That we all must live in a society is no longer a question; the question is what kind of society do we want to live in?  Most of us talk of a just society, a society in which we have liberties, we have rights.  But those words are more often than not code for “my” liberties, “my” rights.  In such a society discussions become battles we cannot fight; arguments become wars that we must not lose.

In order for a society to work there must be a basis, a foundation upon which we all can build.  We must fight fear and cannot ignore ignorance, but must meet it head on.  My liberties are our liberties; my rights are our rights.  Any group, any government administration, any corporation or individual which dismisses this foundation is no longer working towards a better society.

But what are rights and what are liberties, those words so many seem to throw around?  Rights are limitations, liberties are freedoms.  To have the one we must accept the other.  To have a civil and a peaceful society we must all come to understand this.  And, we must understand that fear, ignorance, ideals and ideologies will fail us all.

So as the roar of voices rage on and the vulgar have their pitiful time in the spotlight, those that believe that a peaceful rather than fearful, that a civil rather than ignorant society is possible must continue to carry the heavy load of human potential and not give in to the penchant to define freedom as violence and normal as the lowest denominator.  We do not do this for our children or our children’s children, we do this because it is the right thing to do; we do this because the ugly alternative is staring us in the face at this very moment… with a gun in its hand.