Freedom is not free

I consider myself to be pretty patriotic. My grandfather served in the United States Air Force for twenty years and retired as a lieutenant Colonel. My brother served in the United States Marine Corps and fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But having family members in the service don't necisarily make you patriotic, but it does help in instilling patriotism in you.
One of the big things that made me really thankful for America was when I went on a missions trip to Ghana, West Africa. They were thankful for clothes on their back, for the little food that they got to eat every day, for shoes that didn't have holes in them, and what joy they still had! No tv's, no cell phones, only radios, and not digital ones. Dirt roads, cars that looked like they were from the fifties. They had nothing and yet had everything. I mean, when they bought a coke at the store, they had to bring the bottle back! People don't realize the freedoms we have, and often times they get taken for granted. I mean, how many people in this election voted? Do they realize that just this year Iraq got to vote for the first time? Women's rights? We have SO MANY rights. Women in Iraq can't even show their face, or leave their house without a man. They only recently were able to start attending school. We can go to school or get a job. We are free to ride bikes in the street and to play sports. Americans have so much freedom. I mean, in mexico, they aren't even allowed to protest, yet they can come to America and do it, because that's their right.
How did we get these rights?

WE FOUGHT FOR IT.

We fought for our independence, we fought to keep it, and we fought to be able to practice our own religion. Everything we have now is a cumilation of years of men fighting for what they believed in.

We are free because they put their life on the line. Someone once said that their are only two men who were ever willing to die for you, Jesus, and the soldier.

My friend sent this to me, and I thought it would be appropriate for this veterans day. Pray for the peace and safety of our soldiers, as well as their families here in America.


Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags
You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told.
You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be awakened by gunfire.
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him!