Eternal Vigilance Required
While skimming homeschool news, two assaults on liberty distressed me.
The Second Appellate Court judges held Mrs. Long unfit to teach her children at home because she lacks a state credential.
An important discussion of the definition of religious exemption followed.
Parents, teachers and local school officials know more about the individual needs of our state’s students than the Nebraska legislature or officials in Washington.
The sword civil government carries has a purpose. It is to protect life and preserve safety, not slash parental rights. Children do not belong to the government. The state may rescue if a life is in danger. However, prosecuting a family so their children develop emotionally and interact with others does not fit that criteria. (reason cited by attorney in CA case)
Liberty is written in our law. We don’t have to fire cannons to keep it, but freedom does have a price. Liberty needs our faithful prayers; legislators need our constant voice.
As much trepidation is there is about the move toward a parental rights amendment, these kinds of cases are the reason that many HSers feel a sense of fear, even panic. Judges aren’t interpreting the Constitution as a way to limit gov’t, but to limit citizens. Gov’t is becoming a giant predator, attempting to manipulate, dominate, and control the people.
The average politician knows little of the Constitution. We’re in a mess in part to the Constitution not being enforced. Indeed, liberty needs two voices – internal (vigilant prayer) and external (involvement).
Ha, my anti-spam word is “blocked”. So much for liberty! ;)
Sunniemom,
You have a way with words, don’t you? ;) If the government is a predator, it is a beast of our own making. My prayer is that we won’t run away in fear, but face it with wisdom and tenacity. By the grace of God, we can snatch back our liberty before it is completely consumed.
Miiko,
Well, my blog is not “blocked” yet. We still enjoy freedom of speech, at least, on the internet.
We are so far removed from original intent of the Constitution, I don’t know how we will go back. It can happen incrementally, but it may take generations. The foundations are still there. Let’s continue exposing them and rebuilding the walls.
I never thought of prayer as internal. Thank you for sharing that observation. Communion with God has both an internal and external part, too. The thoughts and intents of the heart are expressed outwardly through worship and petition.
This is really distrubing to me, that the government would presume the right to intrude so deeply into parental territory. The writer’s of the constitution created it with the intention that it protect the rights of citizens, not the rights of the government to stomp all over its citizens.
I should make liberty a spam word… I think freedom is there though.
Melinda,
You are correct. Government’s job is to protect, but judges are overstepping their bounds. The allegations of abuse in the CA case were not addressed. I wonder if they were unfounded, or was homeschooling itself considered abuse?
According to Crimson Mom’s research (first link in my post), one of the reasons to prosecute this family was so “people…could provide help if something is amiss in the children’s lives.” Fear that children will have no one to talk to if parents are truly evil is not a rational reason to abolish parental rights. Here is a quote from a NE legislator in another disturbing article involving homeschooling,
Andrea,
I never see the spam words. Maybe I should log out sometimes. ;)
There is slight difference between freedom and liberty. Freedom denotes complete absence of restraint. Liberty does, too, in the general sense. However, I found this quote in the 1828 Dictionary definition,
So yes, by all means, add liberty. Spammers need to be “blocked.” :)
I agree that Eternal Vigilance is required! There is no doubt in my mind that there are those who would take away parental rights. There is no doubt in my mind that they will try. They will probably think they are doing a good thing. It is a world view problem.
But we cannot lose hope, we cannot give up. History is not yet decided!
I just got back from Australia and felt fear when I entered the U.S.A. That was a first for me! Usually I have a great sense of freedom!
Ok, this is getting too long. The point is, I agree, we need a vigilance of action, and we must be vigilant to maintain hope as well!
:-)
ThirstyJon
ThirstyJon,
Welcome back! Why do you think you felt fear upon entering the states? There have been many inflammatory headlines, but I think that can be good. People are discussing ideas. May public opinion sway in the direction of liberty.
We do have hope, but we have the hard job of rebuilding the foundations. The Declaration of Independence still contains the philosophy of liberty; the Constitution is still the rule of law. The state has many responsibilities it was never meant to have. I don’t know how to fix that, except to do the things God requires of me, and trust it will spread outwardly.