The federal government failed to keep us safe on September 11th, 2001. Eight years later, it turns out that federal agents at US ports of entry only attempt to interdict 30% of terrorists crossing through them.
Hey Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hey veteran’s groups- what do you think about all this?
We’re not picky. We’re so hungry for a cause- anything will do.
We got our ass kicked on Sept 11th- eight years ago- an event that serves to bring us together to celebrate.
September 11th, 2009- It’s a great time to get out and enjoy a military jet flyover at a high school football game.
Since September 11th, 2001, we have been at risk enough to fight wars in two foreign countries, but not so much at risk that political leaders and statesmen- who mostly never served a day in uniform- would make the case that we should consider the discussion of a draft. Political shortcut- just tap the state’s National Guard units for an ongoing active duty role.
The “all volunteer” military has been the politician’s best friend. Very compliant, and just the ticket for the occasional photo-op, farewell, sendoff, etc.- where those who would never serve remind us how proud they are of our “heroes” and how fortunate we are to live in this country where we have volunteers to “fight for our rights and freedoms”.
Our major political parties take turns in power, but a pro war/anti freedom agenda still seems to remain in place.
Our efforts overseas make sense because:
Here at home, a Department of Homeland Security is “Preserving our Freedoms”. Don’t believe it? Check out their website- and while you’re there- check out the slide show image showing the fake photo of the veteran’s group member looking on in wonder as the Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary gives a speech to a giant group-think organization.
We are told that members of the US Armed Forces must not attend political rallies in uniform. Veteran’s groups seem to have no problem with the use of images of their members “in uniform”.
Both of our major political parties have made use of these images for political purposes.
Military service is honorable- no need to enhance it by promoting the false idea that soldiers give us our rights and freedoms.
If we take off our thinking caps, we might forget that physical security and freedom are not the same thing- and that the US Armed Forces protect our physical security in some cases- and in some cases they do not.
When people question foreign policy, you don’t have to look too far to see comments similar to:
“You have the right to make comments on a blog, and write letters to the editor because The Troops are fighting to give you that freedom.”
We do not live under a Totalitarian Regime where Individual Liberty must somehow be enabled by uniformed agents of the government.
We are not mindless drones- dependent on people in military uniforms in order to think, write and speak.
“Live Free or Die” means we have the right to raise a rifle towards whatever terrorist Boogeyman might come here to take away our American way of life...
Whatever happened to the idea of living free of fear and intimidation? The terrorists must be happy to be yanking our chain. Self reliant Americans have always had a sense of responsibility for their own security. They also know that they will not live in a completely safe environment- they walk tall anyway.
Whatever rights and freedoms we have were ours before the wars began. If we attained additional freedoms- it was not because of the troops, the war, foreign policy, or anything happening overseas.
If we cut out the bogus “fighting for our freedom”- an attempt to justify or validate foreign policy- things might get tricky- we might struggle for an honest understanding of why we send “The Troops” and the flag to distant lands- don’t go there.
We love to talk big about freedom, but we are very guarded- in many cases- when people want to take delivery on that freedom.
In the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, we have been working hard to spread freedom across the globe - maybe we should take some of the filters off of freedom here at home. Those filters weren’t put in place by terrorists or foreign governments.
Maybe one way to honor those lost on 911 would be for the federal government to stand out of the way of responsible adults who want to actually take delivery on all these freedoms we hear so much about.
A Symbol of Freedom & Federal Government Credibility Alex Hepler photo
USMC Okinawa 1980
