"Those who will trade liberty for security deserve neither."- Benjamin Franklin

What exactly is security?

What are the limits to it? No matter how much effort is put forth in ensuring "safety" no one is ever truly safe from injury from "outside forces". In order to guarantee that someone is going to be completely secure, you would have to restrain that person to the point that he/she could no longer operate normally.

If the purpose of security is to allow a person to maneuver freely without harm, then security in a free society is a paradox.

True freedom is not only physical, it is mental. If fear confines a person's movement or limits their ability to think and causes them to seek security from another person or group of people, that person has defeated him/herself by allowing their safety net to take the place of his/her enemy and is not free.

Liberty is granted and freedom is taken. If you operate under the notion that your level of freedom can be adjusted by a larger force, then you are not free.

"Security" is subjective and has never been clearly defined unless you consider "from all enemies foreign and domestic" clear. If anyone can be considered an enemy depending on who you ask, it is then impossible to ensure that everyone can be secure or feel safe.

Some people consider African American people the enemy, some people consider white people the enemy, some people consider gay people enemies, some consider Muslims enemies and on down the list...

Security is in each individual's mind and no matter what the government does to ensure that you feel safe or secure, you will never feel that way unless you make up your mind that you are and even then, you're still open to be the recipient of some unforeseen flack.

My point is security is a concept (abstract idea) that anything can be hung on. Security is a tool for controlling people who can't free their minds from fear.

Great points here!

In regards to security, I always tell people that security begins first with peace of mind. You can have all the guns and defensive skills in the world but if you live your life in a state of constant fear; you'll never live up to the potential you have plus NEVER have true security.

I hear people all the time speak of others "spreading fearful information" or whatever yet they just don't seem to understand that if someone has that peace of mind doesn't find this information, no matter how scary it my appear, as something to be afraid of but rather empowered by it. I always tell people that if you find something fearful, THAT fear resides in you and not in whatever you are experiencing. Your mind analyzes that incident and then provides the necessary emotional response.

NOTHING is fearful or scary.......YOU are applying that fear!

Once people are able to understand this, their whole outlook on life changes.

The other big issue is the spiritual side of this. People have to understand that by understanding your own spiritual soul and being at peace with that; death has no dominion over you.

Thank you for this. You both put into words what I try to convey to people that think because I am aware and do research that I am "damaging" myself, that I am paranoid, etc. and spreading fear. They totally miss the point. I would much rather be empowered with knowledge than walking around blindly. And the spiritual aspect is key for sure.

I hate it when people confuse my awareness with pessimism, it happens all the time. Biggest misconception about me is that I take things to serious. I'm really a comical guy in person