IN OUR SENSE OF LIBERTY DO WE TAKE TOO MANY LIBERTIES?

Something is lost in this day and age; the concept of solemnity, in life and in Religion.  In the quest to be all to all we can be, we have dummied down and become frivolous with things that once were held in high esteem.  This thought came to me as I was reading about the events in France this past week around the Charlie Hebda incident.  There was something missing in the response to that horrible and tragic event that has been working in my mind.

I don’t consider myself a prude.  I enjoy fun and lightheartedness as much as most people.  I believe in free speech.  I don’t condone killing people as an answer to anything. So what has been nagging me about the overwhelming response to this event is that my conscience may be troubled abit about stepping over a line of decency in my actions in the past.  Have I considered something as fun that indeed was frivolous that has tied to it a lack of respect?

The response I observed was a support of publicly printing anything under the guise of free speech.  I also observed a failure to understand how serious some people take their Religion.  I also saw how disrespectful people can be, to Religion and to people in high office.  It is like being rude and being disrespectful in what we print and in what we say are ok, no matter what.  I don’t believe that and have to look at my behavior and change it if I fall into that trap.

The lesson I want to learn from this; being disrespectful of anyone’s  Religion is not ok, ever.  Let’s take Religion off the table of entertainment, especially satire magazines, sit coms, and talk shows known for their no holds barred attitudes.  With free speech comes responsibility; with responsibility comes respect of things considered solemn to people.  I am often offended at the treatment of God and Jesus in these arenas but I don’t want to appear to be a prude.  Well, maybe I am and maybe it’s time to admit to that.  I want to bring the solemnity back to Religion because it has gone way over board into frivolity and I don’t think that is helpful to anyone.

It is important to study and be aware of the Religion of others and be respectful of them.  Religion is dealing with the inner being of a person and with the God of the universe.  That should bring sobriety to our thoughts and actions, not frivolity.  My Religion involves joy, happiness, lightheartedness, and a childlike attitude; but not at the expense of the holiness of God and Jesus.  I believe the same is true of most Religions and especially the Religions of the Middle East.  So I need to pay attention to that.

I think we Americans in our sense of Liberty take too many liberties.  We are not free to disrespect others.  We are not free to write or say hateful or hurtful things to or about others.  We need to use discernment in our words about our government officials, whether we agree with them or not.  I took issue about the responses of many to the fact that President Obama did not go to the demonstration march.  There was so much disdain and meanness in what I heard and read about this.  Personally I am glad he did not go into a situation where there was a clear and present danger.  Call me over cautious but that situation could have turned on a dime in a second.

All in all this world has become a dangerous place to live and I think it would behoove us to not add to the danger by being disrespectful and frivolous with our words and actions.  We are at a point where everyone loses as the violence in the world increases.  If it means not printing or saying something that could be hurtful or disrespectful of others, it seems like a small step that could help be a solution to the problem.