Each time Memorial Day passes, I feel an acute sense of appreciation for those that paid the ultimate price for the liberty each one of us enjoys.
1. lib·er·ty
the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.
Liberty is oft-mistaken to be an inherent right to any human in any society, yet anything but the case in most of the world. Even the “civilized world”, has major issues in regard to liberty. Something so seemingly natural as the expression of one’s opinion, such as this piece, would not be stood for in many countries. A hair style or wearing of a beard can get you imprisoned or have you disappear altogether. Our ability to have an opinion and to share it is one of the foundational underpinnings of why this country is great. This has always created “an edge” to our society; in a democracy there is not one way as in an autocracy, but rather an agreed upon way by opinion and vote. Getting to the agreement is not always without healthy debate, but the forum is there for it, unlike most places.
While never intended, free speech in the digital world has become a problem. I do not think free speech was thought through by our forefathers where a lack of credibility exists. The press and news institutions thought to be credible and “independent”, are not. Political pundits and competing news channels argue about whether the sun is orange or yellow. Special interest groups target and electronically assassinate people that are in opposition to said special interests. Fake NEWS and fact-checking has numbed us all to never knowing who and what to believe. Money buys access through advertising and influence, thereby making the true intent of a position muddled at best. While our newscasters incessantly critique the greatest democracy to ever be built to the interest of their advertisers.
Enough. This invalid representation of our country is not the democracy our forefathers fought and died for, nor actuality. We are better than this portrayal.
As a reminder of what Memorial Day was… before radio, TV, lobbyists, PACs, text polls, advertorials, Facebook, Twitter…I am assisted by two of the greatest influences on my views of country and life.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. delivered a Memorial Day address titled “In Our Youth Our Hearts Were Touched With Fire” in 1893. Holmes, known as “The Great Dissenter” as a justice on the Supreme Court, was a firm advocate of free speech. The concept of “clear and present danger” was the only basis for limiting the right of freedom of speech. I wonder if he ever imagined the digital world we live in now and its impact on free speech, or where prisoners of war would be criticized for “getting caught”.
“So to the indifferent inquirer who asks why Memorial Day is still kept up we may answer, it celebrates and solemnly reaffirms from year to year a national act of enthusiasm and faith… Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death – of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will.”
The will of our fallen soldiers was built on the premise of a better country for us; their sons and daughters. They saw the legacy of the United States of America as being enough to die for, and resultantly, paid the ultimate price.
My favorite President of my lifetime is, and based on what I’ve seen lately, will always be Reagan. The “Great Communicator” was the President of my generation, and the last true bipartisan force in politics. He was relentless in getting people to cross the aisle on matters of country versus party importance. On Memorial Day in 1984, Reagan concluded his remarks with a challenge: “Earlier today, with the music that we have heard and that of our National Anthem – I can’t claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I don’t know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask.”
It does with pride. God Bless America.
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