The United States imposes speed limits, seat belts, and drunk driving laws. The Soviet Union banned all political parties except the Communist Party until the 1990s, and France banned ketchup from schools because it is not considered "French." These are all ways a country can protect its citizens and preserve its culture. However, should countries be allowed to ban a religion? In France, during the French Revolution, everything Catholic was systematically eliminated. In 17th century Japan, Christians were discriminated against, martyred, and ultimately banished from the country. I believe that banning religion is deplorable, that totalitarian governments are the cause of these atrocities, and ultimately, no country or tyrannical dictator has the right to do so, for any reason. In Silence, Shusaku Endo addresses this very issue in 17th century Japan. The novel follows the movements of three Portuguese Jesuit priests, stationed in Macau, Sebastian Rodrigues, Juan De Santa Marta and Francis Garrpe, who plan a mission to Japan to locate their mentor, Christovao Ferreira, who allegedly apostatized while being tortured, something that men could not believe. The men first travel to Macau to convince the church hierarchy that they should be allowed to go. However, with the persecution against Christians, the Church is reluctant to allow them to undertake such a dangerous journey. After some debate with their superior, Father Valignano reluctantly agreed to allow this secret mission. Since the men would travel secretly to Japan, they needed to find a Japanese guide and a ship. They spot a drunk Japanese man named Kichijiro, who agrees to accompany them. Garrpe believes himself to be a Christian, something he denies... on paper... through legal channels, is simply dictated by the tyrant. Since Christians are systematically tortured and ultimately martyred, it does not happen after a trial, but simply by decree. When religion is outlawed, it is not by a vote of the people, or by a law passed for the greater good, to serve the common good. Instead, it is imposed by a tyrant who is terrified that he might one day free his people. Although there is a common cause, there is also a common solution to solve these problems. A justice system, based on the rule of law, intended to protect people, not rulers, would avoid all these problems. Suppose for a moment that there was an appeals system, in which Rodrigues could appeal his unjust imprisonment, or in which Ichizo and Mokichi would be tried before a jury. These problems would be resolved and the bloodshed would be limited.