No...Freedom Isn't Free

As I read the Leftinistra blogs and read the Leftinistra press; as I hear the Leftinistra Lame Stream Media air their unqualified opinions; as I listen to the Leftinistra on CSPAN prattle on and on about the non-issue of the day; I often wonder why I and others have served only to have that which we fought for, bled for and died for pissed away by some freckled pimple faced shithead from code pinko and similar groups.

I often wonder what I would actually do if I ever had any number of them in my cross-hairs. Would I do the deed? Or would I merely snicker at the possibilities?

I suppose that it really isn't their fault being as ignorant as they so choose to be. Their parents did a lousy job teaching patriotism; if they had any parenting to speak of.

As my son soon deploys into harms way, I often reflect back at what caused me to serve and to deploy into harms way. As my Dad used to say, "A man has to do what a man has to do."

As my son prepared himself to enlist, he would ask questions of me and the conversation would inevitably lead to him asking me what he should do. My answer? A man has to do what a man has to do.

It took him 3 years to make his own decision. He read the same things I did and listened to the same things I did and upon many occasions, our opinions differed. In the end, he enlisted, survived Boot Camp, graduated, and was assigned to Ft Campbell with the 101st Airborne.

His further training was intense as though of us remember it was. Sometimes I think the training these days is not as intense due to the PC morons that have infected the rank and file.

He is now deploying is just a mere time remaining until we see him again and with God's help, we will. If not, we will see him in the next life.

As I was contemplating this post, written not to anyone in particular; just venting my thoughts as a father should at a time as this and in days like these, I was drawn to the following letter written by a man who's son was KIA by an IED:

We often hear this term: Freedom isn't Free. But, what does that really mean and if Freedom isn't Free, then what is the cost and who pays it?

The cost is watching someone you love go away for a long period of time where there is little contact as they endure the rigors and hardships of training.

The cost is watching someone you love serve for pay that doesn't always cover what it takes to live a standard of living most civilians enjoy and suffering a financial impact that can negatively alter a military family's prosperity for a lifetime.

The cost is deployment to combat.

The cost is a loved one leaving whole but coming home less than whole, physically, mentally or both.

The cost is a a loved one who never returns from a mission and is never found.

The cost is having to take another's life, even if they are the enemy, and living with that the rest of your life.

The cost is watching a close friend die, maybe even holding them in your arms, helpless to save them and living a life of remembering that moment and feeling guilty that it wasn't you who died instead of the close friend.

The cost is a family waiting and watching 24 / 7, hoping and praying as they watch daily newscasts about our military personnel dying.

The cost is a knock at the door no family wants but is a special privilege of sacrifice and if not borne by some, then who would bear it?

The cost is a lifetime of love.

Freedom isn't Free and the cost is high.

The Fourth of July is a special time to celebrate the freedoms we have, hard fought and won at a great cost. Well we all should enjoy this day, and every day we have to live free, for to do less would be to waste the high price paid that we might.

Robert Stokely

I found this at Mudville Gazette posted by Mrs Greyhawk

There is a poem there on that post that all should read and there is a post from Greyhawk all should read.

My friends that email know that "freedom isn't free" is part of my address.