With Liberty And Justice For All?

There were more than two lines of thinking ruminating in my head on the run this morning. I was pushing my second son in the jogger stroller thinking about fear and freedom. Also, I've been working on a bigger post, not yet published, related to the psychology of fear over the last several days.

Interestingly, last evening I watched V for Vendetta (you have got to love Netflix, btw). I do believe that political bloggers of all stripe would love to have a go at dissecting it's meaning. It's a really interesting movie if you know anything about the history of the graphic novel. Given that it was written and illustrated about 20 years ago, it really does transcend time to become a salient and powerful statement about the abdication of freedom by a whole population of people and it's cooptation by a minority of politicians and their pals. There were many poignant lines in the movie - among which was the oft repeated gem:

One man's terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

And another interesting challenge to the W, Rove and Co sponsored belief that they can extinguish an ideology with weapons of mass destruction:

You can't kill me, I'm an idea.

The ideas expanded or blossomed on my run and I thought it would make a great post unto itself. Moreover, if I could crystallize the thrust of my yet to be published lengthier post, I could fit it into two or so sentences as follows (I know, which may preclude the posting of the longer one altogether, which wouldn't be so bad):

If freedom is for all, then fear is for fools; particularly those who would sacrifice liberty and justice for a false sense of security. When you trade for "security" at the expense of your freedom, then indeed, the terrorists and fear mongers have won.