Dean's World

Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy.

A Defender of Freedom Speaks


There is nothing I can add to this letter by one of our soldiers. Read the whole thing.
Mom,

Be my voice. I want this message heard. It is mine and my platoon’s to the country. A man I know lost his legs the other night. He is in another company in our batallion. I can no longer be silent after watching the sacrifices made by Iraqis and Americans everyday.Send it to a congressman if you have to. Send it to FOX news if you have to. Let this message be heard please…

My fellow Americans, I have a task for those with the courage and fortitude to take it. I have a message that needs not fall on deaf ears. A vision the blind need to see. I am not a political man nor one with great wisdom. I am just a soldier who finds himself helping rebuild a country that he helped liberate a couple years ago.
I have watched on television how the American public questions why their mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters are fighting and dying in a country 9000 miles away from their own soil. Take the word of a soldier, for that is all I am, that our cause is a noble one. The reason we are here is one worth fighting for. A cause that has been the most costly and sought after cause in our small span of existence on our little planet. Bought in blood and paid for by those brave enough to give the ultimate sacrifice to obtain it. A right that is given to every man, woman, and child I believe by God. I am talking of freedom.

Freedom. One word but yet countless words could never capture it’s true meaning or power. “For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.” I read that once and it couldn’t be more true. It’s not the average American’s fault that he or she is “blind and deaf” to the taste of freedom. Most American’s are born into their God given right so it is all they ever know. I was once one of them. I would even dare to say that it isn’t surprising that they take for granted what they have had all their life. My experiences in the military however opened my eyes to the truth.

Posted by Dave Price | Permalink | Technorati Trackbacks
Steven Malcolm Anderson (www):
Thank you.
11.18.2005 1:32pm
Hank Barnes (mail):
Price,

Great letter. Even though I'm a little skittish on the war, I'm never skittish on the boys there serving.

Barnes
11.18.2005 1:38pm
MaryJ:
These soldiers allow me to sing this even when I feel down about those brave Men and Women...

God Bless America
Land that I Love
Stand Beside Her
And Guide Her
Through the night from the light from above.

From the mountains to the praries
To the oceans white with foam...

God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home.

Oh, You Brave Soldiers, How do I count the ways that, You Are So Loved? In supporting You, and My President in staying the course, I thank you all so much!
11.18.2005 4:23pm
Mike (mail):
Saw that at Sgt. Hook, and McQ at QandO weighed in pretty sharply.

Nice summary, that letter. Sums up my little bro's feelings very well.
11.18.2005 9:59pm
Timothy Snyder:
Awesome...too bad Bush Co. didn't equip our Soldiers with better equipment or a better plan. That being said, we're fighting this thing to the end, and anyone suggesting we pull out before we finish the job would render all our work vanity.
11.19.2005 6:54pm