It's Not Dependence Day
This country was built on the blood of men and women who were hungry for freedom. Who gave up everything they knew and loved, for hope.
My grandfather’s parents left their country with money gifted them by family at their wedding. A family who wanted to give the young couple something they didn’t have. The young couple left friends and family, trading the familiar for an unknown future. Their ship run aground off the coast of New York. What little they brought had to be left behind. They arrived in this country with the clothes on their backs and each other. And hope.
Their son fought in World War One. Putting his life on the line for his unborn children to have the future his parents had sacrificed for.
The father of my mother fought in World War Two. Was wounded in action. And yet years later, and this time leaving a family behind, he went to Korea. Knowing the dangers he faced, he went to fight for freedom. His son would go to Vietnam. His son would be wounded. For the right to be free.
The blood of my family has been spilled for this country. Sacrifice has been made for me. For freedom. For a better life. A freedom and life that we all benefit from.
When blood is shed a covenant is formed. Between man and woman. Between mother and child. Between men and country. A covenant entrusted to me. One I have not had to make, but one I will honor. I honor my husband not by the covenant of blood, but because of our willingness to sacrifice. A covenant not born of blood with half of my children, but a sacrifice I make of my todays for their tomorrows. And to honor those who have died for my country, I will take to the polls so that we will not need to take to the streets.
And yet, we whine.
Because we have to pay for health care. Why shouldn’t we?
We want a someone to pay us a decent wage. Forgetting that we have every opportunity to earn one.
The men and women who have given their lives for this country did not do so for us settle. We cannot work for the minimum and earn the maximum. You want more? Go out and get it.
Despite what you hear on the evening news, our country is favored in most parts of the world. I encountered a man from Mexico, this week, who left his family at 18 to come here to fight along side our men and women. To fight for freedom. Ours. His. To fight for the opportunity to give his family more than he had. A sacrifice that is lost on many of our own youth.
Remember, this weekend is INDEPENDENCE Day. It is not dependence day. This country does not exist for your benefit. You benefit because this country exists.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Wow. I am speechless. Wait a second. No I am not. I am a whiner in a two income household that can BARELY afford the crappy healthcare that we get after fighting for it tooth and nail. Dependence. Ppff.
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Vote Annie 2012!!!
Being the daughter of a veteran I don’t take freedom or sacrifice lightly either. Yet my sis, an Avon rep, is doing a fundraiser through Avon where they are selling personal care packs that will be shipped to the troops for $10, and on top of that $4 of the $10 goes to the USO to further help soldiers and their families. She asks people to buy one and they look at her like she has two heads. Are we living in tough economic times? Absolutely. But compared to the sacrifice these guys and gals are making for me? I’ll do it. In fact, sign me up for two.
We are a BLESSED nation and we forget that way too often! You go girl!
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
you go girl. new reader. wife of air force man.
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
This was not directed at you. Having dealt with the Medicare system through foster care, you know the difficulties there. Is that quality of care your dream? A system that large will make the foster care system seem like a dream. Because I have foster children, if something happens to them after hours, I’m forced to wait 9 hours for care, 9 hours in the middle of the night because I am forced to use their Medicaid. With my other kids, I have options – and I want to keep them.
[Reply]
July 4th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Very well put.
I have a dear friend whom I argue with every time we get together. We just don’t see eye to eye on anything political. But just as we are at the brink of gouging the other’s eye out, we always stop and say, “Hey, we may not agree, but this is the greatest country because we have the FREEDOM to disagree.”
I am so discouraged at the direction this county seems to be headed. I am deeply disappointed in both political parties. But what really saddens me is when people bad mouth our great country, taking so much for granted.
We live in the greatest country on earth. I desperately hope our politicians don;t screw it up.
God Bless America. Happy 4th, and Happy Anniversary!
[Reply]
July 4th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I just reposted a story from my brother’s blog – he is currently serving in Iraq on his second tour. Thank you for your support of those fighting for us!
http://www.eyesopenedwider.blogspot.com
[Reply]