During my childhood years, growing up in a communist country, I always felt free; I felt comfortable. I had food, clothing, books, and a home. As I grew older (into my teens), I began to experience discomfort: I could not listen to the music I liked, I could not listen to Radio “Free Europe”, I could not say a word against the government and the party (I could not even think about it). I realized I could not even leave the country if I wanted to (and no one was allowed in either); I was stuck; I felt very uncomfortable. Little did I know that I had no clue what uncomfortable actually is.
As young adult, shortly after the collapse of communism (thank you President Reagan), I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to start a life (legally) in the greatest country in the world – the United States of America.
Here is where I learned about the greatness of freedom of speech and freedom of life.
Freedom of speech
As I was adjusting to the American way of life, I realized there are people who say things because they believed in them, there are people who say things just to be “cool” and “edgy”, and there are people who say things out of pure stupidity. The beauty of it all is that people are able to say what they think and how they feel.
Freedom of life
As I was adjusting to the American way of life, I also discovered that freedom does not come free; thousands of young men and women pay for it with their lives fighting those who despise that very notion. Thousands of young men and women who are willing to sacrifice everything so you and I can sit in the comfort of our homes and offices and blog about it.
Uncomfortable
The more I learned about the young folks who fight for our freedoms, the more I realized what “uncomfortable” is. “Uncomfortable” is leaving everyone and everything behind not knowing if you will ever come back. “Uncomfortable” is spending hours in mud, water, dust, sand, snow, unbearable heat and unbearable cold carrying 50 pounds of equipment. “Uncomfortable” is loosing a leg, or an arm, or both. “Uncomfortable” is burying your husband or wife, mom or dad, brother or sister, or your child.
So next time you are feeling uncomfortable calling our fallen military “heroes”, think about it, unless you are one of the folks in the third category.
That’s it from me for tonight.
Until next time,
God bless you!
God bless America and its great people!
And God bless my family!
Thank you HEROES!
