Freedom of choice starts with a degree of how we respond to what enters our lives. And what value do we place upon our freedoms within systems?? Our personal freedoms may be violated in many disturbing ways. Yet, what is often heard is void of the real urgency to repair the most harmful aspects of our lives ...and instead focus on global concerns for an enemy which we call non-compliance to things which themselves often violate freedom of choice. Then there is also the discussion as to what things violate 'our' freedom of choice, with little or no regard to how it may affect the freedoms of others.

 We who live in societies with some degree of organized law and order, should commit to studying not just the failures of the past, but also what has led to those failures ...and to attempt not to make the same mistakes.

With law and order, we can look first to the local level ...to first responders.  Typically, this includes the local police, the fire department, and the EMT/ paramedics.  These people are critical to the well-being of a neighborhood.

I was surprised to read that well over 200 incidents are listed as federal crimes, where the federal government can assert authority.  And several of these federal crimes are violated daily, yet not always in the huge way that got attention in May 2020 in Seattle ...and then Portland, Oregon.

The Seattle protest went by different names, though the name mentioned mostly in the news was 'CHAZ'.  The protesters took over city blocks in Seattle, inclusive of the Seattle Police Department boarding up their own building and moving out of the area.  Our US President advised law enforcement to take back the zone, and offered to send assistance, but the mayor of Seattle and the governor of the state told him to stay out of it.  The protesters were given free food & water by the community, and were supplied with portable toilets.  Several shootings took place in the days to come, at the end of the month, but no arrests were made.

Shortly following, Portland saw protesters break windows, loot stores, and set fire to vehicles and buildings ...all listed as federal crimes. Crowds of protesters grew ...beginning to exceed 10 thousand.  Federal officers did get involved, but arrests meant the courts had to get involved ...and their release from jail was conditioned upon signing a document stating that they may not attend any further protests, rallies, assemblies or public gatherings in the state of Oregon. More than one lawyer stated that a conditional release based upon such an agreement is in violation of their 'Freedom of Assembly' written in the Constitution ...stated after their release of course.  

In May 2021, after a year of protests, the United States Department of Justice sent a letter to the Portland Chief of Police and City Attorney criticizing the Portland police for using excessive force (in containing an often unruly and violent crowd).

This same year of 2021, four months later in Philadelphia, a man was on the sidewalk to protest abortion ...and allegedly pushed and shoved down another man.  Now, last Friday, nearly a year later ...15 vehicles with 25-30 federal agents descended upon his home. Mark Houck was there with his wife and their 7 children ....ages 2-13.  The children saw the commotion and by seeing guns drawn and pointing at their home, they screamed in terror.

During the same week (last week), three days prior ... a man was released from jail on a mere $50,000 bond despite telling investigators that he intentionally 'mowed down' (with his car) a 'Republican Extremist' after making that clear assessment after their political argument.  The 41 year old showed no remorse after killing the 18 year old boy.  

Considered a political opponent in two years, our current President mentioned in a speech earlier in the month that anyone who supports that rival candidate is part of a 'dangerous escalation' and his supporters 'represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic'; and our President called on his supporters to 'confront these extremist'.

It would appear to me that the very foundations of our republic are threatened when we 'stand down' or downplay the very crimes which are actually listed as federal crimes ...and not really address them.  Yet, the interpretation of some of those crimes can be politically motivated ...and a crime can be designated as a crime, when perhaps it shouldn't be.

When the Supreme Court of the United States decided it should not be up to 9 men to decide on abortion, and that it should be democratically decided upon by the states who provide services and care to their people ...there was protesting and parading in front of the homes of Justices, which is a federal offense.  But, they were permitted to do it.

Churches who support 'right to life' were vandalized ...also a federal crime.  And this is not just a breach of religious rights, but also freedom of speech (and to one's opinion, seemingly now being frequently censored).

Why I mentioned the freedom of one's opinion, I also want to mention that this year our federal government had been operating for two months under a board that most people didn't even know existed at that time ...and obviously which there was no discussion about.  Finally on April 27th, the Disinformation Governance Board was announced ...and many of us have had at least some occasion to see the beginnings of something that could grow to the extent of also violating a federal statute.  Apparently it is a federal crime to convey false information ...including what is termed 'hoaxes'.

Most of us have heard the term 'Fake News', but it doesn't appear the the news cares that much about integrity anymore.  And social media has also censored people's opinions.  And to be honest, I believe the way I do because I believe it to be true ...not just because it is popular, nor because it is politically or economically advantageous.

Some things are reported as true without even having an honest discussion about it ...and if we want to have an honest discussion, we could be accused of spreading disinformation (when we could believe we are right and want to correct what 'we' think is disinformation). How far will this censorship go ...and what authority does the government have in keeping its populace silent if they have a difference of opinion ??

But, the most personal freedom we have does not, in my opinion, extend to anything as lofty as a global concern.  It is an eternal concern, and it involves whether we want to invite Jesus into our lives here on earth ...knowing that He has already 'invited us'.

And I find it rather simple to believe that if we want to be with Him in the afterlife, for eternity, then why wouldn't we also want to be with Him here & now???