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July 4th
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Jul. 2nd, 2009 | 09:04 am
mood: 
contemplative
A couple of days early, I know, but some posts about Karl malden and references to the movie Patton got me thinking of such things. War movies can be harshly realistic, like Saving Private Ryan, or fanciful, like any Randolph Scott flick ;-) War itself can seem both at times.
And so can freedom.
We sit here 233 years after some men pledged "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to the cause of freedom. For them it was harshly realistic, no matter their motives. A slogan as regards Vietnam is "All gave some, some gave all" applies to the Founders as well. Some lost everything but their lives, and some lost that as well.
But for us it might as well be a movie, or might be if we allow it to be so. Those who hold the sacred trust paid for with blood since this country's inception have become derelict in their duties, and many sleep. Those who hold that sacred trust abuse their offices, and more sleep. Those who have inherited greatness and cannot appreciate it now claim that they know what is best for us, and most sleep.
Regardless of the original price, however, independence is never really bought but merely leased. When the lease comes due, it is my hope that there will be enough left who know the taste of freedom to want the lease renewed. Sadly, it is my fear that many will not.
On a somewhat lighter note: Patton's March! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfecWmz82
And so can freedom.
We sit here 233 years after some men pledged "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to the cause of freedom. For them it was harshly realistic, no matter their motives. A slogan as regards Vietnam is "All gave some, some gave all" applies to the Founders as well. Some lost everything but their lives, and some lost that as well.
But for us it might as well be a movie, or might be if we allow it to be so. Those who hold the sacred trust paid for with blood since this country's inception have become derelict in their duties, and many sleep. Those who hold that sacred trust abuse their offices, and more sleep. Those who have inherited greatness and cannot appreciate it now claim that they know what is best for us, and most sleep.
Regardless of the original price, however, independence is never really bought but merely leased. When the lease comes due, it is my hope that there will be enough left who know the taste of freedom to want the lease renewed. Sadly, it is my fear that many will not.
On a somewhat lighter note: Patton's March! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfecWmz82