A long drive in the country under a clear blue sky on a warm autumn day. A leisurely breakfast on a Saturday morning. Driving to work in a nice car. A flavorful cup of coffee I gladly paid too much for. Nice clothes of my own choosing. Going to church. Shopping. Amusement parks. Sleeping peacefully through the night. A day at the beach. Speaking my mind. Watching children play in the streets of our small community. Having money to buy my own groceries. Having thousands of ways to make such money. A warm (or cool) home. Starting my own business, again. Hiking in the Red River Gorge. Clean water to drink. Swimming in clean water. Taking a shower whenever I want. Going to school. Going back to school. Local medical and dental care – of tremendous quality. Art – and everything it represents. Going for a walk with my husband. Choices – about everything. Beautiful architecture. Peace. The sound of cars passing by as I work. Kind, dependable neighbors that I’ve known for years. Writing a blog.
Taking all these things for granted, without a thought of possible terror, imminent war, physical or mental harm – that is what freedom means to me. Being able to live my life the way I choose and having many options – that is what freedom means to me. Walking to my garden located in my back yard and pulling off a tomato without even a thought about the possibility of stepping on a land mine or being invaded by terrorists – that is what freedom means to me.
We take so much for granted here in America. We are so richly blessed in so many ways. We rarely think about the price paid for this way of life so many years ago. We forget, or refuse to remember, that there are many civilizations still struggling with sovereignty. There are people, just like you and me, who desperately want these freedoms we take for granted, but they’ve been down-trodden and controlled both physically and mentally for so many years – they need our help. The ability and willingness to share our blessings with the world – that is what freedom means to me.
We criticize our political leaders for going to war to defend freedom and think it’s a shame that our soldiers have to die; but would we give up the things we take for granted in exchange for a fleeting human life? Should we be willing to do so? For all soldiers, throughout history, who have given their lives defending freedom and the pleasures we consume daily, at least their lives and their deaths and the time in between accomplished something. They helped establish a country where every man, woman, and child has a voice. They helped establish a country where every man, woman, and child can make choices regarding their religion, their income, their thoughts, and their way of life. They helped establish a country where every man, woman, and child can use their voice, their talents, and their abilities to question, enlightened, embolden, and even manipulate their government. That is what freedom means to me.
Many people go through life never accomplishing anything of real significance. These are the people who are always first to throw in the towel. “Bring our troops home, let the Iraqi’s fend for themselves, it’s not our problem.” They might as well say, “Let the dictators and terrorists win. Let our children and grand-children fend for themselves, it’s not our problem.”
I say, LET FREEDOM RING. Let it ring everywhere there is an ear to hear it. Let it ring on the playgrounds of Mosul. Let it ring on the banks of the Tigris River. Let it ring in the streets of Baghdad. And please, God, let it continue to ring in America, and all around me.
Posted under Inspiration
This post was written by Debra Moorhead, Motivational Speaker, Author, and Coach on October 4, 2006
