On my way to our college I pass a very lovely home with a circular driveway. It has an expansive beautiful green lawn tastefully decorated with maple and pine trees. Today I noticed two ugly signs in the yard. One at each end of the driveway saying, “No turns.” Apparently on occasion people use their circular driveway to turn around. I am sure it is annoying and sometimes people might drive on the grass.
I was reminded of the high school I attended. Whenever a student would do something the faculty did not like they made a new rule prohibiting the offending behavior. Thus we ended up with a host of nit-picky regulations that spoiled the everyday spirit of the school.
The people with the attractive home have spoiled their lovely lawn with permanent ugly signs. Instead of being annoyed once in a while they now have perpetual unattractiveness. Like my high school the cure was worse than the disease. A classic line has survived the Viet Nam war. A military officer said, “We have to destroy this village to save it.”
A recent poll reported almost 50% of Americans think the First Amendment to the constitution grants too much freedom. The reason for this is fear generated last September 11. A famous American once said, “Those who would exchange freedom for security. Deserve neither.”
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” The lesson is spiritual as well as national.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 28, 2002
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