We in the West take freedom for granted, we are free to live, work and most important to worship anywhere we like. We can turf out our governments at the ballot box in a free and fair election whenever they fail to match their promises with action. In many other parts of the world this is an aspiration people look forward to achieving in their lifetime. We see the upheaval in many parts of the Arab world at the moment as people seek freedom and democracy and in some cases sacrifice their lives in the process. History records dark chapters when godless tyrants ruled and religious dictators made it a crime to read the Bible or worship God. One such dark time occurred when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party swept to power in the nineteen thirties and brought about the Second World War and the devastation of most of Europe and its peoples.

A man named Martin Niemoeller wrote the following memorable words;
"When the Nazis came for the Communists, I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist.
When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Trade Unionists, I didn't speak up, as I wasn't in a union.
When they came for the Catholics, again I didn't speak up as I wasn't a Catholic.
Then they finally came for me, but by that time there was no one left to speak up for anyone."

On top of the Capital Dome in Washington D.C. is a 20foot statue of "Lady Freedom." Her face is framed in a crest of stars and she is holding a shield of stars and stripes in her hand. She was shipped to America from Rome and during a fierce storm, the captain had to throw some cargo overboard to save his ship from foundering. The frightened sailors wanted to ditch the statue as well, but the captain cried, "Never! We'll founder before we throw freedom away!"

Benjamin Franklin once said that those who give up liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.