Don Quixote, hero of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel and the much more recent musical, is famed for tilting at windmills, believing them to be (in his senility) monsters with four arms intent on conquest and domination.

Of course, his efforts availed nothing, except to demonstrate his concern for others. But no one was rescued from tyranny or destruction by his efforts against windmills.

Today, we suggest a similar mental problem in many lovers of liberty: in many of those who try to defend freedom. We waste our effort, our resources tilting at windmills and not fighting true evil.

Consider FirstLiberty.org. They tell us: “First Liberty has proven that we can fight and win for religious freedom at the highest court in the land. Through multiple landmark Supreme Court cases, we have set historic legal precedent that protect all people of faith. And the opportunities for impacting our nation’s future are bigger now than ever before. Learn more about the victories that are restoring religious liberty for generations to come!“

The organization recently sent out an email, proclaiming their “Victory!” in one particular case in Tennessee. “We secured a victory for our client Eric Rivera, a first-grade teacher at Antioch College Prep Elementary School who was facing termination over his faith. The school cleared Eric’s record after previously issuing a “final warning letter” and removing him from the classroom after he declined to read materials promoting same-sex marriage. Eric had asked a colleague to read the material as an accommodation of his religious beliefs. The school also agreed to accommodate all teachers and allow them to “ask another employee to read materials objectionable to their faith.””

Now, as far as Mr. Rivera is concerned, yes, there was a victory. Of sorts. He didn’t lose his job. He didn’t have to sully his voice with stating things that (a) violated his conscience, and (b) weren’t true: indeed were propaganda.

But a victory for liberty? For freedom of conscience? For truth? (Remember: “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”) Please. In essence, we submit Mr. Rivera sold out his faith and truth for personal gain: keeping his job.

Mr. Rivera faced and failed a test that teachers in government-run, tax-funded (“public”) schools face daily. Do you teach children what is true and good, or do you teach them lies? Lies about human nature, lies about government, lies about nature and science, and lies about so many other things? Or do you teach them whatever government tells you to teach? Mr. Rivera won the privilege of not having to personally read the material that the school administration (and therefore governments, from the principal, superintendent, and board of education of the school district, though State and even Federal governments) demanded be read. But he failed to protect his students from that propaganda, from the lies being read.

(A note to our libertarian friends and readers: If what he was ordered to teach/read regarding same-sex marriage was truthful? Is it the business of government agencies to promote that? Is this not another example of government meddling in, controlling things which it has no constitutional or moral authority to control? Are these not matters which anyone except parents has any right to teach six- and seven-year-old children?)

First Liberty and Mr. Rivera did not prevent the government(s) from stealing away the “rights” (powers) of parents regarding their children.

Worse, did they not tacitly and visibly accept and support teaching certain controversial and (we submit) age-inappropriate matters? Claims seen by (at least) some (if not most or even all) of the parents as wrong or inappropriate to be addressed. This certainly contradicts what some or many parents were teaching their children: undermining their authority.

Simply put, First Liberty is proud of resolving the matter in a way that did not protect the children given into Mr. Rivera’s care from the wrongful dictates of politicians, bureaucrats, and change agents who promote such things. This is failure. Not victory.

Even if this particular school, district, and State did not promote this particular doctrine? (Which government should neither promote nor disparage.) There are still dozens of matters that teachers are forced to teach their students that deny or pervert liberty and truth. Forced? Yes, “teach this or get fired… and probably blacklisted.” Examples: the role of government, the nature of money, the constant drumbeat of obedience to authority, and more. (Including the never-ending cycle of educational and social fads: who remembers “New Math” or all the alternatives to phonics in reading?) American public schools are true to their origins: a copy of the royal Prussian education system, including the objectives and methods.

Those who love and promote liberty, who must reject the claims and power of government, must learn that compromise and false claims of victory ultimately result in losing battles for liberty. Just as those who send their children to government-run, tax-funded schools and those who work in such institutions must see that they are instigating, promoting, and covering for institutions opposed to and fighting liberty. Not being a light to the world.