By John W. Rolph, Retired JAGC, USN
In my opinion, the greatest strength of democracy is its ability to not just tolerate peaceful dissent, but to encourage it. Peaceful dissent provides definition to the problems we face as a nation. It brings clarity to issues that confound us and allows all voices to be heard in that quest. It facilitates our ability to flag injustice – knowing, as MLK reminded us, that “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
As I write these words, the rights and freedoms secured by our forefathers and memorialized in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and its Bill of Rights are in clear and present danger.
We all see it happening day after day — slowly but painfully deliberate; the tragic erosion of our long held American ideals. Each of us needs to decide what we are going to do about it. What role will you play in helping to preserve the freedoms many of our forefathers fought for and died to secure?
Just how valuable is the liberty and democracy you have enjoyed and probably taken for granted most of your life? What will you do to return basic human decency to our government and our nation?
Trust me, I am struggling with the same questions right now.
In “The American Crisis #1” (Dec. 23, 1776), written in the second winter of our revolutionary war when things looked utterly hopeless, Thomas Paine reminded us in powerful words that freedom and liberty come at a cost, and no true patriot should ever ignore this reality:
“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated…”
Paine was imploring his countrymen to get into the fight for America’s revolutionary cause and stay the course no matter how bleak things appeared. He understood that freedom, liberty, the right to representation, and the preservation of human rights are priceless gifts worth protecting at any cost.
He went on to plead that, “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day that my child[ren] may have peace.” Tacitly, he acknowledged what we all know — that our unique freedoms and the blessings of liberty must be secured for future generations.
Peggy Noonan, the gifted columnist (and presidential speech writer for Ronald Reagan), once wrote an op-ed piece (circa November 2002) about the dilemma of honoring one’s principles and maintaining one’s values in trying times. She astutely noted that it is easy to have “principles” when there is nothing at stake for doing so.
However, there are times when a heavy price must be paid for where you stand, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Steadfast adherence to one’s values and principles in the darkest and most trying times is what we all recognize as integrity. And while many assert that their personal integrity is something they would never compromise, we often see that commitment flounder and fail as the price for doing so rises.
So, the real question for all of us to answer — right here and now — is what is the true measure of our devotion?
How high of a price are we willing to pay to stand fast on the principles we define as essential to maintaining the democracy and constitutional form of government we profess to honor and love? What sacrifices are we willing to make for the cause of human rights?
Will we sail passionately and confidently into this storm not knowing the outcome of the maelstrom because it is what we know we must do, or will we instead strike sails and seek safe harbor?
Will we be just “fair-weather friends” to our country and our Constitution? As our democratic ideals and basic human decency are threatened with extinction, will we be merely “summer” citizens and “sunshine patriots”?
The time to define what price you are willing to pay is NOW!
Every American who cherishes freedom, democracy, and human rights must weigh anchor and get into this fight.
We know this will be a lengthy, uncertain, and costly battle, but it must be undertaken. We love this country too much to choose otherwise.
May God grant each of us the strength, courage, and fortitude to set our personal price high enough so that it honors the original measure of devotion given by so many in providing us our liberty, our democratic ideals, and our constitutional republic.
Captain John W. Rolph, JAGC, USN, describes himself as Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Veteran, All-Seasons Citizen/Patriot.
He served as both an enlisted man and an officer in the U.S. Navy during a 35-year career. He served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U.S. Navy from 1982 until 2008.