Security or Freedom?

British political leader, David Cameron is calling for a nation-wide ban on “preachers of hate.”  Recognizing the danger posed by Islamic radicals and terrorist supporters, he is calling for an effort to keep them out of the country in the interests of national security.

 

Is this something that could ever happen in the United States?  7 years ago I would have said no.  But since we were attacked on that infamous Tuesday many Americans have seen fit to trade their freedom for their security.  On the surface, I’ll admit, it does sound good to expel or ban those who would want to attack us.  But calling for a ban on all “preachers of hate” is much broader than that.

 

In the current cultural climate, preachers of hate are those who would attack western countries, but how long before the climate shifts?  What could preachers of hate be in the future?  Who determines who is preaching hate?  “It’s clear for reasons of our security that we must expel or refuse entry to those who preach hate, pit one faith against another and divide our society,” claims Cameron.  Is it any great stretch of the imagination to see this same rhetoric used against Christians who proclaim God’s Word as absolute Truth?  Proclaiming that there is such thing as a sinner is a very unpopular stance to take even now.

 

One of the things that makes America such a great nation is the freedom enjoyed by her citizens.  Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are crucial to this country maintaining that greatness.  Because these freedoms are so ingrained into our way of thinking could we ever give them up?  Security, it seems, has been the price tag for freedom in the past.  Let’s pray that it doesn’t hold true in this case as well!