As we approach the Holidays we have Veterans Day. So many don't even know why it is today. Why November 11? It is sad that our schools don't do a good enough job to make sure each new generation understands the significance. Our citizens need to understand that without the sacrifice of so many who have laid down their lives to protect our freedoms, we would not be enjoying the coming Holiday season.
The greatest generation of both this country and indeed the United Kingdom where I was born – was undoubtedly the generation that fought for us in World War II. All they knew was that without victory there would be tyranny. Without victory there would be evil. Without victory there would be no freedom.
The victory was a victory for freedom, but it was a victory won at an enormous cost in lives. That generation understood way better than we do now that however much you may hate violence and war – and let’s be honest, only the truly insane love either one of them – sometimes wars have to be fought and evil has to be stamped out to preserve the greater good.
The victory allowed us to continue with our way of life. To attend schools and colleges; churches, synagogues and mosques. It allowed us to continue to hand power from one President to another no matter what the political party without violence. One Congress to another in a similar way as the politicians bow to the will of the people. The victory allowed us to raise our families and build our communities and chase our dreams and even to reach for the stars – and get there.
You who laid down your lives in the name of freedom have given us all of this and so much more. You bought these things for us with your blood and most of us don’t think about you when we are at the beach or on the lake enjoying the freedom to enjoy which you bought for us with your blood. We think about the laughter of our children and not your cries of pain. We look in wonder as the sunlight sparkles across the water and we certainly do not see your limbs spread across a battlefield.
We rarely, if ever, pause and think about the great American Sacrifice. It was Lincoln who referred to it as “The last full measure of devotion”.
September of 2001 taught us that freedom has a price as the descendants of the evil of World War Two brought death and destruction to our land. And just last week we saw what happened at Fort Hood - another terrorist attack. 2001 was perhaps a wake up call and we did wake up.
Will last week wake us up or will we be falling asleep all over again? Even after Fort Hood we have some who are telling us to feel sympathy for the shooter.
The parallels between Europe of the 1930s and the World of right now is too close for my personal comfort at least. And so today more young men and women are paying the price of freedom on our behalf. I wish they had the full backing of the White House - and frankly if that is not there, then bring these heroes home.
I have already mentioned Lincoln in this short piece and as I think about how to pay tribute to those who gave everything for this country, I am drawn once again to his words – words written enroute to a Cemetery filled with thousands of graves in a small Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg.
He said: "We cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men - living and dead - who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. . . . "
"It is for us - the living - to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth."
This was Lincoln’s challenge in 1863 and it remains ours today. I for one know for sure that it is because of their sacrifice that we are still able to shout out...
Let Freedom Ring!
You can comment on this blog by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com
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