Protecting our Freedom
“I think that’s fine to have a little peace rally. As long as you know that your right to have one is paid for with the courage, sweat, blood and lives of our American service men and women.” I had no idea I felt so strongly about that and I’m guessing my poor guest was a bit shocked too as I normally don’t verbally smack guests around. Felt right to me though when my guest spoke of rallying to protest the war in Iraq while terrorists have come right into our own backyard…
Freedom is a word we use and see so often in America that some of us take this “right” for granted and feel entitled to it at others’ expense. There’s freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of this, freedom of that… lots of that going on ’round here. The “right” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” I declare. We have songs with the word freedom in them… “Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose…” and famous speeches “.
Where we live, it’s my choice to go or not go to church. I can read any book I like, watch TV shows that have no educational value whatsoever or I can eat junk food all day long and its OK with our government if do. Where we live, I experience freedom when I write what I like and have it published and some would argue it’s a woman’s freedom to choose to have a baby or not while others have an equal right to argue the contrary. In some of the states where we live, folks even have the right to have same sex marriages. “If you have ever been married, you all know it’s the same sex in a marriage…” (heard that one from Robin Williams!) But what I really love about freedom- it’s mine.
Of course we all have to live by the laws of our land (and I like those too for the most part- kind of like a contract as a baseline for times when we disagree about whose “right” is it anyway). When did it become “out of style” to be happy to be an American? Think about this one: The early Americans really screwed us Native people over. They gave us alcohol, we returned the favor with tobacco. (I see that as being even!) Sad, not everyone “wins” in this freedom. Even today we Native Americans have the freedom to have Casinos on Reservation land and for those that enjoy the freedom to frequent them, “Thank you for your kind and generous donations! Come on back real soon!” Freedom is a beautiful thing, no?
So with all our differences, how can we as a Nation help our people and help ourselves? I, for one, am thankful that we have a strong military. Still there are a few folks that have some strange ideas about who Americans are and what we stand for or that somehow we shouldn’t take pride in being Americans. I have to say, most of the Americans I know are fine people (OK there are a few that are nut jobs, but by and large we are a wonderful people)! Home of Mark Twain, John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Julianne Moore (just love her), and so many other nice people…
So here’s the question: Is just sending good thoughts to our honored Service folk going to do anything at all? The power of each individual’s will and intent does have a result, but in honor of 4th of July let’s do a simple visualization together:
1. In your mind’s eye, imagine someone you know that is in the Armed Forces. Wherever they are, whatever time it is.
2. See them as being protected by Angels or Spirit Warriors. Those spirits are looking out for the safety of our people here and in far away lands too.
3. Ask those spirits to keep them all safe in a good, fast, modern-world way. Then open your eyes.
4. Now give that spirit some specific instructions: “Follow that person in a good but protective way.” You’re done.
You have just attached spirit warriors of protection to an American Serviceman or Servicewoman. Easy ya? I love that!
God Bless those in the Armed Forces past and present who protect our freedom and stand guard- saying “Not on my watch.”