Life or Liberty
Reader comment on item: [The Abu Ali Case and] Balancing Liberties, Security

Submitted by Arlinda DeAngelis (United States), Mar 1, 2005 at 21:41

It is my contention and my humble opinion that the good Dr. Pipes poses incredible challenges that makes the reader, the student, the fan and the scholar so uncomfortable that they are forced to think ... critically. In this day and age we live in a culture that does just the opposite. Perhaps that is why we come to this site ... thinking is such a wonderful pursuit and rare to the present culture.

Since we are in the "Age of Terrorism" it would be more prudent to err on the side of caution than to err on the side of liberalism when it comes to our lives. Without life there is no liberty. Without life there is no pursuit of happiness, or free speech, or religious freedom or freedom period.

The right of religious freedom does not entitle an adherent to follow the dictates of his or her religion to enslave and oppress i.e. in the case of Islamic women. Advocating against such practices is not religious oppression. It is an expression affirming the freedoms for all people.

We are at war with a fascist belief system that targets us as infidels. It wants us dead. We cannot permit the expansion of such a belief system. It is at best impractical and at worst deadly.

Freedom of speech to advocate the destruction of the United States and/or Israel is a practice of oppression not freedom. There is no reason for a free society to allow hate mongering because it infringes on the rights of the targeted.

Fascism breeds well in freedom only to spread tyranny and oppression to destroy the very freedoms that gave it life. Civil liberties, personal freedoms and human rights are not a contract for the scum of earth to destroy us. My take on all of this is that if you don't want to be incarcerated and/or spend some time in Guantanamo or have your civil liberties curtailed then refrain from advocating, participating and/or preaching the terrorist tract.

If you do, then you're infringing on my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and I would be most happy to give up one or two of my civil liberties to see you incarcerated, deported and silenced forever. If that means waiting an extra hour or two to get on a plane, or dumping the contents of my handbag to be examined before entering a building, or to be surrounded by police wearing Swat gear and carrying rifles to thwart terrorists from killing us or reporting on fellow citizens engaging in terrorist related activities or using a national identity card denying entrance to the country for illegal immigrants and/ or regulating against issuing drivers licenses to illegal aliens then so be it. This may not be what the founders had in mind when they promised us the pursuit of happines but it's better than being blown to smithereens by someone taking advantage of a free and open society.

I believe enlightened self interest is crucial in winning the war against Islamic fascism and the terrorism is so enjoys. I am not an "Islamophobe". Islam should enjoy the practice of its beliefs but not at the expense of my life. It's a practical thing.

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