Home of the Brave Will Never Mean More Until It's Your Life

Freedom:

Some would tell you it takes a unique and intriguing science, with all of a country's best brains running this great machine of laws and defense that keeps us free. Others would say we are free by accident, "no thanks to those camouflaged yahoos running around blowing off everyone's heads". (To that opinion, I say go to hell.) And yet others live in oblivion, taking for granted their daily lives and routines.

This is not just another "blah, blah, blah be thankful for your freedoms" post (many of which will make an appearance today). You may have your opinions about our country, what we're doing right and doing wrong, who's really running everything, and whether we're making a difference other parts of the world. I don't take an interest in politicking of any sort, so I may not be able to give you the most polished or politically correct answers to your questions.

But what I can give you is information--cold, hard facts that you will not be able to deny. On July 4, 1776, a document was signed to give us the freedoms we have today. It has been manipulated and changed many times, many ways to define what people think freedom really is, but most of those basic freedoms still stand. Blood was shed from 1775-1783, 1861-1865, 1914-1918, 1939-1945, and 2001-present for the citizens of our country to still be able to claim and defend those freedoms. The military forces who have given their lives for their defense of freedom were human beings, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, granddaughters, grandsons, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors. And we need to remember that they were not nameless people--they had lives and people who loved them.

And all of those mothers, fathers, etc. are still fighting, still putting their lives on the line for their loved ones, for honor, pride, and freedom. However you see our freedoms, government, country, military, remember this--freedom has never been free. Someone had to pay the price for yours.