Choose freedom over safety

Published 1:42 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2020

To the Editor:

The Bible says in the last days perilous (dangerous) times shall come (2 Timothy 3.) The Bible says also in the last days people will be concerned with peace and safety. 1 Thessalonians 5 reads: “For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them…”

A few years ago for the first time college campuses put in safe spaces for students who are stressed. For the first time this year, because of coronavirus all we hear is stay safe by washing hands, keep six feet away from others, wear a mask, and stay home. Some governors and medical experts say we can’t leave our homes and quarantine until it’s safe.

I agree with Dennis Prager who said, “until it’s safe means never. Nothing is perfectly safe.” Prager says don’t let fear of pain (or disease) hold you back from a joyous life. Prager’s advice is: don’t take unnecessary risks (like not wearing seat belts or texting and driving) but also don’t let fear, safety or fear of death completely preoccupy you. Playing it safe leads to its own negative undesired consequences and pain is part of life. You can’t escape it. You can’t live a full life by having safety as your highest priority. Don’t let “safe” take your joy. Don’t let safe keep grandparents from hugging their grandchildren. Don’t let safe keep you from church. To play it safe you could never get married because it’s risky. Your spouse could hurt you or break your heart. To play it safe you could never have children because it’s risky. Your children could hurt you or break your heart. We just celebrated and thanked mothers who took that risk for us. On Veterans Day we celebrate and thank veterans who took risks for America and freedom. This month on Memorial Day we remember veterans who didn’t play it safe but gave their lives to protect our freedoms we often take for granted.

To restrict the travel and movement of the sick is a necessary quarantine. To restrict the movement and travel of all is a violation of constitutional rights and religious liberties. As Ben Franklin in 1755 said, “Those who would give up essential Liberty (freedom), to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety.” It’s not worth giving up Constitutional rights when you probably will never get it back later. President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;  who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat!” President Roosevelt was successful because he took risks and didn’t trade freedom for safety as many Americans are now doing. Choose freedom over safety. Let’s not give up liberty and freedoms for safety. People aren’t even getting real safety, but it’s a perception of safety that is not even actually there. Jesus said in this world you will have troubles but He overcome this world. Real actual freedom and safety can only be found in Jesus and His blood covering your sins!

D.D. Nave

Elizabethton