Freedom?
Imagine coming upon the scene of a terrible accident. Several police officers are there but do nothing. Horror stricken, you watch as cars speed through the red light at the intersection. A minute later, there’s another gruesome accident. The police look the other way. When you question them, they say the people have the constitutional right to run the red light, and, as officers of the law, they can’t infringe on people’s guaranteed right to freedom. You ask about the wounded and are told the injured need to help themselves. The policemen then encourage other drivers to ignore the red light.
This is a fitting comparison to the response regarding coronavirus protections and precautions. It’s absurd to think that everyone has complete, unhindered freedom. Every day, people relinquish some amount of freedom to ensure the health and wellbeing of the country’s citizens and economy.
Freedom is not synonymous with lawlessness or lack of rules. If that were so, we’d still live in the Wild West. Few would dispute Americans’ constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom. Infringement upon said freedom is vociferously and sometimes violently protested. Examples include the backlash over the Michigan governor’s stay-at-home order, where militia members openly sported rifles inside the state capitol building, and the Family Dollar employee who was shot and killed after asking a customer to wear a mask.
What if everybody responded to ordinary laws and rules like so many have to the coronavirus precautions?
Officer, “Ma’am, why were you speeding the wrong way down the interstate?”
Woman, “It’s my right! I can speed anywhere, and in any direction I want. It’s in the Constitution. It’s my freedom!”
Officer, “But you are endangering lives. You could kill yourself or someone else.”
Woman, “You can’t tell me how to drive. I have the right to do it. It says so in the Constitution.” Then screeching, “It’s my freedom.”
***
Officer, “Sir, how much have you had to drink?”
Man, “I don’t have to tell you. I can drive drunk if I want to. It’s my right. The Constitution says you can’t tell me what to do.”
***
Officer, “You broke into your neighbor’s house and stole everything.”
Man, “So? It’s my freedom to do whatever I want. Not letting me steal infringes on my constitutional freedom. Stop trying to control me!”
***
These people would be locked up and considered crazy, criminal, or both. All levels of government, financial institutions, bosses, landlords, and countless other entities impinge upon our freedom. If we impetuously demand freedom against this authority, we’re swiftly reminded that we have to conform to certain rules.
Following guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus isn’t about government control or loss of American freedom. Precautions serve the same purpose as stopping at a red light. They protect us from harm or death.
One final blow to this long-dead horse. Gathering in large groups in the name of freedom is like showing up at a large event with a loaded gun. As the one carrying the gun (virus), you randomly fire into the crowd, possibly killing people. However, it takes a couple of weeks for the bullet to work. Survivors of your mass shooting might now have a weapon of their own, which could be used to gun down family members waiting at home.
Guarding against the coronavirus is not about stolen liberty. It’s about the rational use of our freedom. Protecting ourselves and others from Covid-19 is no more a threat to our constitutional rights than is the sane, logical act of stopping at a red light.