Following the leader

Freedom of choice is one of the most important aspects of humanity.

Resistance to mandates reflects the reluctance of individuals to being told what to do, especially by secular autocrats. Authoritarian governments force their citizens to obey! We rebelled to shed the tyranny of a king.

Arabs are trying to free themselves from tyrants who suppress their ability to think for themselves. The “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and the “Borg” exemplify our fear and revulsion to the loss of individual choice. These are metaphors for Communism, which we fought for over 50 years.

What would we think of someone who surrendered their freedom of choice to any secular ideologue? Not much! Yet, a man named Grover Norquist has commanded that state and federal legislators, governors and presidential candidates sign his no-tax pledge.

Lists of lawmakers who have signed away their freedom to think and choose are available (www.atr.org). Dogmatic beliefs like this are comfortable because they remove any necessity to think.

Thinking is a painful but essential attribute of human beings.

Lemmings are not thinkers. They follow their leader no matter where he is headed. Quo vadis (where are you going) fellow Americans?

David T. Webb

Spokane