Freedom is Never Free

Freedom is never free. In fact, freedom is the most expensive thing a person can have. For the price of freedom is not measured in monetary terms, but in human lives. In blood, sweat and tears. In bravery and courage. It is measured in sorrow. Separation of families and friends. It is measured in the Daddy's heartache that is not there to see his baby born. It is measured in the family's grief that receives that fatal telegram or phone call or visit from the CO. We should, therefore, treasure freedom before nothing else on this earth.

We in America especially should treasure our freedoms - freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms. We are truly blessed to live in a land where we are free from religious oppression. We do not have the bombs like so many other countries have, the police do not come in and arrest us for having Bibles in our homes. We can speak against our leaders or other people without having to worry if our door will be broken down in the middle of the night and we will be taken off and never seen again.

We should especially treasure these freedoms now, for we may not have them in the future. And we should really treasure them today of all days. Patriot Day. 9/11.

I remember the original 9/11. Not having television myself, I had not heard about the first plane. When Vicki, the secretary, got to work, she told everyone what was going on. We all trooped over to the doctor's lounge across the hall to watch the news. I remember tears coming into my eyes as we watched the video replay the first plane and then we watched live as the second plane hit the other tower. They were saying on the news that it was an error on the part of the air traffic controllers and the other gals were discussing this. I spoke up (I always have an opinion to voice) and said, "No, this is not air traffic controller problems. Mark my words, this is a terrorist act and when all is said and done, Osama bin Laden will be the mastermind." I am not into psychics at all, it just came to me. I just . . . knew. For one thing, I lived at a small town airport in the past and used to call the planes down once in a while. One mistake like that - maybe, but about a 100,000 to one. Two, in rapid succession - not a chance.

I remember the numbness, the feeling of invasion, of violation, of innocence lost, of devastation. We stayed in the lounge off and on all day, watching the coverage of the Pentagon and the crash in Pennsylvania. Each successive report just deepened the shock.

I remember driving home and how the world felt different. Felt angry. It felt dangerous. Felt heavy, oppressed. I remember the panic that everyone felt, filling up with gas.

All the feelings I have described are what terrorists are all about. They are bringers of terror, of fear, of oppression. While I may not totally agree with the war, I agree that something needs to be done about terrorism. In so many places. There are many countries who live with terror on a daily basis. While I may not totally agree with the war, I am proud of the men and women who are serving their country to make it a better place.

Thank you for reading my Patriot post today!