The Price of Freedom

   I had been at work for a few hours and was surprised when my supervisor called me on the radio. “Hey, Craig. Come to the control room now. Hurry!!” I was in the middle of checking equipment and couldn’t imagine what he needed now. When I entered the control room I was met by a crowd of people who were gathered around our 19” television. One of the guys yelled, “An airliner just crashed into the World Trade Center!”


   I thought, “Are you kidding me, they called me all the way up here just to tell me that?” Yeah, it was news but I didn’t think it was anything more than an inevitable accident. I stood around the TV with the other guys discussing how many planes pass over New York every day, and how something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. We discussed various scenarios that probably led up to the accident with each other when someone yelled “Another plane just hit the other tower!” Total silence filled the room. EVERY one was quiet as we watched the replays of the two planes hitting the towers. Then the news came in that a plane had crashed in a Pennsylvania field and another had crashed into the pentagon. No one knew what was going on for sure, but I believe that we all had the same gut feeling that this was something of epic proportions. Over the next few hours we were glued to the TV as updates came and the news that terrorists were responsible for the attacks was announced.

   I recall one of my co-workers (the man was an ex Air Force mechanic) asking if he could leave work. He said that he was sure we were going to war and he wanted to have all his affairs in order so he could get back to the Air Force and help out. This man had a wife and children at home, but what was first on his mind was his responsibility to protect this country. WOW!!! No bull here folks. This is what the guy really asked. How many Americans today would have asked the same question? I wonder how many people, if any, were thinking these same thoughts.

   Today’s Americans seem to have lost their will to pay the price for the things that they want. We have enabled a whole generation of individuals who are more concerned with their own well being than the future well being of all mankind. Instant gratification has taken the place of self accomplishment. Our children do not want to “earn” anything, but would rather others give it to them. I am sure you have heard the saying; “There is a time and a place for everything.” Well the time for fighting for our freedoms has not passed. We cannot let one man undo what our nation has earned.

   When President Bush sent our troops to Afghanistan and Iraq the general public was behind his administration’s decision. It didn’t take but a thousand or so troop deaths before the nation turned against him. It is estimated that the United States lost 416,800 service men in World War Two. As of September 20, 2009, 4,345 soldiers have died in the Iraq War and 881 deaths have been recorded in the war in Afghanistan for a total of approximately 5226 military losses. That is only around 1% of the men that gave their lives to this country to stop Hitler. Is this too high of a price to ask for freedom and the way of life that we all have come to take for granted? Have Americans become so complacent and lazy that freedom can be taken from them without even a fight? Are today’s Americans only willing to lose 1% of the battle before they give up? This war must continue, whatever the cost, so that our children can live without fear and in peace as we have become accustomed to. 
   Whether you realize or acknowledge it, the war on terror is a “World War.” Let’s act like Americans.