The Struggle for Freedom

Liberty Juice ^ | 09/13/2010 | Chris Bounds

[ChrisBoundsTX]

Throughout the history of mankind there has always been a struggle for freedom. That struggle has been depicted in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Ten Commandments, Braveheart and of course The Patriot. Although freedom has been temporarily achieved by some and always at the cost of blood and tears, freedom is merely a speck on the historical timeline. There has only been one exception in history where freedom has been able to thrive. That exception is America.

In a world filled with people oppressed under the thumb of monarchs, dictators and other tyrants, a small but determined group of people set out to accomplish what had never before been tried. With an idea carefully carved into words and an unwavering resolve, the American experiment was born. Those few honorable men believed in the idea of freedom so much that they secured their commitment to bringing this experiment to life signing their names “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,” pledging to each other “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

The American experiment set out to prove something previously unknown to the world – that man did not require an elite ruler, but instead that he can self-rule. In the idea of self-rule, wrapped under the blanket of freedom, it was believed that man can thrive and prosper at his own desire.

You already know the rest of the story. Since then, America has grown from thirteen primitive colonies to the freest, most powerful, and strongest economy the world has witnessed. The right to succeed and fail based upon your own merits, to practice the religion of your choosing, and to freely protest the government was available here in America, all without the fear of imprisonment or death. Migrants all across the world fled oppression seeking opportunity in the Shining City on the hill.

The idea of self-rule allowing man to prosper is the greatest success story in the history of man’s relationship with government. As Reagan described in 1974:

"We have increased our life expectancy by wiping out, almost totally, diseases that still ravage mankind in other parts of the world…We have more doctors per thousand people than any nation in the world. We have more hospitals that any nation in the world…"

"One-half of all the economic activity in the entire history of man has taken place in this republic. We have distributed our wealth more widely among our people than any society known to man. Americans work less hours for a higher standard of living than any other people. Ninety-five percent of all our families have an adequate daily intake of nutrients — and a part of the five percent that don’t are trying to lose weight! Ninety-nine percent have gas or electric refrigeration, 92 percent have televisions, and an equal number have telephones. There are 120 million cars on our streets and highways — and all of them are on the street at once when you are trying to get home at night. But isn’t this just proof of our materialism — the very thing that we are charged with? Well, we also have more churches, more libraries, we support voluntarily more symphony orchestras, and opera companies, non-profit theaters, and publish more books than all the other nations of the world put together."

However, years earlier Reagan also accurately stated:

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again."

Think about that statement for a moment. For most, it is incomprehensible. America is has the best trained and most advanced military in the world – who can defeat us? That is true, but while the best guard our freedoms from enemies abroad, who is guarding our freedoms from enemies within?

Compare the freedom that exists today verses the freedom that was secured over two centuries ago. How has the freedom that allowed America to grow so strong been suppressed? Do government agencies like the IRS, EPA, FDA, and the SEC hamper freedom in America? What about the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Housing and Urban Development? And then there are federal welfare programs such as the Social Security Administration, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, food stamps, and housing. And do not forget about the burdening debt and skyrocketing deficits caused by all of the above in addition to the trillions spent on stimulus programs, bailouts, and government takeovers. How does all of this affect you and your pursuit of happiness? Keep in mind that I only listed a smidgen of federal agencies and programs. Each individual state has an entire list of its own!

Freedom is a precious thing. Thomas Paine eloquently in The Crisis:

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

Like everything else in life, freedom too can be lost. The survival or demise of freedom is chosen by the actions Americans take daily. The outcome is not set in stone! Quoting Reagan again, we can choose that the “little intellectual elite in a far distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves,” or we can choose that as long as we shall live we will never allow freedom see the darkness of the night. As Americans, it is our choice. Understanding that, I trust every red-blooded America will choose freedom!

[Old Sarge]

:sniffle: Just beautiful.

[ChrisBoundsTX]

Awe thanks! ;-)