The Cost of Freedom

The Washington Post will still not publish Mr. Stokely’s letter about his son Sgt. Mike Stokely, however yesterday another father DOUG GEORGE, Easton, MD (registration required) wrote to the Post questioning Mr. Schroeder's intention. He raised some interesting questions that in conjunction with Mr. Schroeder’s questions I believe get to the crux of the matter with the war in Iraq. He asks five very telling questions about our current therapeutic lifestyle where everything can be solved by talking to a therapist for there is no sacrifice in today’s America.

First: “Why must Americans see immediate and non-taxing results?” Why indeed Mr. George, do American’s falsely believe that anything can be accomplished in a 30 minute cycle. Are we so coddled that we need immediate gratification in all aspects of our lives, from instant messaging to the conduct of a war? War is not a game it can not be saved so that you come back to it later when it is more convenient for you, and it does not resolve itself in nice 30 or 60 minute cycles like CSI or Friends people; it is dirty, grimy and dangerous work. Is there anything you are willing to fight and possibly die for? Are you only willing to make trade offs so that you can find time in your self indulgent days to find the time to make it to Starbucks for your double decaf, no fat latte? Have you forgotten the Victory Garden and Rosie the Riveter? Is freedom so much of an entitlement to you that you have no idea how much it has cost to provide you with it, or that it requires a continual influx of human cost to maintain it?

Second: Why can't Americans persist in a larger good? I believe Mr. George is addressing the same symptoms of the self-indulgent lifestyle I have already mentioned. For many American’s there is no good in the world especially if the US is leading the way. They have become so brainwashed, if you will, with their anti-American beliefs that they can see no good whatsoever coming from anyone that holds a belief different from them. What happened to the concept of doing good; for goods sake? They see every action as some nefarious plot to make their life worse or to silence some one for what they believe. The war in Iraq is neither of these, in fact it appears that these anti-American thinkers are so confused by the successes in Iraq that they have stopped attacking the war itself and instead have created from whole cloth other evil beings; Halliburton and War for Oil, are but two examples that are the cause of all that is wrong in the war on terror. Their belief structure refuses them to allow success in the war on terror as a good thing but rather as some conspiracy to promote nepotism in government and to make money from the deal.

Third: Why can't this generation accept that sacrifice cannot be dodged? Freedom requires sacrifice just as duty requires sacrifice, unfortunately many today view sacrifice not in a bodily manner but in a more esoteric manner. Sacrifice for many American’s is not getting up at 4:00 am to tend the Victory Garden because food is being rationed to support the war effort but getting up at 4:00 am to commute 2 hours to a thankless job for a paycheck they feel is owed them, an entitlement because they have earned it, regardless of the amount of work they actually perform. Freedom as stated earlier is not free it is a demanding "mistress" that will provide all you ask for but at a cost of blood, sweat and tears. Patriotic men and women stand on the ramparts of freedom paying that price so you can do not ahve to sacrifice anything. Yet the sacrifices are still being paid by far fewer than should be, for they are paying with their lives while you sit back and debate about whether they are doing a good job.

Fourth: Do we simply dismiss the lives of the Iraqis killed by Saddam Hussein? This has to be an unequivocal NO! Their lives are just as valuable as anyone else’s and if you believe that the Iraqi’s were better off living under Saddam then I suggest that you talk to just one of the tens of thousand of Iraq families that had loved ones disappear in the dark of the night and in the gleaming sun of the day never to be seen from again. If you believe that living in a land filled with the mass graves of those that simply attempt to exert the freedoms that you cherish is better than living in a democracy then there truly is no hope for you.

Finally: When did we become so selfish and myopic? The answer Mr. George is simple. It’s when we allowed others to decide for us how much we would be willing to pay for freedom. It was when we extinguished the light that made the city on hill a beacon for the oppressed and downtrodden and instead a haven for those who would defile our history. The cost of freedom for many American’s is nothing, they will pay nothing for freedom for they have no concept that freedom is not a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, it is a right guaranteed by our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Marine’s and Airmen that stand ready to defend it for us, that is the cost of freedom, and it is a cost that they are willing to pay. Not one soldier I have ever talked to in country has ever indicated that the cause they are fighting for is not worthy, they may complain about how specific things are done but the mission is one they are willing to give their all for.

Are you willing to give your all for the advancement of freedom or are you going to continue to eat at the table of your mistress and expect others to foot the bill for you?

UPDATE: Some editorial and grammatical corrections have been made to this essay. David M.