Looking for a Ship

Τουλευθερον ό εκεινο, ει τις θελει πολει Χρηςον τι βουλευμ’ εις μεσον φερειν, εχων. Και ταυθ’, ο χρηζων, λαμπρος εσθ’, ο μη θελων, Σιγα, τι τουτων εςιν ισαιτερον πολει.

— Euripid. Hicetia.

This is true Liberty,

when freeborn men,

Having to advise the public, may speak free;

Which he who can, and will, deserves high praise:

Who neither can, nor will, may hold his peace:

What can be juster in a state than this?

— Euripid, Hicetia.

Pondering a quote from John Milton from whose Areopagitica the quotes from Euripides was taken.  He said this of England (which, of course, has just banned anti-jihad commentators Robert Spencer and Pam Geller).  It is appropos here at so very many levels particularly after this week’s Supreme Court decisions on the defense of Marriage Act.

“…consider what Nation it is whereof ye are, and whereof ye are the governours: a Nation not slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing spirit, acute to invent, suttle and sinewy to discours, not beneath the reach of any point the highest that human capacity can soar to.

Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties”