National Chairman's Letter

On Liberty

June 2002

Dear Members and Friends of the Independent American Party,

Our IAP National Mission statement includes the phrase "to promote ... liberty...." The Declaration of Independence declares "all Men ... are endowed by their Creator with certain unalieanble Rights ... [including] Liberty...." The 5th Amendment to the Constitution states "nor shall any person ... be deprived of ... liberty ... without due process of law;" and the 14th Amendment states "nor shall any State deprive any person of ... liberty ... without due process of law...."

Several years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of traveling to Israel. We had a sobering impression on freedom when we visited the Massada in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea. The Massada is a natural mountain fortress with sheer cliffs from 500 to 1200 feet down on all sides. It is where a band of Jewish Zealots -- 960 men, women and children -- held off the Roman Army for a year, until the Spring of 73 AD, when the Romans were prepared to storm the Massada. But the attackers were surprised to be met with silence; then shocked at what they found.

The night before the assault, the Zealots made a pact. The men went to their families with tears in their eyes; embraced their wives and children; and gave them the longest parting kisses. They then took the lives of their families. The men gathered and selected ten men by lot, who killed all the other men. Those ten selected one man by lot, who killed the other nine, then took his own life. These defenders of Massada preferred death over slavery and possible rape and torture.

Two years and seventeen centuries later, Patrick Henry gave his immortal speech, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" This speech helped pave the way for the American Revolutionary War.

9000 Americans lost their lives during the Revolution, including one-fourth of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. By the hand of God and the sacrifices of our forefathers, America became a free and independent nation!

The scriptures say, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17). Inscribed on the Liberty Bell is another scripture, "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." (Leviticus 25:10).

The dictionary defines liberty (in part) as "freedom from arbitrary or oppressive government or control" and as "independence from external or foreign rule." But today many Americans take liberty for granted. We no longer mind government interference. We embrace the centralized government our forefathers warned of. We prefer the United Nations to national sovereignty, and look eagerly toward a New World Order. These attitudes were mostly sewn bit-by-bit.

Few today would place their lives on the line for freedom. Most would endear themselves to that catch phrase of the 1960's, "Better Red than dead!"

Even in his day, Thomas Jefferson said, "My God! how little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!"

Benjamin Franklin: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety...."

James Madison: "I believe there are more instances of abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations...."

John Dickinson, a founder said, "[Political] slavery is ever preceded by sleep."

One of several key threats to our freedom today is the governmental and popular erosion of our 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Jefferson said, "When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

George Mason: "To disarm the people (is) the best and most effectual way to enslave them..."

Mahatma Gandhi, in the last century said, "Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."

So do we have a duty for preserving freedom in America? And is it worth losing life over?

Someone said, "To be born free is a privilege. To die free is an awesome responsibility."

Author William Harward: "The greatest glory of a freeborn people is to transmit that freedom to their children."

J. Reuben Clark, former Ambassador to Mexico said, "I say to you that the price of liberty is and always has been blood, human blood, and if our liberties are lost, we shall never regain them except at the price of blood. They must not be lost."

Let us strive for righteousness and morality in our nation so that we may be worthy of God's blessings -- including the blessing of liberty! Let us be vigilant and politically responsive to all threats against our freedom -- including attacks on our Constitution, our sovereignty, and our means of deterrence against tyranny.

Yours for Freedom!

Bruce Bangerter
IAP National Chairman