There are countless poems, a song or two and quite a few movie lines that tell us, "Freedom isn't free." If it wasn't true, it wouldn't be heard so often.
I haven't seen "300" yet, but it looks like this weeks date movie. The history of the events that make up the plot to this movie are enough to tell you, "freedom isn't free." I've been excited to see this thing for weeks now, but a series of unfortunate events got in the way (more on that later).
Since 1992 a member of my family has been sacrificing for the needs of the country over the needs of the self in the military (USA for my brother, USMC for me). Where did this ideal come from? Sparta, and handed down for generations. Duty is selfless. Other members of my family have expressed duty in other ways for years prior to 1992; as my mother's family can account for two police chiefs and an officer killed in the line of duty in the past 35 years.
Even those who understand this idea have trouble watching those they love express it. My mom lost her brother when I was 7-months-old when he and his partner were killed by someone lying in wait for them outside the Kennett Square, Pa., police department. I couldn't join the volunteer fire department at 16 and my announcement that I was joining the Corps didn't go over well at all, either. Plans to join a police force later on have been viciously squished by family members of all types.
The future wife is the daughter of a retired soldier and frowns on any idea I have of service before self, even in my civilian work. I understand it, though I am conflicted by it. Countries, companies, families, cannot survive without someone who puts the needs of whichever unit it is ahead of their own. Each thrives because of someone willing to put aside their self for the needs of the group: the mother who doesn't eat so her kids can; the law partner who works 90 hours a week to help bolster the firms image, the Marine who jumps on a grenade to save his buddies.
Freedom isn't free. It demands sacrifice. Time, energy, blood, life. Though sad, it's true; and thank God for those willing to make the sacrifice.
Semper Fidelis.
OK, why has my weekend been a mess? Friday I was doing a late trouble call and exited the customer's home to find my truck towed from the apartment complex. After a lot of fighting with various groups (the towing company, the apartment management), my employer, Comcast and I were able to get my truck released at no cost to me, aside from the two full days of work missed.
