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(...and now that we're back on track here...)

Ya know folks, after reading through this thread and particularly where some of my fellow Yanks seem to be badmouthing other countries about their "lack of freedom", I can't help but think of a little something Friar John posted in that "Current Events" thread today where he states:

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I read a statistic, and again, this it to reinforce Steven's point, not to get political, that this is a violent country. Where there's a will there's a way. Not only do we outnumber all other civilized western countries in gun deaths per capita, we vastly outnumber other countries in knifing deaths (probably baseball bat and crowbar deaths as well). I'm waiting for the ban on cutlery to make it's way through congress.




And so, what I'm wondering here is IF with all this "freedom" with which we Americans supposedly pride ourselves...well, IF maybe with all this "freedom" IF we ALSO often lose sight of the idea of "personal restraint and responsibility" in our actions and/or words, as compared to other places in this world?

(...there's ya somethin' to contemplate, huh?!)


If a person were to understand true "Freedom" he would know that it is the ultimate of giving resonsibility. Or in other words to have true freedom one also must undertake the heavy burden of responsibility it comes with. For example: We have the freedom to have guns, and the responsibility to know that if you shot someone or someones property even by accident you are punishable by law.
We also have the freedom to come and go as we please, however if you dont go to work as it were you can lose your job.
Now In speech I do agree that we have lost our balance and say things that should not be said and hide behind the "Freedom of Speech" , Thus we get away with crued and unruley speech. So how do you regulate such a thing with out the use of Government tyranny. It use to be regulated by the person who was offended by the speech in that he would knock your block off for ya, and what was concidered to be proper. In that if you spoke in an improper manner you were ostrasized from the community. That however has become a relic of times long since past.

I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe