233 YEARS OF LESSONS... Have we learned?
Liberty defined... (Emphasis are mine)
freedom from external or foreign rule; independence;
freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control;
freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.;
power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice;
freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint:
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
The condition of being free from restriction or control;
The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing;
The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; -- opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection;
Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion;
The power of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing.
Civil liberty, exemption from arbitrary interference with person, opinion, or property, on the part of the government under which one lives, and
freedom to take part in modifying that government or its laws.
Liberty of the press, freedom to print and publish without official supervision.
Moral liberty, that liberty of choice which is essential to moral responsibility.
Religious liberty, freedom of religious opinion and worship.
Usage: Liberty, Freedom. These words, though often interchanged, are distinct in some of their applications.
Liberty has reference to previous restraint;freedom, to the simple, unrepressed exercise of our powers.
A slave is set at liberty; his master had always been in a state of freedom.
A prisoner under trial may ask liberty (exemption from restraint) to speak his sentiments with freedom (the spontaneous and bold utterance of his feelings).
The liberty of the press is our great security for freedom of thought.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Main Entry:
lib·er·ty
Function: noun
plural -ties
freedom from external (as governmental) restraint, compulsion, or interference in engaging in the pursuits or conduct of one's choice to the extent that they are lawful and not harmful to others ;
enjoyment of the rights enjoyed by others in a society ;
free of arbitrary or unreasonable limitation or interference;
freedom from physical restraint; freedom from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership or services;
RIGHT liberty secured by the Fourteenth Amendment —W. Railroad LaFave and J. H. Israel>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
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The definitions are plentiful and plain. The Colonies were being ground under the rule of England. The citizens of the 13 Colonies decided they had enough of the rule of England without having representatives to look out for the good and welfare of the Colonies. The 13 Colonies gained liberty from England by the action of the Revolutionary War and the creation of a different kind of government.
All citizens of this nation since those who gained liberty may enjoy freedom.
Where did these ideas come from? Following is one source...
THE VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
(Underlining, shading and emphasis are mine. DRS)
Virginia's Declaration of Rights was drawn upon by Thomas Jefferson for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. It was widely copied by the other colonies and became the basis of the Bill of Rights. Written by George Mason, it was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776.
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government .
Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.
Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, nor being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.
Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
Section 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled for the public good.
Section 7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
Section 8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.
Section 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Section 10. That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
Section 11. That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.
Section 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
Section 14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
Section 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.
Page URL: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/virginia_declaration_of_rights.html
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272
Here is the other source...
THE BILL OF RIGHTS: A TRANSCRIPTION
(Underlining, shading and emphasis are mine. DRS)
The Preamble to The Bill of Rights
Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Amendments 11-27
Note: The capitalization and punctuation in this version is from the enrolled original of the Joint Resolution of Congress proposing the Bill of Rights, which is on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
Page URL: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272
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Peace Keepers are representatives of the government of the land, either federal of local as the case may be. You serve under the governmental authority established by our Creator and He calls you Ministers of Rightness. Peace Keepers of law enforcement and the military have given control of many of their rights to those in command over them when they are serving their duties. Peace Keepers are there to do what must be done for the sake and welfare of those people who want to live, lawful, peaceful lives. Both organizations require the taking of an Oath of Office. Both organizations have a chain of command and no legal order can be refused under penalty of discipline and law. Generally law enforcement is soldiers, usually working alone for peace keeping in the homeland... The military is soldiers, usually working in groups to defend the homeland from invasion and carrying out peace keeping in foreign lands for the benefit of the homeland and/or it's allies.
In order to secure liberty for the oppressed and continued freedom for the free people, Peace Keepers have bound themselves by an oath and made themselves servants to the power of law for the peace, safety and prosperity of all citizens that they serve when those citizens are living according to the laws of the country... And they have also bound themselves by the power of law to restore the peace and safety of the citizens anytime that peace and safety is broken... They are bound to do this by whatever power is necessary to be exercised to bring the breaking of the peace and safety to a conclusion and restoring of the peace and safety. They are allowed to use that amount of force necessary to accomplish the task up to and including the taking of life if that is the only effective action that will stop the breach of the peace and safety and restore lawful, peaceful order and safety.
Peace Keepers are a voluntary group of servants of law and the people. They have said they will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies whomsoever, foreign or domestic... To this goal they have dedicated their own efforts, safety and lives in order to make our country and our society livable for all the rest of the people... To see that the rights of the people are not infringed. Peace Keepers are the guarantors of peace and safety but that peace and safety can only be achieved and maintained by the proper actions of the citizenry and their willingness to cooperate when unlawful actions of the breaking of the peace takes place. The citizens must be willing to summon the Peace Keepers when the law is broken; Cooperate with any necessary investigations; And be witnesses when needed in any criminal prosecutions. Keeping the peace is the duty of each and every citizen... That is the very bottom line of our obligations as citizens... ("We the people, in order to form a more perfect union...")... Not to take the law into our own hands but to be quick to summon those with the power of law to come as quickly as possible and restore the peace and safety for all citizens in the vicinity of the breaking of the peace.
We are a nation of laws. Laws were made to give a framework of knowledge to the citizens and the law enforcers that govern what is right and lawful and what is unlawful. Laws are designed to be enforceable and impartial. They are to be applied as the governing rules of the enforcement of the law directs. Many levels of checks and balances exist to provide for the best possible results in the prosecution of lawbreakers but it all starts with the citizen who elects the people who make the laws... With the citizen who observes the breaking of the laws... With the citizen who must cooperate and tell the facts to the investigators who must enforce the laws... With the citizen who may be called upon to even appear in a court of law and retell the events as they observed them when the incident took place.
Peace keeping involves everyone who has knowledge of the breaking of the peace. This nation was founded upon our system of laws and justice to provide the most fair and equitable means of preserving the peace and safety for the people and for restoring the peace and safety as quickly as possible. Without the cooperation of the people, peace and justice cannot prevail. I know because I have watched the process from both sides and been involved in the process of enforcement for 47 years. When the people cooperate, it goes well. When the people do not cooperate, it often does not go well and perpetrators get by with selfish, unlawful, destructive acts... Followed by even more selfish, unlawful, destructive acts perpetrated by the very same people who believe they can continue to get away with it.
The Peace Keepers risk their whole being by taking their oath and performing their duty... "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his brethren." (John 15:3). Peace Keepers lay down their lives everyday for the people of this nation. Peace Keepers give this giving kind of love to the highest degree. Peace Keepers have loved ones like most citizens have loved ones... But the Peace Keepers volunteer to put their loved ones and their private lives aside for the times of their duty... Knowing full well that all too frequently Peace Keepers do not get to return to their lives and their loved ones... Because some selfish, lawless individual or group decides that their own selfish desires are more important than law and the safety of other citizens and they commit acts of theft, violence and/or lawlessness for their own personal satisfaction. Often, in the commission of these acts, the selfish, lawless individuals or groups are confronted by Peace Keepers who are there to try and stop the unlawful actions. Often the lawless violators commit violence upon the Peace Keepers who respond to the problem... Usually they are well prepared to enter into violent confrontations to try and kill or maim the Peace Keepers and escape justice.
Generally speaking, we, the citizens of the United States of America, do not appreciate the cost of the gaining and the maintaining of the liberty and freedom that we take for granted... We do not appreciate the men and women who give up their own freedom and put their own lives aside for the benefit of all other citizens... We do not appreciate them and their moment by moment commitment as deeply as we should because the citizens do not express that appreciation to the ones who have made the commitment as often as they should nor as often as they have opportunity. There are two things that Peace Keepers do not hear enough nor often enough... "Thank you for what you do!" from the ones for whom they do their duty... And "Good Job!" from the ones who supervise their work.
We were founded as a nation to bring together all of the good things that humanity had learned and dreamed of through all of the ages of Man. We were founded as a Representative Republic and the founders intentionally made it so that it functioned best if all citizens entered into the governmental process and did their part to make it function as well as government could be made to function. In these modern times too many of our citizens have shirked their responsibilities to keep informed and take their part in the process of communicating with their Congressmen and local Legislators, voicing their opinions and asking questions. The founders made sure to keep the power of making governmental decisions in the hands of the people.
If we don't keep ourselves involved we just have to settle for whatever we get when we let the elected representatives make decisions on their own without our input.
We must become different people than we have been during my lifetime. It is time to be deeply involved in the life of this nation in every possible way.
" ... It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead (And I add, these honored living Peace Keepers) we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead (And living) shall not have died (Served) in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, November 19th, 1863.
If we want this great experiment in government of the people, by the people and for the people to continue... Then, dear reader, it is up to us - you and I - to make our views and wishes known to those who make the decisions that affect the life and welfare of the country... Voicing our concerns and opinions to the law makers... And voicing our appreciation for their efforts to our Peace Keepers of Law Enforcement and the Military. No longer can we leave all of this in the hands of others and continue as we have been. No longer can we keep silence and expect good results. No longer can we allow others to usurp our positions in the conducting of governmental business and allowing them to assume that they have our minds when we do not tell them what is on our minds.
Independence was won for us and passed to us. Can we Keep it?... YES!!! Will we keep it?!!! Only you can answer that question for you.
Peace Keepers, I am writing this on July 4th. I have all of you in mind as I am writing. I know this is a rather long history and government lesson but I need for you to know that I have known these things for all of my years since high school but no one gave me incentive to get involved in government... So only in my adult life here in this position and in this city have I taken to time to be informed, involved and to vote.
Peace Keepers, there's enough of us to make a great difference in the affairs of this country if we will be informed, involved, vote and communicate with our governmental representatives. WE CAN ADD EVEN MORE TO THE POSITIVE DIFFERENCE WE ARE ALREADY MAKING!
There is no greater service than voluntary service for the sake and welfare of our fellow citizens. There is no greater love that we can show than to go out and do our duty as it needs to be done. Love of the highest form is not a feeling. The highest form of love is action for the good and welfare of those being served by the love and the duty. You do that job so very well. My Commander-In-Chief and I do so very deeply appreciate your love, your duty and your service. You are the building blocks of this nation and the glue that holds it together. Let us all go a step further and become involved in communicating with our representatives in government even if we have not done it in the past. Then we can have an even better nation and you will have added still more to the great difference you are already making. "Greater love hath no man..."
"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!" ALWAYS be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary. Take the very best care of you as you care for and about others. See to the strength and well being of your spirit as well as all the rest of you. Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful.
Call or write if I may be of any service... Or if you just want to encourage me... Feedback encourages all who write... It helps to know we are reaching someone who reads the message.
My daughter is going back for more surgery and installation of a Wound Vac on July 7th. After the Wound Vac is installed I will not be doing the wound care. It will have to be done by trained professionals and I will monitor it and repair any deficiencies such as leaks and blockages. Immediately after the last surgery the wound developed four new tunnels which oozed the black fluid and blood. I had to use strip packing in them. The surgeon wants to see if the Wound Vac will keep the wound clear enough to keep it from forming tunnels and voids after he removes the tunnels and voids on July 7th. We are also looking for information from any source that might have dealt with such flesh dissolving problems in post-surgical wounds. If you have any such leads or information please advise. The problem appears to me to be a flesh-eating organism but neither the surgeon nor the Infectious Disease doctor has been able to identify it.
As it has always been... So it still is!!!
"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN." Sun tzu
Training and practice are everything!
Without them, the best results are not obtained!
ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL
PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!
WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job... it means
doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your faculties to get
the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or restoring peace...
it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower or allow anything
to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and ethics... it means that if
the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process.
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God
or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all
the things and people that we hold dear.]
I represent, write for... and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live... with Him and for you I serve...
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not...
For God, Country and the Peace Keeper...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
Senior Chaplain and Chaplain Administrator VBPD,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety) VBPD
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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All rights reserved. May not be duplicated without permission, except to be
forwarded with all source information for any quotation intact.
To subscribe to this free e-mail message for Peace Keepers,
write to Chaplain D. R. Staton at chpln1@verizon.net or at
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