Maintaining Freedom

We're reading a wonderful book right now during our family evening time.  It's called "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" and is another true story about an amazing man during the founding years of our country.  I highly recommend it to young and old. 

It's really an interesting story about Nathaniel Bowditch's life, and there was one part that really stuck out to me the other evening.  It's the only political argument we've read thus far (I think...considering it's not really a political book), but was so good I wanted to share it.

Nat (Nathaniel) was appalled that a newspaper reporter was speaking against the President (who was George Washington at the time). 

"No!  I don't want to hear it!"  Nat said.  "And I don't think editors have any right to talk against the President.  Americans ought to stand together!"

Behind Nat someone chuckled.  Nat turned.  Dr. Bentley was looking at him with a twinkle.  "Is this a political argument?"

Nat shrugged.  "No argument at all.  Ben's got an article there that talks against the President.  I said I didn't want to hear it.  I said that sort of thing ought to be stopped."

To Nat's amazement, Dr. Bentley shook his head.  "No, Nat.  We can't have freedom- unless we have freedom."

Nat stiffened.  "Does that mean the right to tell lies?"

Dr. Bentley smiled.  "It means the right to have our own opinions.  Human problems aren't like mathematics, Nat.  Every problem doesn't have just one answer; sometimes you get several answers- and you don't know which is the right one."

Nat felt his face get hot.  "But people don't have a right to talk against the President, do they?  That's going too far!"

"Years ago," Dr. Bentley said, "before we won our independence, the Essex Almanac published something about freedom of the press.  It was true then; it's just as true now.  I may not have the exact words, but it went something like this:

"The Press is dangerous in a despotic government, but in a free country it is very useful, so long as it is free; for it is very important that people should be told everything that concerns them.  If we argue against any branch of liberty, just because sometimes people abuse that liberty, then we argue against liberty itself.  In a free country, the press must be free."

"Well, Nat?" Dr. Bentley said.

"I never thought of it that way," Nat admitted, "but I guess that's the way it has to be; 'we can't have freedom unless we have freedom.'  And that means freedom to speak our minds."

Dr. Bentley nodded soberly.  "Remember that, always."

I added the emphasis to what stood out in my mind the most.  Much of our press is no longer free because it is controlled by politicians and men with lots of money, and that is dangerous.  It greatly controls the minds of the masses.  Thankfully, it isn't completely controlled, so we do still have access to a variety of opinions, and have the ability to seek out the truth.  It's becoming increasingly difficult though. 

I think this also applies to just about anything that is attempted to be controlled by law.  People will ever abuse liberties; that's part of being free.  We are on earth to use our agency, or ability to choose.  By choosing we grow and learn.  That's the point.  Inevitably someone will abuse their freedoms.  Does that mean that all things should be controlled?  No!  The more restrictive laws become, the less free a country becomes.  Maintaining freedom is extremely important, even if it means that some citizens will choose to abuse those freedoms. 

I agree with Dr. Bentley here, we should remember this always.