Freedom

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Ronald Reagan Mentions the word freedom to ten people, and I guarantee you will receive ten very different definitions. In Iraq, it might simply be the historical first vote in a free election. From November 2004 to January 2005, the Ukrainian “Orange Revolution” brought the people to the streets of their nation's Capital of Kyiv to peacefully demonstrate their support for Viktor Yushchenko. To those in Dar Fur, freedom may be a day without the genocide that plagues their land. There are so many more places around the world that experience too little freedom compared to what we are blessed with here. We don’t even realize the freedoms we have until there is the slightest hint that they may be challenged or taken away. We have always enjoyed freedom here. We are free to jump in our automobiles and drive from ocean to ocean, or border to border without the fear of being stopped by the police and forced to show our papers at random stops along the way. Our Constitution guarantees us so many rights and freedoms that other parts around the globe can only dream of. We can go to places like Sam’s Club, COSTCO, and BJ’s, and fill our carts with everything from 100’ flat screen plasma TVs, to five-gallon pails of fruit salad. We can buy pure bottled water in excess, while others have resolved themselves to drinking from sewage-tainted mud holes. We may have distanced our thoughts from the people around the world rummaging through garbage piles just for the hope of the slightest morsel of food. Unfortunately, that does exist. Am I trying to put us all on a major guilt trip, absolutely not! We should never feel guilty for what we have been given, or what we have worked so hard for. It is the “American Dream” to be and achieve anything our abilities will allow. It is however the condition of our heart that is the important barometer. If we feel the tug in our hearts to help others around the world, there are good charities we can donate to. There are local organizations we can give our time to as well. But do it out of compassion, never out of guilt. The great freedom we have as Americans is the freedom to give. Time and money may be tough for us at times, but we can always give of ourselves. It may be a hello and a smile to brighten the day of someone we encounter that is obviously having “One of those days.” We even have the freedom to be apathetic if we choose. We don’t have to vote or make a difference in our own “backyard“if that’s our choice. Just keep in mind, that people are dying for the rights and freedoms we have. Enjoy them, and be thankful you have them…but please don’t waste them.

Thankful

I am thankful I have close people that care I am thankful I have plenty of love to share I am thankful I have you as my friend I am thankful I have a soul to mend I am thankful I have a nice place to live I am thankful I have some time to give I am thankful I have few occasions to cry I am thankful I have the curiosity to wonder why I am thankful I have my beautiful wife I am thankful I have a wonderful life I am thankful I have plenty of food to eat I am thankful I have still more people to meet I am thankful I have a few bucks in the bank I am thankful I dare to always be frank I am thankful I have so many things to do I am thankful I have good friends like you

September 11, 2001

Will any of us ever forget where we were that day in September? I could try to write something to capture the horrors and sadness we all felt eight years ago today, but I most certainly would fall short and not do it any justice. It saddens me that so many Americans have forgotten the struggle of emotions we all wrestled with as a result of the worst terror attacks on American soil. I know we have to move on, life happens and we go forward. But I feel certain events in human history shape us and make us who we are as people, and as citizens. I am different because of 9/11, I am not the same man I was on 9/10. I no longer take life for granted, nor the people that love and surround me. Fortunately, I did not lose anyone that I know and love that day. But I did lose fellow Americans and fellow human beings. Before 9/11, I gave little if any thought to the struggles and losses of others. I was just going through life, enjoying my freedom. It became so clear to me that day, that we are all connected by common beliefs, common space, love, and a common pursuit of happiness. In the blink of an eye it can all change, and for the victims and their families…it did. We take for granted the choices we have in this life. As mundane as they may seem sometimes, we are still free to choose. I think of those trapped in the towers nearly every day. Left with only two choices, both leading to their horrific deaths. I think what freaks me out more than anything, is the thought of coming down to the end of life’s road and there is no fork, no way out, no chance of survival. We dare not forget that day, the emotion, the compassion we felt for those fighting for their lives, and for the brave souls thinking only of those they came to save. Or the passengers of United Flight 93 that made the choice to fight back, and attempt to take back their plane heading most certainly to our nation's capital. Maybe there is something special that happens to people at that moment when their only choice is to survive. Maybe it’s instinct pulled from deep within heroes like Todd Beamer, who said “Let’s Roll”, and they did. I wonder if the heroes of 9/11 were just ordinary people, like you and me. When they answered the call, the odds were stacked against them, but they found it within themselves to rise to the occasion with heroic actions. Let’s hope that we will never have to face such extreme decisions in our lives. Everything being relative in life, we face our own struggles every day. They may pale in comparison to the life and death decisions the heroes of 9/11 had to make, but we can take on Todd Beamer's attitude and tell ourselves to keep pushing towards the mark, and to take on his mantra, “Let’s Roll”.