Recently, former Utah State Supreme Court Justice, Dallin H. Oaks addressed the students of BYU Idaho on the subject of religious freedom. Much of his speech applies more broadly to all of our constitutional liberties. Below, I quote liberally from his message.

“Following the perestroika movement in the Soviet Union, popular demonstrations in Mongolia forced the Communist government to resign in March 1990. Other political parties were legalized, but the first Mongolian elections gave the Communists a majority in the new parliament, and the old repressive attitudes persisted in all government departments. The full functioning of a democratic process and the full enjoyment of the people’s needed freedoms do not occur without a struggle. In Mongolia, the freedoms of speech, press and religion — a principal feature of the inspired United States Constitution — remained unfulfilled.

“In that precarious environment, a 42-year-old married woman, Oyun Altangerel, a department head in the state library, courageously took some actions that would prove historic. Acting against official pressure, she organized a “Democratic Association Branch Council.” This 12-member group, the first of its kind, spoke out for democracy and proposed that state employees have the freedoms of worship, belief and expression, including the right to belong to a political party of their choice.

“When Oyun and others were fired from their state employment, Oyun began a hunger strike in the state library. Within three hours she was joined by 20 others, mostly women, and their hunger strike, which continued for five days, became a public demonstration that took their grievances to the people of Mongolia. This demonstration, backed by major democratic movement leaders, encouraged other government employees to organize similar democratic councils. These dangerous actions expanded into a national anti-government movement that voiced powerful support for the basic human freedoms of speech, press and religion. Eventually the government accepted the demands, and in the adoption of a democratic constitution two years later Mongolia took a major step toward a free society.

“One of the great fundamentals of our inspired constitution, relied on by Oyun of Mongolia and countless others struggling for freedom in many countries, is the principle that the people are the source of government power. This principle of popular sovereignty was first written and applied on the American continent over 200 years ago. A group of colonies won independence from a king, and their representatives had the unique opportunity of establishing a new government. They did this by creating the first written constitution that has survived to govern a modern nation. The United States Constitution declared the source of government power, delegated that power to a government, and regulated its exercise.”

In a time where we see our liberties and freedom threatened from all sides, each of us must be an Oyun in some way or we choose to simply surrender our liberties – and our children’s. It need not be a hunger strike, but we need to be politically active. A lot is accomplished by speaking about issues with friends and relatives, calling our representatives (sounds a little scary, but is amazingly easy to do), aligning with like-minded folks in larger movements like the Tea Parties, etc.

Then, if we are truly engaged, we will have the opportunity to dialogue with our political adversaries. The Honorable Dallin Oaks suggests some principles when engaging with political addversaries:

• Speak respectfully, always showing patience, understanding and compassion toward our adversaries.
• Do not be deterred or coerced into silence by the kinds of intimidation that abound today. We must insist on our constitutional rights, to vote our consciences on public issues and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice. These are the rights of all citizens.
• Be wise in our political participation. The call of conscience requires no secular justification. At the same time, we will be most persuasive in political discourse by framing arguments and positions in ways that are respectful of those who do not share our beliefs and that contribute to the reasoned discussion and compromise that is essential in a pluralistic society.

Decide today, what actions you will take to protect the liberties you enjoy and that your children deserve. Then, rigorously encourage friends and family to join you.

(Please see the full address here.)

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