Price of Freedom

Freedom isn’t cheap. It’s the most expensive asset in America. Without freedom, all other assets would become negligible. If we take a look at a balance sheet, freedom would be listed as a Long Term Asset, the kind of asset that takes years and years to pay off.

Who pays it off? The United States Armed Forces. The men and women in the military make that payment on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Over the years, those sacrifices made have been an installment to freedom. Each deployment and death have made life in America all the more perfect. Those in uniform have provided us with a balance sheet of long term assets like no other country in the world.

We have become a superpower through the use of our U.S. Armed Forces. Each entity of those forces-Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard-provide us with ample protection against enemies, foreign and domestic. Their blood has allowed the pursuit of excellence, in business, in politics, and around the world.

The freedom to make those daily choices in our lives is provided by strangers at home and in far and distant lands. Every stranger stood at a podium and took an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Within the Constitution lie our inherent daily freedoms and rights. The rights the media loves to wave their flag at.

The media loves to tout their freedom of speech. Oh, yes, their freedom of speech, the First Amendment to the Constitution. The one they cherish so closely. The one they champion vigorously, even if it means putting our soldiers in harm’s way. No matter what it takes, the story must go forth, in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. That is their belief. That is their sentiment. It is those principles that drive them, day after day, without any regard for those that bear the responsibility for allowing that very freedom.

Liberalism and the liberal media have done more to endanger our soldiers lives than any war. Over the last ten years-Bosnia, Kosovo, and Mogadishu-are examples of bright, shining liberal causes, placing our troops in danger. All of these deployments were to foreign countries on liberal humanitarian missions. These causes were pushed heavily by the U.S. and World media. President Bill Clinton, the most liberal President since Jimmy Carter, governed all of these exercises after “The Big Media” insisted we intervene for the cause of humanity.

Recently, with the release of pictures from the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, the liberal media has chastised Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, President Bush, and our soldiers. Quickly, they chant fond remembrances of John Kerry’s testimony and atrocities of Vietnam.

Single-handedly, they make the likeness to the “murder of innocent women and children,” as testified by John Kerry in 1971. In their push to blame the sons and daughters of America, they point out the First Amendment to the Constitution. They identify their freedom of speech as their “cause.” The right of the American people to know. They press the story, harder and harder, making it seem as if it broke only a few short days ago. In truth, the story has been circulating since January, when the silence in the media could be compared to a small town library on Sunday afternoon.

They sit on their lofty chairs, as if they were kings, pointing their fingers at a few bad apples, and stating, “See this is what are military does. They are to blame for everything wrong in Iraq. We told you so.” In their haste, they scold the personnel responsible for giving them an opportunity to sit on their thrones.

With a few exceptions-Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Free Republic, etc…-they jeer at them in their hypocrisy. There are few media personnel and liberals today that can really appreciate the plights of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and mothers and fathers. In their heyday, they spit upon my father’s generation. Now, they attempt to spit upon mine. I will not bow my head in shame.

They scream their vitriol, attempting to once again relive the Vietnam War, and forgetting that Mogadishu harmed the reputation of the U.S. Military far more than these pictures in Iraq. Liberals, and the media elite, seem to become absent-minded in their rage. They seem to misplace the demoralizing stain Mogadishu left on are Armed Forces and Special Forces. The U.S. Special Forces, among the best to serve in our military, were handcuffed like prisoners going to trial in Mogadishu. President Bill Clinton branded our military as “cowards” that cut and run, making it near impossible to earn the fear and respect of terrorists.

Now, as we approach Armed Forces Day, a new president sits in office. President George W. Bush, a fine example of moral integrity, leads our troops in Iraq. Today, he roots out terrorism, as if it were termites invading the foundation of American homes. He sends our men and women into battle on a cause for freedom, liberating the Iraqi people from dictatorship and establishing a democracy. He apologizes for the actions of a few, but keeps his faith in our military.

Never have I felt more patriotic than on this day. Never have I been reminded of what it meant to have served this fine country. This America, the beacon of freedom for the rest of the world. And never have I been so lucky to have those individuals make sacrifices for the price of freedom.

There hasn’t been a president, like George W. Bush, since President Ronald Reagan brought us from our liberal slumber. He (Reagan) made us feel patriotic again. He made us proud to brandish the title, American. President Reagan brought excellence to business, to culture, and to our spirituality as Americans. He made us whole again. President George W. Bush follows that same legacy. He took a broken country away from President Bill Clinton and is attempting to piece it together.

President George Bush has taken a once defeated military and made them confident and strong again. He has made the price of freedom all the more worth it in the 21st Century. Today, I am a prouder American, a thriving American, and a more patriotic American than five years ago.

Despite the claims of the liberal media, I am thankful for the sons and daughters, brothers and sister, and mothers and fathers serving in our military. I am forever grateful of their sacrifices for the price of freedom. Despite a few bad apples from Abu Ghraib prison, I remain filled with honor. I have served with some of the finest individuals I’ll ever know, those that knew the price of freedom.

"Where do you get that idea?" See how this sentence standing alone doesn't make sense.

You're taking bits and pieces of sentences and letting them stand alone. When I write something, much like this, they are all integral parts of a paragraph and an essay, building to one final climax.

Now, since we've brushed up on that, you're response really doesn't make any sense. It's the whole picture that has to be absorbed. Not one sentence here or there.

Let's take this first paragraph for example.

"You're taking bits and pieces of sentences and letting them stand alone."

This sentence, alone, doesn't make much sense to anyone else other than you. So, in a sense, its pointless to pick out one or two sentences to just be argumentative on moot little points.

And yes, George Washington kicked out socialist tyranny. If it walks like a socialist, looks like a socialist, then it probably is a socialist.

"That certainly was the opinion of Imperial Japan."

As far as acting preemptively, it has been and will continue to be a good idea. Japan acted for the sake of oil resources in large part. Terrorists attack to murder and they don't understand peace treaties. And since we can't afford to wait for another 9/11, then I think we oughta act preemptively.

Where do you get that idea?" See how this sentence standing alone doesn't make sense.

Nice try at ducking the question. Actually it's a simple question that you failed to answer. Military structure is a great concern to this day, witness the battles Rumsfeld has had with the likes of Shinseki and Frederick since the day he took office.

And yes, George Washington kicked out socialist tyranny. If it walks like a socialist, looks like a socialist, then it probably is a socialist.

Socialism is never mentioned in any of the writings of the Founders, and with good reason since no one had ever heard of it. Abrogation of their rights as free Englishmen is often mentioned by the Founders, and they overthrew something they knew well, a monarchy and a Parliament that denied them representation. Socialism was a new movement when it appeared in the European Revolutions of 1848 and its targets were largely the monarchs of Europe. Monarchs were hardly early socialists, even if it is entertaining to see them linked.

"Nice try at ducking the question. Actually it's a simple question that you failed to answer. Military structure is a great concern to this day, witness the battles Rumsfeld has had with the likes of Shinseki and Frederick since the day he took office.

And yes, George Washington kicked out socialist tyranny. If it walks like a socialist, looks like a socialist, then it probably is a socialist.

Socialism is never mentioned in any of the writings of the Founders, and with good reason since no one had ever heard of it. Abrogation of their rights as free Englishmen is often mentioned by the Founders, and they overthrew something they knew well, a monarchy and a Parliament that denied them representation. Socialism was a new movement when it appeared in the European Revolutions of 1848 and its targets were largely the monarchs of Europe. Monarchs were hardly early socialists, even if it is entertaining to see them linked."

Here. When I said structure of the military, I meant liberals, democrats, and conservatives mixes. I didn't mean the actual structure basis of the military. But you've totally missed the point of the essay, congratulations!

And for the Founding Fathers, the word socialism wasn't around, but it was socialist tyranny. An all powerful monarchy stripping your basic freedoms, but once again, you've missed the point of the essay. You win a cookie for creativity.

Enough said.

Socialism is about the equal distribution of property. Apparently you labor under the illusion that monarchs such as George III went about seizing property and giving it to the poor- or else you simply haven't a clue what socialism is, and apply the term witlessly to whatever strikes your fancy. I suspect the latter applies to you. Try reading up on it sometime and you perhaps won't post such clueless nonsense. Not that being educated is one of your priorities.

"Socialism is about the equal distribution of property. Apparently you labor under the illusion that monarchs such as George III went about seizing property and giving it to the poor- or else you simply haven't a clue what socialism is, and apply the term witlessly to whatever strikes your fancy. I suspect the latter applies to you. Try reading up on it sometime and you perhaps won't post such clueless nonsense. Not that being educated is one of your priorities."

I can't read. I'm far too stupid. Only educated elitist people like you can read. Of course you're right and I'll always be wrong. And people like you have no idea what REAL love of country is.

It doesn't surprise me in the least. In fact, it's better this way. I'll always know I'm inferior to people like you. So much so that I'll keep serving this great country so people like you can look down your nose at people like me.

You know what's funny. I actually love this country and everything about it and yet all you can do is cast aspersions and berate me for being some simpleton as to whether I ever want to be educated. And in this moment I realize that I am far more educated than you'll ever be.

I have a simple faith in humanity and a love of country that you'll never be able to get a grasp of. I love going to work as a simpleton, meeting Americans as a simpleton, and writing stupid, moronic things as a simpleton.

Far be it from me to challenge your superiority complex. At the end of the day, we still put our pants on one leg at a time. Of course, I suppose that you transcend from your lofty throne and float into yours.

But I still love you for being an American despite whether or not I may or may not be edumucated. Excuse me a moment while I spit my chaw into my empty beer can. I appreciated the debate. Thank you so much, keep participating in this great country which I love so dearly and have a great weekend.

Socialism is not about the equal distribution of property. Ultimately, socialism is about the equal distribution of poverty.

That's old news, Tony. Von Mises disposed of socialism's claims 90 years ago. I was more interested in addressing your friend's peculiar idea that George III's reign was characterized by "socialism". Socialism is based in 'leveling' social and economic classes, and monarchies are based on aristocratic privilege.

Socialism didn't make an appearance until around 1830, and when it did it was a revolutionary movement dedicated to overthrowing the monarchs of Europe- you know, the rulers Writer 33 thinks were socialists. Maybe Writer 33 is onto something, and it was a case of socialists trying to overthrow socialists.

Nothing wrong with being ignorant, pal. Most of us are ignorant in subjects we haven't studied. I'm not too proud to learn from those who are more learned than me. That has worked for me- it keeps me from posting stupid ideas that give someone else a chance to box me around and make me look like a fool. I suppose I was a bit hard on you, because you do seem a bit excited about it. The "elitist" "superior" stuff doesn't work, it just lets me know I drew blood. Chill out, it's only online posting. You'll survive.

"While I cannot speak for writer33, I think I have an idea where he's coming from.

You're quite right that socialism of the Marx/Engels mold isn't the same as a divine-right monarchy. But...to the common man, the individual citizen, the result is the same whether you live in a socialist country or under a despotic monarch. Either way, you lack freedom. Whether your "ruler" is a king supported by parasitic aristocrat minions, or a socialist premier supported by parasitic bureaucrat minions, your personal liberty is wrongly limited—and that is intolerable to an ordinary American.

Thank God our Founding Fathers realized this! Surely none of them had heard of some German weenie named Karl Marx (who as you pointed out, didn't emerge from under his rock until the 1830s) but there's no doubt they would've abhorred his idiotic ideas no less than the policies of that other German weenie George III! (Sorry...House of Hanover y'know...couldn't resist ;-)

One of the truly awesome ways God blessed this country is that He raised up such wise, godly men as our Founders, who recognized and unleashed the great potential of the common American man and woman. By codifying the liberty God gave each of us into law, America's founding heroes enabled each and every American to achieve extraordinary things. Looking back, I'd say we've done them pretty proud!"

That's what I was getting at. It was the symbolism of the lack of freedom that I was getting at. It was the symbolism of the anti-capitlist nature of King George. Placing taxes on people is not the American way. To us unedumucated simpletons that know American history implicity, socialism is inherently dangerous to our society.

And yes, King George wasn't a socialist. I knew this already, but in writing, symbolism is as important as the facts are. I wasn't way off the mark as Tony so astutely pointed out. Chiefly because to every American citizen living under King George, like socialism, they were slowly losing their freedom. It took cajones as big as bowling balls to give King George the fickle finger of fate.

I'm glad they did. It's that kind of spirit and love of country that has been passed down for 200 years. In that respect, it has become part of conservative philosophy on which I know something about. And I don't know everything. Well, almost everything. :) HA!

But thanks, Tony for aptly pointing out what I was unable to do. You're obviously more edumucated than I am. I now sit in shock and awe at my computer. :)

Sincerely,

Chris

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