Benjamin Franklin Lodge #83, Madison, WI

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Benjamin Franklin, 1759

As a society we have a responsibility to uphold certain liberties, including freedom of speech and insure that all people are treated fairly. Our society was built upon a foundation of personal liberties that must withstand the trials it faces today. In times of political differences, racial tension, natural disasters, and acts of terror we have to make sure these liberties endure. When people are fearful, they may be willing to give up civil liberties in exchange for a feeling of safety, however we must hold tight to the principals that we’ve determined are vital to a free society. As individuals in that society it’s important that we understand our personal responsibility to give people freedom of expression and treat them justly. It’s sometimes easy to forget how connected we all are.

One person’s actions can have a powerful effect on many people. When one person discriminates or treats someone unjustly, it can set off a chain of events beyond that one instance. Censorship, withholding of civil liberties, violence, and discrimination all can lead to the decision for someone to act against the greater good. In other words, when someone is treated unfairly, they feel justified in doing the same to another person. When someone is a victim of violence, they feel justified in acting out violence. When someone is discriminated against, they feel justified in discriminating. This is why to create a safe and free society it’s vital that people act in an upstanding way toward each other.

As Freemasons who understand the importance of these liberties, it is also important to practice the art of forgiveness. We have to forgive those who are unjust and those who discriminate. We should hold them responsible, teach them the wrongness of their actions, but we must also forgive them. This is our biggest challenge as individuals in a free society. To be part of the solution, to stop the violent chain of events, we practice forgiveness knowing how the circle perpetuates itself.