The Weaver Family

I thought maybe it was me.  I listened to the DNC speeches from the Clintons, Biden, and Obama and I didn’t hear it. I listened to the RNC.  I must admit, I didn’t catch all of it, but I caught most if not all the big speeches in their entirety: Thompson, Giuliani, Palin, and McCain.  I listened and I kept straining to hear that one word, that one idea…”freedom” because I had not hear it from the DNC speeches.

I listened in vain.  I heard nothing about personal freedom, from the Republican Party that supposedly espouses freedom.  I knew I probably wouldn’t hear it to be quite honest,  but I had hopes.  My hopes vanished amongst the applause at the end of McCain’s speech.  I cried, quite literally, and I felt alone, because I am an American who loves my freedom.

But there is at least one person in major media who noticed the absence of that blessed word. Steve Chapman of the Chicago Tribune didn’t hear the idea either.  His column was proof that there are more of us out there that our loyal to the concept of this country than what this election seems to be about.

My favorite quote in this article:

But freedom isn’t freedom without the right to pursue what you value—money or knowledge, pleasure or sacrifice, God or atheism, community or misanthropic solitude—rather than what others think you should value. It includes the right to go to hell, and the right to tell others to do the same.

The latter is a valuable prerogative that we have not yet lost. After watching the conventions, if you have the urge to use it on either of the two major parties, feel free. If he were alive, Barry Goldwater might join you.

All that I can say is:  Mr. Chapman I agree.

Printouts of Mr. Chapman’s column are here:  Printer Friendly or Web-Layout

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