|
|
|
P.O. Box 160223 Nashville, Tn 37216-0223 615 262-1119 - Office
|
Liberty What is ‘Liberty’? According to Dictionary.com Liberty is: 1.) The condition of being free from restriction or control. 2.) The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing. 3.) The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor. There are additional descriptions as well but these seem to address the areas that most affect us. What is Liberty to you? Is it the right to say what you want without fear that a government agent is going to confine you for the content (short of shouting "FIRE" in a movie theater)? Is it being able to choose your own profession? Is it being able to live where you want without restriction? For me Liberty is not the lack of rules that inconvenience me directly – although that is part of it. I take a broad view that if my neighbor’s Liberty is threatened even if it doesn’t affect me directly, it is still a threat to my Liberty. All Liberty is connected and losing it is a slippery slope. The German anti-fascist Martin Niemoller said, "First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." I realize this is an extreme case, but it shows the point very well. Those that would take a little bit of Liberty from around the edges are empowered whenever they succeed and you may be next. Just look at how empowered the terrorists are whenever they blackmail a country into pulling out of Iraq. Closer to home, as I said, the lose of Liberty for my neighbor may not affect me directly. For example, the new primary seat belt law in this state really doesn’t affect me as I always wear one – but that is by choice. However, I don’t think that it is the government’s responsibility to mandate this. The passage of this law was a huge defeat for Liberty. You cannot legislate risk out of life and people should be able to decide for themselves what risk is acceptable within their own lives. In our little world, Liberty is often associated with the ridiculous rules and restrictions put on us by ignorant and over-reaching government bureaucrats and ‘do-gooders’. In most cases I suspect they think they are really trying to help. In some cases their actions are simply vindictive due to personal vendettas. A lot of them are uneducated in the finer aspects and true nature of motorcycling, motorcycle riding and the physics relating to motorcycles. Granted, they have a lot on their plates during every legislative session. They can’t be expected to be experts on everything they need to deal with. So sometimes they are making uneducated decisions and a lot of times these decisions affected us negatively. So, what can you do? Simple. Register to vote. Vote. Talk to the candidates that are running for office. Let them know that you are a reasonable and educated constituent and are willing to offer whatever counsel you can in this area as they have questions on motorcycling specifically and on Liberty in general. Work in the election for those that promote Liberty. An hour passing out flyers or putting up lawn signs goes a long, long way. They need people more often then they need money. Learn about the process. Consider running for office yourself – and feel free to start small. Don’t be afraid to run for a city counsel seat or other local office. You have to start somewhere. And, promote Liberty in whatever you do and whatever you are associated with. To me it is counter productive to try to preach Liberty to legislators and law makers when we are not willing to practice it within our own groups and other organizations that we are members of both inside and outside motorcycling. Be consistent in your conviction about Liberty. Wear it on your sleeve. As Daniel Webster said, "God grants Liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it." Since I’m heading to Sturgis, I had better go do my Wiring Harness Preventive Maintenance. Steve
|
Send general questions and comments about CMT/ABATE to
.
|