Viral Sneakers
During the week known as Holy Week for Christians, a video and a shoe celebrating Satanism were on full display across the Internet. Many were understandably troubled by what this says about where we are as a society. So, how should we respond as Christians or as conservatives when ideas are promoted that we see as harmful or even dangerous? What do we do when those ideas are not only expressed, but are shaping public policy in the form of laws that every American is forced to obey, and integrated into the public school curriculum being taught to our children?
Silence in the face of evil is evil itself.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
First Amendment Protection
To be sure, the expression of every viewpoint, no matter how unpopular, enjoys the protection of the First Amendment. Does this mean we must allow radical viewpoints that have the support of only a very small number of Americans to have an equal voice and equal sway in the shaping of public policy? It is critical that we know the answer to this question. If we look to our Founding Fathers, the answer is a definitive “no.”
If the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approval, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.
~Samuel Adams
Framers Intent
Our Framers, in drafting the Constitution, provided for representative democracy, under which our legislative representatives are elected by majority vote. Those representatives are accountable to those voters who elected them (the winning majority) and are charged with enacting laws and policies that serve the interests of those voters. While our Constitution protects the freedom of every citizen to express views that do not align with the views of the majority, this freedom does not extend to dictating, or even shaping, law or policy. Simply put, our Framers did not intend for government to enforce policies that are offensive to a majority of Americans (such as giving voice to doctrines that celebrate harmful behaviors).
Know & Participate
We need to know and understand these concepts that underlie our system of self-government. Equally important, we need to participate in the process on every level—from our school boards to our city, state, and federal governments.
Now is the time for voice and intervention if we ever hope to put the reins of power back into the hands of the majority—a majority that believes our founding principles are worth fighting for.
