free man is the very right to bear arms. It's a small thing, except to those who still, in a medieval manner, impute evil in inanimate objects; but the ability to bear arms is one of the main differences between Americans and the British. Enshrined in our Constitution as the 2nd Amendment, it differentiates Americans from all others.

Americans are not likely to need to rise up in arms against a tyrannical government; but we are safe and secure in our own homes when we freely exercise our God given right to self-defense. Even more, the symbolism that the right to keep and bear arms provides is that the government is ever controlled by the governed. I pray that we will work hard to keep and protect all of the Bill of Rights for they are all interdependent. To lose one will lead to the loss of all. I pray that we do not follow the path to enslavement by a government acting "for our own good." I pray that we do not end up like our British brethren but that we learn from their errors.