Op-Ed: ‘We Choose Freedom’ Sign
By Neil Parker • October 22, 2024The following Op-Ed was submitted by Neil Parker. Op-Eds do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch.
“There’s a house in my neighborhood that has a sign in the yard, a sign with white lettering on a blue background that says “WE CHOOSE FREEDOM.” Based on the blue color and what I know of the residents, I surmised it was a Democratic campaign slogan. A Google search confirmed that it is indeed such, and that the slogan apparently came from a campaign speech given by Kamala Harris, but likely gifted by a speech writer since Harris isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
Boldly declaring that “We Choose Freedom” implies that the other side, in this case, Republicans, does not. It implies a superiority of thought and action, even a nobility, which those on the other side don’t possess. Perhaps the other side goes as far as to choose the opposite of freedom, which must be something like captivity or tyranny or slavery. That’s kind of a heavy accusation, even if only implied, so I think this is a matter that merits closer examination.
First, let’s consider the Covid hysteria of the not too distant past. It was by and large the Democrats who were all about forcing people to inject an inadequately-tested, experimental, gene therapy drug masquerading as a “safe and effective” vaccine whether they wanted to or not, and it was the Democrats who slandered and persecuted the non-compliant in a variety of creative ways. Perhaps they would like to explain to all of us how this promoted the freedom they claim to choose.
Again, it was mostly those champions of freedom, the Democrats, who reveled in mandates seeking to force people to wear masks that were falsely claimed to prevent the passage of a virus. It was largely Democrats who forced schools, businesses, and churches to close for long periods of time, causing sometimes irrevocable harm to the vital functions of education, commerce, and worship. Please explain how that too furthered the noble cause of freedom.
Democrats are on record as wanting to ban and confiscate American’s firearms. Never mind that gun ownership and its inherent right to self-protection are constitutionally-protected rights. Maybe those evil, racist, slave-owning, and above all, white, Founding Fathers just didn’t understand freedom nearly to the degree that sophisticated, modern-day Democrats do. How exactly is freedom preserved and protected by the Left’s incessant attacks on the Second Amendment?
Then of course there’s freedom of speech, probably the preeminent freedom of those enumerated by the Bill of Rights. Suffice it to say that Democrats are only in favor of the free speech they agree with. Anything else is fair game to be censored, shouted down, and cancelled. That would include anything critical of or questioning the “vaccine,” the masking and lockdown mandates, the farcical “climate emergency,” the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, or in fact any other speech critical of the current Democratic regime and its policies.
So please, Democrats, don’t insult our intelligence and discernment by claiming that you choose freedom. You choose nothing of the sort except for the freedom to rid yourselves of your unwanted, unborn offspring. You do choose a lot of other things though. You choose one-party rule in perpetuity if you can get away with it through election fraud and other despicable means. You choose lawfare, incarceration, and even assassination against your political opponents. You choose flooding the country with illegal aliens that you plan to parlay into Democrat votes. You choose taking away the right and ability of Americans to defend themselves against crime and even tyranny. You choose to silence and punish speech you don’t like. Finally and most pitifully, you choose to safeguard your ignorance of the truth by consuming only one-sided media that is of, by, and for the Democrat Party.
Maybe members of the political party that embraces so many anti-freedoms shouldn’t be lecturing others on a subject they obviously don’t believe in. If truthfulness could be mandated as easily as ineffectual, virtue-signaling Covid masks, that sign that made me think about all this would have read, “WE CHOOSE CONTROL AND ONE-PARTY RULE.” In stark contrast to the disingenuous slogan, “We Choose Freedom,” the slogan of the so-called MAGA Republicans is forthright and honest. “Make America Great Again” means redeeming America from the failed and destructive policies of a Democratic administration. No empty platitudes or meaningless and misleading rhetoric, just redemption for a nation desperately in need of a new direction at a critical juncture in its history.”
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Thank you…<
The author made some interesting points, but unfortunately it’s clear he’s first and foremost a Republican before he’s an American. One of the great problems our nation is facing is partisanship, and the belief that one side has all the remedies and panaceas necessary to fix our nation’s ills. Our Founding Father’s understood the importance of working with one’s ideological opponents (e.g., Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were close friends) to accomplish the greater good for the people. Have a good fight about it with our sanctified free speech, but at the end of the day recognize we’re all Americans and we all have problems that need to be dealt with. We have to sit down, agree on the problems we’re facing, and work with the other side to fix them. The author of this Op-Ed would do well to humble himself and know that, just like atheists, there are no partisans in a foxhole.
The desire to take away our Constitutionally protected freedoms is a human trait more than simply a trait of those who belong to a particular political party. However some parties — especially recently — appear more inclined to stealing liberty than others.
The tendency toward tyrannical power grabs is one that tempts every person (and certainly every bureaucracy). It first must be recognized in oneself and others; then, it must be resisted.
People on all sides of the aisle in every political party are guilty of trying to suppress the precious freedoms outlined in this editorial. Sometimes the suppression is blatant; and sometimes it is subtle (like boiling the proverbial frog ). But before pointing fingers at others, one must first look into the mirror.
Well said, sans the condescension.
No condescension was intended. Very sorry if something like that came through in my 4am writing.
I really do try to check my own intentions first before accusing anyone else of something. It’s a constant struggle. I fail a lot!
EO, my comment was not directed at your reply…no worries. It was, however in response to the comments including wording such as “sanctified,’ and “humble,” and “unfortunately” that were included in the post prior to yours. Those at least to me, were condescending in the context used and appeared very much like an attempt to belittle the author of the op-ed’s transparent feelings regarding a subject. I didn’t feel those comments were at all helpful…I understand your response entirely. All good…:-)
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