It was not ever and is not currently "only" the American Soldier that gives me my freedom. Do not read this wrong, I am not taking anything away from the millions of past and present brothers and sisters of our nation that have served, fought, died, or retired, I am simply giving credit where credit is due.
Our members of Congress and our Media have played a major role in my freedom. So has the military. So has the housewife that attends PTA meetings and waves a flag on holidays.
The kids killed at Kent State a few years back gave me my freedom, as did the kids that burned the American flag during their own war protests of the era.
The businessmen that travel the world, and then come home and talk to other Americans about how good it is to come home help me keep my freedom too.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Basically, there's a lot more to it than fighting a war to give me my freedom. War is a terrible thing, and many of my freedoms we enjoy stem from people and ideals that were able somehow to avoid war. This war we are involved in now will not in any way give me "more" freedom than I already have. It will protect me from terrorism.....maybe, but not give me freedom.
Don't take "freedomistic" rights too far. There are certain rights that I have that the soldier doesn't. If I don't like the Commander in Chief I can call him an A*shole, even to his face. Can a soldier do that? For this "lack" of freedom, I respect soldiers. Right or wrong, they support their boss. Good on them.
They "enjoying a firefight" part disturbs me. It's a little too gung-ho to be based on experience. I've been there, I've done that.....I still do it. I would give every penny I own, and all my time and effort so that another person would never have to experience it. There is nothing fun about death, killing, or the aftermath of the destruction. I know the ones, that like myself have seen it, it's in their eyes. Please do not pretend to ever enjoy a firefight. One day you may just have to be in one......it will leave a mark on you that you wish you could erase, but can't. If you've been there, and you still claim to enjoy it, then please seek counseling. I mean that. You've got some issues you need to get out of your head before they destroy you. I know.
Freedom doesn't only come from the military. Unfortunately they seem to lose their lives a lot quicker though. Please don't forget the countless thousands of heroes that have had their heads and arms broken under the billy club while protesting for your rights.....they're heroes too. Or the petitioners that devote their time to walking the streets for signatures....they're also heroes.
I think Rick is a hero......he's made more people actually "think" with his posts here than MTV ever could.