social tension

I have just begun reading a book called "Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution" by Harvard historian Simon Schama. It is a narrative account of the French Revolution in which he argues that contrary to popular arguments that it was caused by the social injustices of the Old Regime (France's ancient social structure), the Revolution was actually caused by hysterical misdirected leadership. If you don't know much about the French Revolution, then you are not alone. I can't think of anything in the modern age that historians have such a hard time sorting out so far removed from the event. On page 15 of the book he gives an excellent argument as to why that might be the case. He says, "while it is commonplace to recognize that the Revolution gave birth to a new kind of political world, it is less often understood that that world was the product of two irreconcilable interests-the creation of a potent state and the creation of a community of free citizens. " Not only does this quote get to the heart of the French Revolution, but it presents some interesting questions for American society, such as can an orderly society coexist with a free citizenry? Order and freedom are strange bedfellows. Marxism promises order at the price of freedom. Anarchy promises freedom at the price of order. I believe most Americans believe that we have both. The French Revolutionaries claimed to be fighting for both. This dream died along with thousands of victims in the Place de la Revolution (now the Place de la Concorde) at the hands of the guillotine during the Great Terror of 1793-94. The Jacobin Party and their infamous leader Maximilien Robespierre chose order through fear "pour la Patrie" (for the fatherland) over freedom for its citizens. They, perhaps like Schama, did not believe these could exist in the same society. We need order. We want freedom. Every time a government legislates, it encroaches on our freedom, but at least attempts to provide order. The question then is can we have order that is not legislated by the government? The only way this is possible is through civic virtue. Robespierre knew this as well. His solution was to carefully select virtuous citizens by executing those he deemed non-virtuous. Obviously that is not a viable nor an ethical option. The choice for us then is act responsibly in the midst of our freedom and demonstrate concern for others, or surrender this option to the government and surrender freedom.