Last week the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church. The vote sat 8-1. As Chief Justice John Roberts read the ruling of the court, he was clear that, while he felt what the church was doing was hurtful; the Constitution protects them under freedom of speech. The Westboro Baptist Church has become known for picketing the funerals of soldiers that died in Iraq. The signs they carry say things like “God Hates America” as the picketers claim that the deaths are God’s punishment for homosexuality. It hurts, especially the families that are trying to mourn, but in America we are free. Free to express our opinion and beliefs. Had the Supreme Court ruled that the Westboro Baptist Church had no right to picket or state their beliefs, the fabric of our nation would begin to crumble. The centuries of work and countless wars would be for nothing. We would return the life our fore fathers fought against. Revolution and Freedom would become afterthoughts, distant memories.
It is undeniable that the Enlightenment and Revolution periods changed the world. The French Revolution, even though it didn’t end well, sparked a fire that could not be squelched. Among the list of amazing philosophers that shaped our world was John Locke.
John Locke was known as the “Father or Liberalism”. His ideas and writings influenced almost every aspect of our modern society. Locke presented the argument for religious tolerance in a manner that most of us take for granted and regard as common thought. He argued that belief cannot be compelled by violence and that religious diversity would create balance in society. From his ideas on religious tolerance came his belief and support of separation of church and state, suggesting that the state cannot stand judgment over the soul.
Locke did not stop there. He continued to write about basic human rights and toleration. His political views shaped the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Locke put on paper and spoke out what so many of his day were thinking. He trusted that humanity could handle freedom and ability to make decisions. Locke knew that who we are is a compilation of what we see and the experiences and education that we have had. Our characters are built by the influences that have surrounded us throughout our life.
Perhaps even on a more personal level, I have often told my children that everyone is equal and encouraging them to be kind to people no matter where they come from. When my husband and I argue, we are so cautious to make sure that we don’t say anything hurtful, lest our children hear it. It was Locke who first suggested that what we say in front of our children and to our children will leave lasting impressions no matter how small or insignificant we think it is.
With John Locke it is hard to pick one concept of his that impacted our modern world when his life was filled with amazing writings and theories. I feel his most important was freedom. The idea that we have rights to life and liberty. It was the forward and “enlightened” thinking of John Locke that laid the all important framework for our country. Because people believed in his ideas, they fought and died so that the generations that followed could say what they wanted and believe what they felt. Because of him we can say “God Bless America”.
No comments:
Post a Comment