The Price of Freedom

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves under the flag,
And whose coffin is draped in the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
It is the soldier.

Today, I visited the grave of Cesar F Machado-Olmos, L CPL, US marine corps, Iraq. He was born on September 20th, 1983 and died just 7 days before his 21st birthday in 2004. Even in death, Lieutenant Corporal Machado-Olmos has the unwavering support of friends and family. His grave site was lovingly decorated and the poem above was laminated and attached to a flagpole. Also on the card was a picture of a bald eagle and a quote by Wendell Phillips: “Eternal Vigilance is the price of liberty.” Finally, the card contained a handwritten poem titled “Grieve not.”

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumnal rain
When you waken in the morning hush
I am the soft uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.

I do not know Lieutenant Corporal Machado-Olmos except by his grave, but I know he was a true patriot. I am just one of the nameless, faceless Americans for whom he gave his life. Someday I will thank him in person.

This Saturday, May 19, 2007, is Armed Forces Day. It is a day to honor our men and women in uniform—past and present. Let us honor them without qualification. They are brave. They are selfless. They are real life superheroes.

A few years ago, I received a brochure in the mail. Pictured on this brochure are several white crosses and the words, “The privilege of voting comes with a high cost. But don't worry. A friend picked up the tab for you.” I keep this brochure to remind me of the price of freedom. To all the heroes—living and dead—who have paid this price, I say thank you. I will try use my freedom wisely and do good things with my life. I will honor you and the country you fight for. I will do everything I can to preserve the freedom that means so much to both of us.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. -Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae


God bless our troops,

Strategos

Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmatic and REVOLUTION

Education, both religious and secular, is first and foremost the responsibility of parents. In a time of compulsory education laws and socialist state-sponsored humanist instruction, this truth is largely forgotten. Some good friends of mine have made the difficult decision to home school their children. They sometimes feel that they aren't included as full members of the community because they are “different,” but I admire their courage. For them, home school is a marvelous opportunity to teach their children in an environment of love and faith. While home school may not be the best option for every family, it certainly ensures that children will be educated according to the beliefs and traditions of parents, not the beliefs and traditions of the State.

“What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.” -George Washington

It is impossible to truly understand the miracle that created the United States of America without first understanding that God was the author of it. Trying to explain the history of America without discussing divine guidance is like trying to explain the purpose of the interstate highway system without talking about cars. Since God cannot be discussed in our places of learning, our public schools have utterly failed to teach children about their American heritage and the faith of the founders that won the Revolutionary War.

"Posterity, which will reap the blessings, will scarcely begin to know of our sufferings." -Abigail Adams

The founders sacrificed much, some of them everything, for the freedoms we enjoy today. Revisionist historians who view the actions of the founders through the warped lens of modernity are often less interested in truth than in sensationalizing the weaknesses and frailties of men and women whom they ought to revere. The posterity that has been blessed by the courage and prayers of their forebears may not be able to fully understand the struggles of their ancestors, but parents can teach their children the story of America. The real America is not defined by openness and tolerance, diversity, multi-culturalism and godlessness. Rather, it is defined by religion, principle, morality and character. If parents fail to teach their children the importance of the American Revolution and the character and strength of the founders, their children will lack the understanding and motivation to resist the losses of freedom that will inevitably continue. Every child should know what America stands for and be prepared to defend this nation and its founders at a moment's notice.

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” -Thomas Jefferson

In a “state of civilization,” children should be taught the four R's: Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmatic, and REVOLUTION;. (A fifth R, Religion, should also be acknowledged and discussed in public schools, though the primary responsibility for religious education rightfully rests with parents and churches.)

Let us help preserve our “state of civilization” by teaching our children what George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abigail Adams, Patrick Henry and other great men and women stood for and fought for in the war that created the freest nation on earth.

Let us teach our children that the price of freedom, once lost, is blood—and that price was paid over and over again by the builders of our nation.

Let us teach our children to defend their freedom before it slips away.

Let us teach our children to preserve their American heritage and pass it on to their children and grandchildren.

Let us teach our children the stories of America.

“Let us, before we die, gather up our heritage and offer it to our children.” -Will Durant

God bless the U.S.A.,
Strategos

Washington's Glasses

The following story titled “Washington's Glasses” is from The Spirit of America, compiled by William J. Bennett. It illustrates the greatness of George Washington, without whose wisdom and courage our Republic might have died in infancy.

“At the end of the Revolutionary War, the new United States came close to disaster. The government owed back pay to many officers in the army, men who had fought long and hard for the nation's freedom. But Congress had no money, and rumors abounded that it intended to disband the armed forces and send them home without pay.

“As the weeks passed, the army's cry for pay grew louder. The soldiers insisted that they had performed their duty faithfully, and now the government should do the same. They sent appeals to Congress, with no effect. Patience began to wear thin. Tempers smoldered. At last some of the officers, encamped at Newburgh, New York, issued what amounted to a threat. The army would not disband until paid; if necessary, it would march on Congress. Mutiny was close at hand.

“There was no doubt in anyone's mind that one man alone could persuade the army to give the government more time.

“On March 15, 1783, George Washington strode into the Temple of Virtue, a large wooden hall built by the soldiers as a chapel and dance hall. A hush fell over the gathered officers as the tall figure took to the lectern at the front of the room. These men had come to love their commander-in-chief during the lean, hard years of fighting; now, for the first time, they glared at him with restless and resentful eyes. A deathlike stillness filled the room.

“Washington began to speak. He talked of his own dedicated service, and reminded the group that he himself had served without pay. He spoke of his love for his soldiers. He urged them to have patience, and pointed out that congress in the past had acted slowly, but in the end would act justly. He promised he would do everything in his power to see that the men received what they deserved.

“He asked them to consider the safety and security of their new country, begging them not to 'open the flood gates of civil discord, and deluge our rising empire in blood.' He appealed to their honor. 'Let me entreat you, gentlemen, on your part,' he said, 'not to take any measures which, viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained.'

“He paused. A restlessness pervaded the air. His audience did not seem moved. The men stared at him tensely.

“Washington produced a letter from a congressman explaining the difficulties the government now faced. He would read it to them. It would help them comprehend the new government's difficulties. He unfolded the paper. He started to read, slowly. He stumbled over some of the words, then stopped. Something was wrong. The general seemed lost, slightly confused. The officers leaned forward.

“Then Washington pulled from his pocket something the men had never seen their commander-in-chief use before—spectacles.

“'Gentlemen, you must pardon me,' he said quietly. 'I have grown gray in your service, and now find myself growing blind.'

“It was not merely what the beloved general said, but the way he spoke the few, simple words. The humble act of this majestic man touched the soldiers in a way his arguments had failed to do. There were lumps in many throats, tears in every eye. The general quietly left the hall, and the officers voted to give the Congress more time.

“George Washington had saved his new country from armed rebellion. As Thomas Jefferson later said, 'The moderation and virtue of a single character probably prevented this Revolution from being closed, as most others have been, by a subversion of that liberty it was intended to establish.'”

God bless the U.S.A.,
Strategos