Originally Posted by
DX-MAN
And I'm supposed to care that you think my thoughts are illogical and absurd? And you are...?
Not from left field, and not completely untrue. Further, in any competition, someone wins and someone loses. The one who loses either modifies his/her exercise of rights/liberties, or IS OUT OF LINE. Currently, there is a movement to establish a 'national religion', despite it being blatantly unconstitutional. During the time between its possible passage and inevitable invalidation by SCOTUS, do you believe that forcing a religious belief on you would not be a violation of your liberties? But it would be LEGAL! So much for competing rights and liberties -- it's an evolution of society, not a constant.
Societies were formed for quite simple reasons, which I shouldn't have to explain; BUT, in order to live peaceably in a group of rugged individualists, compromises must be made, and compromise means "give a little, get a little." Limits on liberties.
Limits on liberties to protect the fabric of society are one thing. Where things like the "national religion" you mention are concerned the state is now effectively trying to define who I am for me. I can choose for myself who and indeed whether I wish to worship because as long as I don't go about my evangelistic efforts using force or violence it makes no difference to anyone else whether I worship God, Allah, Krishna or the lump of cheese I found at the back of the fridge.
Hold your hand one inch on front of your nose; that's where MY rights and liberties stop, as would yours if I held my hand up. That's a truth that's been taught for more years than I've been breathing.
Restrictions on my "liberty" to punch you in the nose are reasonable. Restrictions on my liberty to think a certain way, to go about my business peacefully uninterrupted by agents of the state, are not.
Now, I know I won't convince you of a damned thing, just as you won't convince me; so let's just agree to disagree, and go on about our lives. I'm already bored with this.
Before anyone agrees to disagree maybe we're not disagreeing at all. If you're bored of it already you can always stop posting.