On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the military men and women who have died in service to their country. We are right to do so. These men and women sacrificed their lives so that we may enjoy the blessings of liberty. The debt of gratitude we owe these individuals is staggering. The total number of American deaths since the Revolutionary War is 1,529,230. This is the price of freedom. The men and women we honor on Memorial Day did not die because of the war in which they were fighting, though that was the proximate cause of death. These soldiers died because of a principle contained in a boring, centuries-old founding document; a principle that has existed even longer than that, in fact. They died because America stands for the idea that freedom is a gift given to man from God and that no human has the authority or the right to take away that right.
From the American Revolution through the present day, Americans have valued the individual and right of an individual to choose how he or she will live, worship, work, educate themselves, etc. As such, Americans have a deep-seated problem with authority. King George wanted his colonies to be seen and not heard. The colonies were not supposed to be a "cash cow." They were supposed to be the giant's golden goose. Unfortunately for him, it turned out that the colonists were sort of a collective "Jack". America wanted no part of World War I. We were scared of German infiltrators, but despite the sinking of the Lusitania, we still stayed out of the war. When the Germans tried to get Mexico to attack us and promised them the territory they had lost in the Mexican War as a reward for their efforts, it became clear that America could not sit on the sidelines. The Germans removed the right of sovereign nations to move freely on the seas and they threatened the American way of life. That could not stand. As for World War II, Hitler was to freedom what "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was not in the American character to only fight in Japan and let Europe fend for itself. Meanwhile, communism (to this day) does for humanity what slavery did for Africa. Communism removes the individual's ability to think, much less choose. America could not allow such a cancerous philosophy to spread. This is why every President since FDR was committed to fighting the Cold War. On September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda decided that the American way of life was too free, too decadent, too evil. They saw America as an imperial force, oppressing other nations and preventing them from reaching their full potential. These people wanted us dead for no reason other than the fact we were Americans. There is no question that America has not always acted honorably, but on balance she has stood for freedom and the value of the individual.
Observers from other countries will say that America is a chaotic place filled with self-absorbed, arrogant people. There are voices in the world that say that America is no better than any other country and that we need to be put in our place. America is chaotic. It is so because of its freedom. To survive in our environment means citizens have to be educated, hard working, competitive, and willing to take calculated risks. This is a great nation, and unique among the nations of the world. The people who built this country, from the beginning, were the "wretched refuse" of other places. Their only true common bond was that they had been bullied out of their own countries and they longed for the right to succeed or fail on their own terms. They built a nation, founded on the moving target of equality, that gave its citizens that opportunity. We may leave the impression that we are arrogant, but that is an oversimplification. We are competitive. We know that we have the opportunity to be the best at what we do and many of us believe enough in ourselves to think that we can do that. Other societies may question new ideas and ask, "why". In America we ask, "why not". The reason our society prospers, the reason you have a cell phone in your pocket, a microwave in your kitchen, and a wireless laptop, among other amenities, is because someone was free to conceive of an idea, build a product and market it to a consumer who wanted the product and could afford it. We are home to faiths of every denomination. In Michigan, you can even hear the Muslims being called to prayer. We can associate with whomever we want, and speak our minds, leading to a cacophony of ideas that move society forward. Americans also hate bullies. We do not much care for being told what to do or for the people who tell us to do so...wherever or whomever they may be.
Every so often, bullies appear around the world who think that their way is the only way. They become dictators, supreme leaders, or Fuehrers. They start by controlling and subjugating their own people. They build up their armies. They attempt to expand their influence beyond their borders. They take the freedoms of their own people, then they do the same to their neighbors. As Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing." The men and women whom we honor on Memorial Day were good men who did something. They said, "NO." When the bullies asked who would stop them, these men and women stood up. Today we honor these men and women who chose to serve the idea that all men are truly created equal and have a fundamental, God-given right to be free. They gave their lives in service to that idea. Thomas Jefferson said that the "Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." That tree is healthy today and we (as well as countless others) remain free thanks to their sacrifice. To those who gave their lives, I say, "thank you and may the Good Lord keep you safely in his arms."
Observers from other countries will say that America is a chaotic place filled with self-absorbed, arrogant people. There are voices in the world that say that America is no better than any other country and that we need to be put in our place. America is chaotic. It is so because of its freedom. To survive in our environment means citizens have to be educated, hard working, competitive, and willing to take calculated risks. This is a great nation, and unique among the nations of the world. The people who built this country, from the beginning, were the "wretched refuse" of other places. Their only true common bond was that they had been bullied out of their own countries and they longed for the right to succeed or fail on their own terms. They built a nation, founded on the moving target of equality, that gave its citizens that opportunity. We may leave the impression that we are arrogant, but that is an oversimplification. We are competitive. We know that we have the opportunity to be the best at what we do and many of us believe enough in ourselves to think that we can do that. Other societies may question new ideas and ask, "why". In America we ask, "why not". The reason our society prospers, the reason you have a cell phone in your pocket, a microwave in your kitchen, and a wireless laptop, among other amenities, is because someone was free to conceive of an idea, build a product and market it to a consumer who wanted the product and could afford it. We are home to faiths of every denomination. In Michigan, you can even hear the Muslims being called to prayer. We can associate with whomever we want, and speak our minds, leading to a cacophony of ideas that move society forward. Americans also hate bullies. We do not much care for being told what to do or for the people who tell us to do so...wherever or whomever they may be.
Every so often, bullies appear around the world who think that their way is the only way. They become dictators, supreme leaders, or Fuehrers. They start by controlling and subjugating their own people. They build up their armies. They attempt to expand their influence beyond their borders. They take the freedoms of their own people, then they do the same to their neighbors. As Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing." The men and women whom we honor on Memorial Day were good men who did something. They said, "NO." When the bullies asked who would stop them, these men and women stood up. Today we honor these men and women who chose to serve the idea that all men are truly created equal and have a fundamental, God-given right to be free. They gave their lives in service to that idea. Thomas Jefferson said that the "Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." That tree is healthy today and we (as well as countless others) remain free thanks to their sacrifice. To those who gave their lives, I say, "thank you and may the Good Lord keep you safely in his arms."
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