"Whereas each man claims his freedom as a matter of right,
the freedom he accords to other men is a matter of toleration."
by:
Walter Lippmann
(1889-1974) American writer, journalist, and political commentator
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To tolerate would here infer a superior / inferior relationship with other than a substantive understanding that a self-evident truth is all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. The freedom a person (individually or in concert) honors in self and others, is a matter of insightful morals and, a realization of natural law and justice. I gave it one star because it is better than intolerance and, the words may carry a different significance in context.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    I'll go along with Mike on this one.
     -- jim k, Austin     
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    I tolerate anyone who cares for his own business and does not interfere with mine. Natural law is what our Declaration of Independence is all about.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    This quote may be more true than false, but it should not be that way.
     -- Wayne, Naples     
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    So true... The universal principle is absolute on the subject of freedom; first, we must divorce ourselves from myth, that there is a creator responsible for our rights - the belief in God and prayer is superstition; secondly, it's important to realize that no matter how much prayer is involved freedom remains the same. We are responsible for the freedom we have and the freedom we bestow on others. What we claim to be freedom and what we experience are usually two very different outcomes. As I have said in previous posts; freedom is HIGHLY subjective - one man's freedom can be another man's hell. It would very much seem that the term (theological philosophy) Natural Law is responsible for man's feeble excuse for life after death and designates himself as purveyor over all that exists. FREEDOM simply is the happiness you experience on a day to day basis free from the influences of religion and tyranny. Tyranny and religion have always been bedfellows and until we accept each other for who and what we are there will never be true Freedom. While one man is unjustly imprisoned or accused of being different freedom shall not exist.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    wow Robert, I'm sorry you espouse such obvious misery. I'll pray for you. Your choice of limiting ignorance, your prejudice, and your exclusionary religion of anti-law's twisted illusions concerning reality is really sad. Again, I'll pray for you. The religious tenets you just screamed are but one circumscribed dogma of the statist theocracy infesting this nation. Its obvious you want nothing to do with natural law's freedom, liberty, or inalienable rights. Your personal endeavors (as expressed in this blog) and statements display a sick attempt to imprison all living freeman with your desired tyranny and despotism.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Lippman speaks of the hypocrisy of those espousing freedom in one breath while condemning others whose choices differ from their own prejudices. Until this hypocrisy ends, mankind will forever go in circles.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    As usual Mike you twist my words to fit your own distorted vision of what you wish and desire. All I wish is that you leave the freedom and liberty to the people and not confuse it with your desires and religious dogma. Lastly, prayers have been proven to be force as they produce no evidence of reality - prayers are like a placebo no different...
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Mike this was written by a friend: Slavery is, obviously, supported in the Bible. Slavery was defended in the Old South by good white Christians who relied on the Bible to justify their immoral, unjust, and oppressive culture. What many don't realize, though, is how extensively intertwined Christianity and slavery were in the Old South. In many ways, the Civil War as a much a defense of Christianity as it was a defense of slavery: the elimination of slavery meant the elimination of an institution grounded in Christian doctrine. Written by a friend.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    This is all very interesting. I must read it later.
     -- Elisabeth, Astoria, NY     
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    Robert, you are absolutely wrong about prayer being proven to be no more than an ineffectual placebo. To the contrary, prayer, (and other forms of Christian, Buddhist, etc. meditation) has been proven very effective. All I wish is that you leave the freedom and liberty to the realm of natural law and not confuse it with your desires and religious dogma. Slavery was not supported in the bible. When the people rejected God and chose temporal man's edicts as law, slavery became an abominable mainstay. Slavery has never been defended by good Christians (white or any color), as such is diametrically opposed to Christ's teachings and can not be justified from what is in the bible. The war between the States had little if anything to do with slavery. Slavery only became an issue when Northern big business saw the war wasn't going quite to their expectations. The majority of Southern Christians didn't have slaves and were fighting for inalienable rights as was considered a birth right from their God. No matter your considered source of law, justice, or rights, it all existed before man's sojourn on this planet began and will continue after we're gone. Man can not create law, he can only discover what that law is then implement codes, ordinances, regulations, rules, statutes, etc. to harmonize therewith. Your friend Mike
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Mike, Prayer doesn't free the soul meditation does - there is a BIG difference, try it! So, you are now making the distinction between good and bad Christians - when you hit that slippery slope you have lost your argument. Thank you for agreeing that justice and rights are absolute and nothing to do with religion - it's UNIVERSAL LAW. The universal principle is within each of us - if you like, we are all God. All that is without is within. Your friend Robert P.s. to name one of many Christians, Hippo supported slavery. The Old Testament supported regulated slavery and it was only through compassionate liberal constitutionalists that slaver became a crime against humanity. No where in the bible does God condemn slavery, quite the reverse: 'When a slave owner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished. But if the slave survives a day or two, there is no punishment; for the slave is the owner's property.' (Exod. 21:20-21) and in the new testament: Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. (Matt. 24:45-46) Slavery and race have been a longtime bed fellows of Christianity. I admit there were many good Christian abolitionists.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    I didn't make a distinction of good and bad Christians. The bad Christian, as you have determined is in my estimation, not a Christian at all. An example: There are those claiming to be free or freemen just because they have an American Passport. I would here set forth that Christians are free or freemen. They recognize the natural law as was given of God (or for the non-believer that law which existed before man's existence and continues uninterrupted) Those genuflecting to the statist theocracy by intellectual harmonization or physical obedience, though being in the same general location are not freeman. Just because someone stands in a garage with oil in their hair, rubber between them and the ground, while yelling honk does not make them a car. Again, the Old Testament did not support slavery. The Old Testament was just a history book, not supporting or denying anything. The God of the Old Testament forbid slavery but when the people of the Old Testament rejected their God they accepted man's philosophies and rules, implementing slavery. As explained well in Samuel, the people rejected God to rule over them; instead they chose man's rule. You erringly mix man's law as was recorded in the bible with God's law, also recorded in the bible. You also put a false interpretation on, and premise to something that was only meant to be an allegory to demonstrate a moral point. The mental perception of the day was used to explain a greater understanding. I could use the exact same story to explain the slaves of today that try and expand licensing for any reason (marriage, security, etc.) Just because the term slave is today not in vogue, does not lesson the captive state that Americans labor under. Atheism as a religion has no anthem to follow accept that of 'anti'. Anyone can be an Atheist, as long as he is anti all other religions. Christ gave principled limitations to those that could be called his followers. Back to my original freeman analogy; the Constitution defined a government of freemen with their servant representatives (government), American rulers now define their slaves as liberal citizens. There is a distinct difference.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    By making the distinction that there are good Christian makes the argument there must be bad Christians - it is farcical to admit there are no bad Christian's. It's like saying there are only good human beings. Yours last comment really makes me laugh - it is so far from the truth that only someone ignorant of past liberal achievements and no knowledge of the true meaning of liberalism can make. American rulers now define their slaves as religious and national fundamentalists. As for the rest of your comments regarding slavery and the bible a slave is a slave and means exactly the same today as it did then. Your reasoning to excuse God and the bible is laughable.
     -- RBESRQ     
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