Rand Paul’s Memorial Day Salute

There seems to be an incessant buzz in America these days caused by our collective carping about the game playing of elected officials.  I have contributed mightily to this noise and have fed it a fair amount through my writing for print media and in this space.  On the eve of the Memorial Day weekend, I am going to do something different and praise one politician for holding his ground and keeping his word.

As Congress scrambled to renew parts of the Patriot Act, freshman Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky took an unyielding stand to force a vote on three provisions of the Act he found particularly objectionable.  Paul filibustered for three days.  In the process, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid berated Paul and, in an outrageous display, even accused Paul of wanting to arm terrorists.

“He is fighting for an amendment to protect the right — not of average citizens, but of terrorists — to cover up their gun purchases,” Reid said.

That is a scurrilous statement for which Senator Reid should be ashamed.  The Republican Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, was only slightly kinder to his fellow Republican, but Senator Paul did not back down.  In the end, Paul forced votes on his amendments and they all failed.

I have a very different view on many issues than does Senator Paul, but I share his concern about how the Patriot Act impinges individual freedom.  I recognize the threat posed by terrorists.  However, terrorists win a victory when a free society allows even small fissures in the foundation of liberty in fear of things that might happen.  Created in a noble effort to protect the American way, the Patriot Act simultaneously degrades it.

It would have been understandable for Senator Paul to acknowledge he was on the losing side of this battle and to quietly acquiesce.  He knew his amendments lacked majority support.  A simple  “no” vote would have been the easy way out and the leaders of his party might have even rewarded him for sitting on the sideline.  Senator Paul chose another path.  As a result, the Senate and, perhaps in a small way, the country is a little better for having heard a minority viewpoint too often silenced since 9/11.

As you put out your flag this Memorial Day to honor those who paid the ultimate price fighting for our freedom, remember one of the most valuable ideals they died to protect was the right of individual Americans to voice their opinions.  Senator Paul may not have represented the mainstream this week in the U.S. Senate, but preserving his right to speak is important to each and every one of us.

The Senate debate may not have been pretty and the substance of what was said there may only seem significant to a single blowhard with a blog, but America is the greatest nation on earth because we do not silence those who say unpopular things.

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Graham Gillette can be reached at grahamgillette@gmail.com

This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register blog entry.