Although the original source for this quote is not available, it has most often been attributed to M. Gründler: “It is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken from you.” Unfortunately, must suffer such consequences before you can truly know if what the author said is really true. But ask anyone who has been locked up in an Iranian prison or a Mexican jail and they will verify that it is true.

In the United States of America, more than any other nation on earth, freedom to live where you want, buy what you want, wear what you want, say what you want, go where you want, and worship as you want has been taken for granted since its inception some 250 years ago. But over time, what was once considered some of the basic elements of freedom have been taken away little by little. No longer can prayers be said in public schools; the Ten Commandments can no longer be hung in courthouses; saying Merry Christmas has been forbidden in many establishments, the mentioning God’s name during a graduation exercise has been forbidden, and crosses have been banned from some cemeteries.

Christians, by and in large, have grown accustomed to such restrictions. But wait, more may be coming. Before long, ministers may not be allowed to preach his or her sermon until it has been approved by government censors. Even the hymns we sing will be redacted by politically correct police agencies. Christmas and Easter will be dropped from the official national holiday list. The oath of office will no longer include the words, “So help me God.” And the phrase, “In God we Trust” will be removed from all coins and currency. Even the Holy Bible may one day be ordered from library shelves because it is offensive to a few.

Will all this be done by some invading foreign army? No, it will be accomplished by the very people we elect to represent us in government and those they appoint to positions as judges and justices in our courts. That is unless we take action and refuse to elect such individuals. So you see, the erosion of our freedoms and liberties is not really up to them, it’s up to us. But as M. Gründler said, you won’t feel the impact of losing all these things until they are taken away. But why have we allowed this happen? That’s the question we may all one day have to answer. – Dr. Robert R Seyda