The news that controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones was barred from entering the United Kingdom to participate in a meeting of a group called “England is Ours” made me think of a couple of things.
Firstly, no matter what you think of Terry Jones and his views on Islam and the Koran (which I find to be severely shortsighted), his views are not much more extreme, and likely less dangerous, than the views held both privately and publicly by many people. Take for instance, the views of some Muslims in, say, the UK. Perhaps the UK is considering a total roundup of those individuals, but I highly doubt it.
Secondly and most importantly, the fact that the UK would ban someone from entering a country just for having a controversial opinion or view of a certain religion underscores why the United States is unique and special even among Western developed countries. The U.S. allows free speech, even most extreme free speech, because it values and respects God-given rights above all else. This includes the right to hold an opinion that might be considered offensive by many decent people. The right for human beings to express themselves freely and without grave repercussions is probably our highest and most valued right endowed to us by our Creator. As much as Europeans want to believe they are more advanced and “progressive” than Americans, this simple but important distinction proves otherwise.
Ever wonder, as I have, what the real meaning of “love your enemies” is? I’m not sure if I can totally grasp it, but I get the feeling that it has something to do with being charitable and offering the same respect toward those whom you vehemently disagree with as you would want your enemies to have toward you. It doesn’t mean agreeing with them or being open to their ideas or beliefs. It doesn’t even mean liking the person. It’s hard as hell to achieve, we must admit. But the Founding Fathers knew a thing or two about our sacred rights as human beings and realized that once authority starts chipping away from the edges at our rights, it won’t be long before they get to the core. As with most things the Fathers believed in, the idea of free speech, even offensive free speech, is Biblical and Christian at its core.
