...WE WANT PEACE ...
Mmm....
"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery" is a translation of a Latin phrase that Thomas Jefferson used: "Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem." It has also been translated as, "I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude."
Jefferson used that Latin phrase in the following letter to James Madison:
Societies exist under three forms sufficiently distinguishable. 1. Without government, as among our Indians. 2. Under governments wherein the will of every one has a just influence, as is the case in England in a slight degree, and in our states in a great one. 3. Under governments of force: as is the case in all other monarchies and in most of the other republics. To have an idea of the curse of existence under these last, they must be seen. It is a government of wolves over sheep. It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that the 1st. condition is not the best. But I believe it to be inconsistent with any great degree of population. The second state has a great deal of good in it. The mass of mankind under that enjoys a precious degree of liberty and happiness. It has it's evils too: the principal of which is the turbulence to which it is subject. But weigh this against the oppression of monarchy, and it becomes nothing. Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem. Even this evil is productive of good. It prevents the degeneracy of government, and nourishes a general attention to the public affairs. I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. - Jefferson to Madison, January 30, 1787.
Now, ironically, such peace is no longer a value in this country or in the world for that matter. Peace at all Peace at all costs is the mantra. Now, what kind of peace is that? Let's look at what liberals have to say...
"No matter what it costs, We want peace." And this is what it entails: "No matter the financial cost, the emotional cost, the loss of personal or national security, the loss of personal or national freedoms, the loss of religious freedoms, and no matter how many of my relatives are mocked, jailed or killed...WE WANT PEACE!"
We hear chants for such peace... peace at all costs in speeches spewing out of think tank conferences/forums, and on websites... www.orgs. Theirs is a liberal call for world peace and they even use nicey nice words but in the 'real world' many cultures have different ideas about i.e. justice, security and harmony.
We can and should ask: What is "peace"? The dictionary says: "peace is a state of tranquility; freedom from civil disturbance; state of security or order; freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts or emotions; harmony in personal relations; and a state of mutual concord between governments."
However, in a fallen world 'Peace at all costs' leads to intolerance, treachery, and death. Instead, we must adopt Martin Luther's plea: "Peace if possible; Truth at all costs!"
Peace is the by-product of right intention, right thinking, and right action. Jesus said in John 14:27a [NASB]: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled." That last phrase could mean "Don't let the world's troubles disturb you."
We can have peace in our own heart and mind in the midst of a troubled world, but worldwide peace is not possible until Jesus returns. Romans 12:18 says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Therefore, with our focus on Jesus Christ, let's establish Truth as our foundation; then pursue peace wherever possible.
*Online Sources ~ https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/i-prefer-dangerous-freedom-over-peaceful-slavery-quotation?fbclid=IwAR0S1Lvy2IKyU3J06fHdVeYG8_ACDDYICLmrBHRxe4c-uEshlH3e3Tlyhjc
https://hl.nwaonline.com/news/2016/aug/10/peace-at-all-costs-20160810-1/
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