Freedom isn't free

I was very moved the first time I read this - on the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC. As memorials to great sacrifice go, this is one of my favorites. I originally came upon it one cold, very dark night with only one other person around. I don't happen to live in Washington, but always enjoy visiting the city for the stunning depth of significance in it's architecture, monuments and thought about what it means to be American. Capital cities are usually singularly like this, and Washington is very much America's trophy.

Freedom isn't free. Indeed it's not.

It's borne of responsibility, and amongst the most precious gifts we carry. It's very prone to neglect, and misuse, and doesn't suffer the foolish well. It's often confused with democracy, and capitalism, though these three are different, each embodying a variation on a theme.

Freedom rises above the other two I'll offer though, it's supreme in this triumvirate of idealism descriptors. Capitalism speaks to trade and monies only, and Democracy to the participation of the voice of the people, while Freedom embraces these and soars heavenward from there. Freedom can describe a person, a nation or a state of being. It's an emotional feeling and a significant comment upon our ties to others.

I worry about Freedom. I worry that we don't respect it enough. We don't cherish this gift we have, recognizing it's absence only, not it's presence. I read recently that "the air of liberty may be too rarefied for us to breathe". Perhaps we aren't ready for Freedom. Perhaps we aren't mature enough as a race, or even a species to appreciate the gift that it is.

I can imagine a day in the not too distant future when we'll back and wonder at how we didn't revel in the Freedom that we had. At how we didn't see we were in Shangri-La and we squandered it. I'm not certain what to do about this, other than live every day to the fullest, and offer thanks to whatever guides you for the choices we are each able to make.

Because as the sign says - Freedom isn't free.