Over to Thomas Jefferson...
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.
It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression
Well, quite.
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.
It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression
Well, quite.
posted by Rachel at 6:12 pm
Hi Rachel,
The BBC website has 3 members of the British public submitting their thoughts on "Tony's Folly", the link is below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4425612.stm
Three very different views, spot which is mine... I had the opportunity to say what I thought, but wasn't sure if I should. Well, I've read everyone's replies to your last 2 or 3 postings and got the strength and determination and decided to go for it and let us "disenting, traitorous, pathetic liberals" get some publicity and say what I felt.
Apparently it was broadcast on BBC News24 yesterday.
All the best, Gary
Well done gary - that's brilliant!
I have read the interview - can't see it as am at work but will watch it tonight. And I say *round of applause*