Santorum under attack from Kennedy

Republican Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania has come under fire from Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. The attack was made as a result of a three year old column the Pennsylvania Republican wrote stating that the liberal culture had played a part in the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Santorum explained in his column:

"Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm."

Senator Kennedy wants Santorum to apologize for these remarks.

I for one think Kennedy should apologize for being weak against the Soviet Union in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but that is neither here nor there. Although I am for allowing personal freedom on many issues, the individual is still obligated to show restraint in his/her actions. One simply cannot run naked in a shopping mail yelling, "I am Hilter" and think you can get away with it. That action effects others. I believe that Santorum was touching on a matter that is politically heated. Both conservatives and liberals have battled in the ongoing cultural war well before Roe v. Wade.

The question is where do personal freedoms stop and community concerns start? It is not easy to answer. Taking parenting at its most basic level, the action in raising a child is very "conservative." A parent must limit a child's personal freedom. Although I am pained to admit this, years ago society aided parents in raising their children. At some point the rise of personal freedoms failed society. Now this might seem strange coming from a professed believer in "Free Minds and Free Markets," but for those who are libertarian in outlook will agree with free thinking comes a personal responsibility in the actions there upon made.

Like most libertarians, I believe in abortion rights but don't think that a little girl should be given the sole responsibility in making a life or death decision. First of all, she never should be in such a situation to choose between her future and her child's. In such a case, the parents and society failed her. I believe that Santorum was saying in the sex abuse scandal somewhere down the line society allowed such horrible actions to take place. This was not through a collective want to harm children, but through a lax sense of responsibility in the individual. Once more and more individuals decided feel no personally responsibility, society was forever weakened.

I admit that my values of personal freedom have harmed society because, as a collective unit, we are not managing that liberty of thought or action. Yet, I must profess in all modesty, personal freedom is still the best course for human interaction. Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, "libertarianism is the worst form of philosophical belief, with the exception of all others."

To summarize: 1) Kennedy is a jerk, 2) Santorum needs to think before he writes, 3) there needs to be balance between personal freedom and community welfare.