What is it that our service members
fight for? FREEDOM!
When you study history you will see
that almost without exception armies are raised to conquer other nations or
territories so as to expand their territory, subduing cultures and peoples to a
new way of living. That is, only if the conquerors allow the people they have
conquered to live!
Greece, Rome, China, Russia, Germany,
Britain, and so on, all wanted to add to their kingdoms. The United States, on
the other hand, has a history of defeating its enemies and then rebuilding that
aggressor nation from the ground up. We have defeated Germany twice in the past
100 years, along with Italy, and Japan. We have engaged in wars and skirmishes
in Central and South America also during that same period of time. We have
acquired other nations from defeated foes like Spain in 1898. As part of the
war settlement, we were given control of much of Spain’s vast acquisitions,
namely: Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands, Guam, and Cuba. Each of these
countries was eventually granted its independence. In the case of the Philippines,
we have liberated them twice from conquering nations. First, from Spain in
1898; and second, from Japan in 1945.
The United States has had the muscle
and the technology to conquer as much of the world as we could want – yet we
have not done so. We have been accused of being imperialistic – but are we?
Imperialism is “the policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial
acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over
other nations.”
In one sense we are imperialistic, but
for a reason. We have maintained bases in countries that are friendly to us in
order to protect not only that country from another aggressor nation, but to
also protect America and her interests around the world. The formation of NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was developed to protect Europe from the
aggression of the former Soviet Union. If there were no other threats, then we
would be content to leave those countries. Even after driving the German army
out of France twice last century, the French government asked us to leave which
we did in the 1970s. The same thing occurred with the Philippines in the early
1990s.
Today we are faced with many
challenges to our nation. War and rumors of war abound. Our State Department is
acknowledging that we are prepared to stop the bloodshed occurring in Syria;
and that we have the capability and the willingness to halt the advances of the
nuclear development of bombs by a rogue nation, Iran.
President
Calvin Coolidge, circa 1925, said this insightful quote regarding patriotism, “Patriotism is easy to understand in
America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.”
The
Marine commanding general in Afghanistan read this letter on Memorial Day
written by Marine sergeant, William Stacey, who left this for his family in the event of his
death.
"My death did not
change the world; it may be tough for you to justify its meaning at all,"
Allen wrote. "But there is a greater meaning to it. Perhaps I did not
change the world. Perhaps there is still injustice in the world. But there will
be a child who will live because men left the security they enjoyed in their
home country to come to his. And this child will learn in the new schools that
have been built. He will walk his streets not worried about whether or not his
leader's henchmen are going to come and kidnap him. He will grow into a fine
man who will pursue every opportunity his heart could desire. He will have the
gift of freedom, which I have enjoyed for so long. If my life buys the safety
of a child who will one day change this world, then I know that it was all
worth it.
"Semper Fidelis
means always faithful. Always faithful to God, Country and Corps. Always
faithful to the principles and beliefs that guided me into the service. And on
that day in October when I placed my hand on a bible and swore to defend the
constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, I
meant it."
Patriots are never in abundance. We
need them every bit as much today as when George Washington was tasked with
raising the Continental Army.
Our freedoms come at great cost. It is
the blood of patriots that has purchased our liberties.
Such patriotism is needed today.
Please, speak of the heroics of our fallen to your children and grandchildren.
They need to hear about this from your lips. That is how it must be passed on
if our freedoms are to be defended into the future.
God bless you, and God bless America!
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