Nancy Simms Discusses Freedom and Why She's a Proud American with Aubrey AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What does freedom mean to you? NANCY SIMS: Freedom is a precious word that must be treasured deeply. For many citizens of the world, it means the chance to leave free of dictatorship and controlling governance. For many Americans, it is reflected in our core values of democracy and the right to freely choose our leaders. Beyond that, it means so many different things to so many different people. For me, freedom means the right to live in a society governed by its citizens. Sadly, I fear that this most basic tenet of our society is at risk. It may be at risk primarily because the citizens are in default. My greatest hope for our freedom is that people take ownership of their government back and engage in reasonable and rational debate. AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Why are your proud to be an American? NANCY SIMS: I am most proud to be an American when I think of our military and their commitment to protecting our freedoms. I am proud when I see our flag flying or hear voices raised in unison singing our national anthem and I am most proud when election day comes and voters cast their ballots to protect and engage in our democracy.
State Rep. Gary Elkins Discusses Freedom and Why He's a Proud American with Aubrey AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What does freedom mean to you? STATE REP. GARY ELKINS: Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Therefore our first amendment to the U.S. constitution is the foundation of our political and religious freedom. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Ayn Rand said, “Intellectual Freedom cannot exist without political freedom; Political Freedom cannot exist without economic freedom; A free mind and a free market are corollaries”. I believe that it is necessary for people to know my world view because our world view is what defines our beliefs about Freedom. I possess a Judeo-Christian world view. I believe like our founding fathers that all men are created equal and are endowed with inalienable rights that come from God and not the State. So my world view is that our rights are granted to us by God Almighty, and not the state (i.e. government). I believe that men should be free to make good decisions and bad decisions without interference from government. In today’s political environment, government tries to protect people from their bad decisions. In a free society, men who make bad decisions will suffer the consequences of those decisions and hopefully learn from them and not repeat them. When government interferes and tries to keep people from suffering the consequences of their bad decisions, then they never learn from their mistakes. 41