Freedoms versus Opinions

Freedoms versus Opinions explores the difference between having the right to express and opinion (which is a good thing) versus the forcing of a person’s preferences on others (which is a bad thing).

These are two separate points that we must never confuse. In America we have freedoms and liberties, but they cannot be confused with the consequences of a person using them. For example, if a person dislikes a particular group, he can express that opinion.

But there elements that he should weigh and accept before saying that.

(1) He may be wrong, ignorant of the acts or just is not being logical. That possibility should make people be more reserved and prudent.

(2) Because you express your opinion, nobody else has to accept it, and you must allow them the same right to differ wi​th you.

An opinion is never a law. Likewise it is wrong to want authority figures to enforce your opinion on others. In understanding this, a person must first accept the oversight of God.In other words, my opinions, actions and speech will one day be used in my giving an account to God. If a person rejects God, God’s way (morality as God defines it), then you will give account to God one day. You are not justified before God because a lot of people are doing something or hold the same opinion. The overwhelming fact that God is there, and that He is our judge, and rectifies and restores every wrong one day is the beginning of sanity.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God’s position of Omnipotent Judge should temper many people’s actions and words, but they do not care. They reject God from their lives.

Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

What is a Freedom?

Actually, the two are almost the same. A freedom is a right to do something that a person can do without infringing the law.

What is an Opinion?

An opinion here is something that somebody has a preference for, be that thing good or evil, or even neutral. But just because one person likes something, that is not to say it can be unilaterally enforced as obligatory on everybody else. This is what has happened with homosexuality and transgenderism (a form of homosexuality). If a person wants to be a homosexual, under our Constitution he can do that. But he has no right to force his sexual preferences on others. That is obviously directed at other adults, and it is especially directed at minors and children. These groups are sensitive groups that do not have their abilities to discern good and evil, and may very well take up those perverse positions.

In understanding this, some things may be allowed on a personal level, just the person believing in it. But even at that point, suicide is a very personal thing, and our country has stood against suicide in the past, although it is losing that battle.

Why make a law against suicide?

The reason is because (1) the person may be under stress from some disease or other problem that they cannot see any way out of that situation. With the expertise of doctors or counselors, maybe there is a path forward to ease that situation. Suicide shuts down that possibility. (2) People who commit suicide often fail. When they do, they call for help or those around them call for help for them. This in itself causes a lot of problems by occupying the EMS services, the hospitals and doctors, etc. Certain behaviors that tend towards forcing these services to expend time, resources, and personnel on them costs. Since we want a system that does not judge on the first sight a person, everybody gets any medical help that they need. That means our system is clogged by people who should be seeking wise counsel instead of morbid lifestyles.

If a person is a vegan, they have that right. But don’t think that anybody else is obligated by some authority figure or popular person (public opinion) can force that opinion on anybody.

Actors and politicians think that if they state their opinion strongly enough, that others have to accept without reservation that same opinion. That is an error on their part.

What we should understand is that there is a duty, obligations, for every person that is a part of our society. That means that each person should seek to maintain their lives in order. That also means that every person has the right to express their opinions. But they should always couch what they believe in terms that would convince others, and they should not seek to make new laws to force everybody into their opinions.

Freedoms versus Opinions