Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] He/Him Bigotry?

>To quote John Stuart
> Mill, "A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he
> cares about more than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who
> has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of
> better men than himself."  Modern times - include women in there!

Scott, I couldn't agree more with John Stuart Mill.  But I still fail to see
how such a quote excuses bigotry.  Freedom can be expensive indeed.  But an
integral part of freedom is that one also allows it for others, as long as
they do not infringe on our own.  That includes the freedom to have a
different religion, a different culture, etc.  When one shoots a burglar or
a terrorist, one is defending one's life, property, and freedom.  When one
shoots someone just because he looks like the burglar or the terrorist that
broke in last week, one becomes no better than that burglar or
terrorist--certainly that individual is no longer representing the ideals of
freedom.  I hope we continue to hunt down the perps of 9-11 and of any other
acts of terrorism, but that we don't lose sight of why it is we are doing
so.

Heidi


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=