Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

March 9, 2009

Canadian citizen Desiderio Fortunato is an individual who expects to be treated with respect by the people commonly called ?public servants.?

Fortunato routinely crosses the US-Canadian border. When given instructions by Canadian border guards, Fortunato always reminds them to say ?please?; without fail, the guards do so, often with a sheepish grin.

Last fall, while driving into the U.S., Fortunato tried the same approach with a U.S. border guard. This time, however, he was attacked with pepper-spray, gang-tackled, handcuffed, and detained for three hours before being released without apology.

According to Homeland Security Department Spokesman Mike Milne, the assault on Fortunato was an appropriate response: ?Our officers will give direct orders or commands to passengers ?. It is the obligation of the passenger to be compliant with those.?

When an official insists that civilians have an ?obligation? to obey ?commands? from someone in uniform, he?s speaking the language of marital law.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.