
No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.
Frederick Douglass
As we enter this weekend that so often seems more a celebration of hot dogs and apple pie, let's remember how we got to enjoy our overeating and every opportunity to laugh our ways to bed. Some rest in more noble beds of earth. Much is made of warriors. Whatever the cause of conflict, the dead deserve much more than our respect. Each of our dead had a face and a family. A patriot's duty to the dead is to ask that future lives only be risked where freedom is at risk. We must remember that those who would march us to war not march over our freedom first.
Liberty is an unchained thing, the wonder that ties us all together. What will make you feel most free this weekend? How will you share your freedom with others?
What would make me feel most free is to run naked through the woods, but the mosquitoes will probably give that a thumbs down. Not to mention the natives.
I will share my freedom with the fishes, still gathering up bags of trash left behind by the tourists who come here in uniform and treat this place like it really is the last frontier with no rules, before they fly off to other lands to do their duty, not knowing if they will ever see their families again or ever again be able to stand, belching and fishing with the giddy glee of a school child on summer vacation, proudly throwing down each successive empty beer can with gusto and pride.
I may even tie a flag to one of the tree branches overhanging the water, in honor those that have been deployed from here and recently lost their lives while on duty for country.
Posted by: Kate S. | May 27, 2005 at 11:27 AM