A Reply To A Reply

I received a reply to a post I put up so I thought I should clarify a few things. Here is this persons reply followed by my response.
Anonymous said...
If you are so concerned about people spreading the Gospel then why are you advertising a movie made by a militant ATHEIST! Atlas Shrugged and Ann Raynd are strongly ATHEIST!!


Wow notice all the exclamation points? Calm down zealot, love thy neighbor.
First of all Ayn Rand has been dead since the 1980's so she did not make this movie, but yes it is a movie based upon her book Atlas Shrugged. I would guess that you have not read nor have seen the movie. Knowing that Ayn Rand was an atheist one can most definitely see her make a weak case against the existence of God. However the movie makes no reference to these parts. A believer, especially one that can tolerate other views, can read the book and strongly relate to the characters ideas of free-market capitalism, individualism, and an out of control, far-reaching, over-bearing government, one that is destroying our way of life here in America.

I dare say that the only type of free-speech that you are concerned with is the kind that protects you and what you believe is right and that you would be quite comfortable silencing people of a different religion, people of no religion, and atheist. That is not the America I am after or know. Would you have silenced Thomas Paine who, at best was a deist, but dramatically helped this country in the Revolutionary War.

"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself," Thomas Paine.

Let us remember that our forefathers came here escaping religious persecution for their beliefs. Would you bring it back, persecuting those that do not agree with you? Our ancestors were not free to practice their religion how they saw fit. Now you want to return to a society where free speech, and freedom of religion is no more?

What I am concerned with is "every form of tyranny over the mind of man," (Thomas Jefferson). That means the tyranny of you and your intolerant views as well as those forms of tyranny that seek to silence all free people. "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it," (Thomas Paine).
So should I be concerned with a cop or a state that seeks to silence a man that is preaching the bible when he has every right to do so? Yes I should be concerned about that. It is a violation of our LAW. We have or had free speech in this county. We could peaceably assemble. I am sure you are against what happened to that man preaching the Bible also. Should I be concerned with a cop or a state that seeks to silence a man that is preaching atheism? Yes I should be concerned about that also. Would you be? Or would you be glad the state shut him up? The atheist had every right to free speech that the religious man had and every right to peaceably assemble. Sorry that you want to interpret the LAW in your own little intolerant way but that is not the basis of a free society, maybe you should wise up.

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." George Washington

I will not apologize for the fact that I can tolerate all forms of free-thinking individuals even the ones I do not agree with. I am quite aware that some peoples rigid belief systems require them to shackle and silence others but I stand for every ones freedoms, liberties, and every ones own individuality. Maybe you want to silence me also for the fact that I put up a blog post advertising the movie Atlas Shrugged I don't know. Maybe instead of posting a quite ignorant comment you could petition Google to shut down my site or write your congressmen to try and shut me up, the way you want to silence all that do not agree with you.

"Almighty God hath created the mind free," Thomas Jefferson once said. "No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively."

I hope that this answers your question as to why I am so concerned about someones rights being violated and why I am also tolerant enough and smart enough to support a book and a movie that I can comprehend without shutting my brain off when I get to a part I do not agree with. Perhaps you should bust out of the little bubble you have created for yourself and support and stand up for all people's freedoms, religious or otherwise, or one day you may find yourself persecuted and shackled. It only takes one step into tyranny before the other foot follows and then where do you think you and your religion will be when the state, once again, tells you what you should believe. Where will you run to then? What country? I myself want to save this country of ours and see it restored to its former glory because America is still the last, best hope on the globe.

"...it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." Thomas Jefferson

I will pray for you and your understanding of true freedom.

God Bless