That Benjamin Franklin Quote

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - B. Franklin

"Those Who Would Sacrifice Liberty for Security Deserve Neither" - misguided fools

I've heard this quotation referenced a number of times the last few years with regard to the War on Terror - mostly in discussions (email) with some liberal peers. Of course, it has assumed new prominence lately in light of the NSA controversy.

Last week, at an address given by Attorney General Gonzales at Georgetown University (broadcast on CSPAN), a group of student protestors unveiled a large banner with the second, abbreviated, quote. They were allowed to keep the banner up and to remain in the auditorium (God Bless American and the First Amendment).

Later, on CSPAN's Washington Journal call-in program, the host invited comments on this quote. Most of the calls where hysterical reactions to the alleged dramatic loss of freedom under King George - even those on the Republican line (a common tactic of liberals these days, to pretend to be converts).

I was watching the program (at 4:00 am on the West Coast) because I was having trouble sleeping - but the callers' comments only made things worse. I got to thinking about it.

First of all, the now-accepted abbreviated version has eliminated some critical modifiers. Take the word "essential" - in the sense of "necessary and indespensible." The abbreviated quote implies that the idea applies to the giving up of any liberty. This is nonsense. We all gladly give up minor liberties every day, from locking our doors to obeying the speed limit. So then, what is an "essential liberty"? I couldn't say for sure, but I'm pretty certain this does not include the liberty to accept calls from foreign terrorists while expecting the conversation not to be eavesdropped upon. What is essential about that? Dropping that modifier radically changes the Franklin's idea.

Let's move on the the exclusion of the word "temporary" and the substitution of "security" for "safety." As I see it, the NSA eavesdropping is a tool in the global War on Terror. The goal of the WoT is to win, and such a victory - once it is achieved - will not be a temporary guarantee of security, but a permanent relegation of Islamofascism to the "dustbin of history." I think if Franklin were addressing such means to long-term guarantees of safety, he would not have included the word "temporary" as he did (as much as the Left wish he had). As for "security" in place of "safety", I'm not sure. Perhaps the difference has to do with "national security" vs. "personal safety." In any case, the Liberal partisans have disingenously altered Franklin's quote (without his permission, I might add) to suit their political agenda.

Finally, there's one aspect of the original quote that I've always had misgivings about. How can one say that any person does not deserve liberty or safety (with the exception of convicted felons or terrorists)? I mean, this is essentially condemning to slavery anyone timid enought to not stand up for their rights. This is not just or fair, no matter what the Great Man said. "Liberty is God's gift to man," and just because one might be weak or timid does not make them second-class citizens undeserving of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution - no matter how much disrespect they may deserve.

It think on this basis alone, we should give Franklin's comment little notice.