Not freedom -- infantile freedom. Folks like Lech Walesa define freedom in a reasonable way, as the absence of external constraints on largely unobjectionable behavior. The ACLU defines it as a self-centered exercise in removing all the barriers to invidividual whims, which is tellingly characterized by their crusades against civic references to religion.

It's also why goofy libertarians like the folks at Reason magazine included Dennis Rodman and Madonna in their list of 20th century heroes of freedom, while omitting President Reagan. Their creed is: Me, Me, Me.

Exactly Matt. Indeed, some years ago a buddy of mine had, while in college, a summer fellowship at a libertarian-leaning think tank. His discovery during the two months he spent there was that most of the floks associated with the place were deviants of one sort or another.

infantile freedom is redundant. Liberty is mature.

Freedom is the freedom for bent-ness, the bent men say. Do not be surprised, then, when the so-called, self-proclaimed "libertarians" turn out to be mere libertines.

Thus it is that the approach of the ACLU runs directly counter to civil liberty. As the institutions which moderate behavior are weakened, the state must step in. Cultural room is made for perversion, and people who have served their time for perverted acts are hounded for life.

The ACLU understands perfectly well what it is doing. Child pornography becomes protected speech and all moral opposition becomes an attack on the 1st Amendment. The program is Gramscian in nature and the goals are plain: As the bromides of the ACLU become the sense of the 'base' the capitalist 'superstructure' will collapse and the Marxist utopia shall rise from the ashes. The organization has always been adept at pushing the thoughtless 'liberal left' into a frenzy of activity in support of causes with implications they are incapable of grasping. The originalist, pre-progressive era understanding of the constitution would have nipped these jagoffs in the bud.

The nameless, faceless one has favored us all with an excelent comment, capturing Kirk, Burke and Cicero. Very well done.

I was forced to look up "jagoff," however.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jagoff

It turned out to be a regional expression, being the way those from Pittsburgh pronounce the familiar vulgarism. I confess that, as an old Marine Corps lawyer, the word caught my eye.