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Patty Craig: A Slice of Time

Since Thanksgiving is near, I’ve been considering some things for which I’m thankful. I’m always thankful for God’s many blessings, including family and friends. I’m also thankful for our great country and for our freedom..

Many of the freedoms we enjoy resulted from amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The first ten amendments are commonly known as the Bill of Rights. The resulting freedoms are certainly blessings for which I am thankful.
•    We have religious freedom.
Although I believe some of our religious freedoms have slowly eroded over the years, I am thankful that we can worship – or not – as we choose.
•    We have freedom of speech and of the press.
Taslima Nasrin said, “I believe in absolute freedom of expression. Everyone has a right to offend and be offended” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/freedom). I definitely believe we have a right to express ourselves, but as Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” Knowing that location may be difficult.
•    We have the right to keep and bear arms.
Although I do not normally carry a gun, I certainly understand the desire to protect oneself and/or one’s family. I also understand that hunters enjoy their sport of choice. At the same time, I don’t see the need for the general population to have some of the weapons that have been used to slaughter a number of innocent people as we’ve heard repeatedly in the news. Although this freedom is controversial, I am thankful for the intention behind it.
•    Unreasonable searches and seizures are prohibited.
I like to think of my home as a safe haven. Without the prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures, this might not be so. Dishonest people, with or without authority, might search and/or seize our homes, possessions or even ourselves – not so uncommon in other parts of the world.
•    Slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited.
Although slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited by law, they exist in our world. The U.S. Department of State’s website stated: “‘Trafficking in persons,’ ‘human trafficking,’ and ‘modern slavery’ are used as umbrella terms to refer to both sex trafficking and compelled labor….. At the heart of this phenomenon is the traffickers’ aim to exploit and enslave their victims and the … practices they use to do so” (https://www.state.gov/j/tip/what/). I agree with the Greek philosopher Epictetus: “Freedom is the right to live as we wish” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/freedom), and reporting suspicious activities may prevent the growth of modern slavery and involuntary servitude.

Thanksgiving reminds me to count my blessings. Desmond Tutu said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance,” and Charles Evans Hughes said, “When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/freedom). I am thankful for our freedoms. May we guard against their erosion, and may God continue to bless the U.S.A.

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