If we accept the fact that all returning Veterans having survived the brutalities of \u00a0War in Afghanistan and Iraq have now become New<\/em> and Different<\/em> individuals, and that they have now graced our shores as those seeking shelter and acceptance to the United States for the first time, then we must extend to them the very same American traditions and opportunities as expressed in our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. I have said this many times\u2026No One returns from War unchanged, No One.<\/strong><\/p>\n Let us consider their youth, the childhood days of our Veterans as a brief visit to America, as compared to so many of our newer<\/em>, foreign born citizens; immigrants spending a time to explore this country, then deciding to stay and perhaps choosing even to defend it. The difference is that for Warriors in their<\/em> youth, they decided to give up their youth and their very lives if need be, to protect a belief they may as yet not fully understand. \u00a0At least at 18 years of age, I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 Liberty was a conviction I felt in principle, but was not yet fully able to express at the time.<\/p>\n The Declaration of Independence states:<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n Have you ever asked yourself \u201cWhat is Freedom?\u201d What is inherent in Freedom that we would choose to die for it?\u00a0 What is It<\/strong><\/em> that millions of our young men and women so willingly sign their lives away to protect?\u00a0 Well now, let\u2019s take a look at a Warrior\u2019s view of just that.<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t Freedom<\/em> the Right to be treated equally, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, political opinion, moral convictions or sexual preference?\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t Freedom mean we have the Right to be treated equally and accepted, whether we are crippled, or diseased or healthy?\u00a0 Does it not matter if we are employed or jobless and homeless; living in a trailer, the back of a car; or living upscale in Beverly Hills?<\/p>\n Whether we\u00a0 do<\/em> or don\u2019t<\/em> fit into the standard of \u201cnorm\u201d, being so called \u201cgood\u201d, voting, tax-paying citizens, we still absolutely do have the Right to condemn and criticize corruption, greed and injustice as we see it. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s World Banks, the Military-Industrial Complex, International Corporate Strategies, Organized Religions or trashing our environment and its inhabitants.\u00a0 If we are Free<\/em>, not only can<\/em> we do this, it is our Responsibility to do this.<\/p>\n And by the way, the definition of Freedom is not<\/em> buying a new car every few years, and living in a posh home with over-abundance; nor is it taking more than you need while others have less than they need.\u00a0 I will leave that judgment call up to you.\u00a0 But enjoying the \u201cperks\u201d of a society does not mean you stick your head in the sand, pretending your country doesn\u2019t need your help, ignoring the truth and action you<\/em> need to be involved in. \u00a0To quote Dr. Martin Luther King: \u201cSilence is Betrayal\u201d.\u00a0 Think about it.<\/p>\n Freedom does mean<\/em> that it is our Right, our Responsibility to take issue with \u201cthat which we believe to be against our beliefs and the welfare of the innocent\u201d. \u00a0And if such action is done so without harming others, then there is no fear of harsh consequences; such as being locked up in the Super-Max \u00a0Prison in Colorado under the Patriot Act, or being put on \u201cThe List\u201d by the Department of Homeland Security, or being threatened by any other by department of our government. That is not<\/em> Free Speech. That is not allowing Peaceful Freedom of Expression in action and words.<\/p>\n In America, you have the Freedom to express yourself as you believe it should be done.\u00a0 That means you have the Right to be a pro-animal-rights vegetarian or a livestock-rancher-meat-eater; a pro-lifer anti-abortionist or a right-to-choose pro-abortionist; anti-government or pro-government, neo-Nazi or new-age Equal Rights Peace advocate.\u00a0 We are all in the same basket together. We all live in the same country together.\u00a0 And as long as you don\u2019t try to exercise your power over another or attempt to change someone else\u2019s beliefs by coercion, extortion, or violence, you\u2019re allowed to express your Freedom as you so choose.\u00a0 That\u2019s America.\u00a0 That\u2019s worth defending.<\/p>\n Freedom is very simple:\u00a0 It means not being taken advantage of. That means we cannot be forced against our wills by another person, corporate organization, government, religion or doctrine that attempts to suppress or control our personal or national destiny or our personal and National Right to Life.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Freedom means that we control our personal, creative vision for our future, our Right<\/em> to become who we choose to be, regardless of how others judge our decision. Again, it is as long as our decision does not harm or exploit another person, animal or our environment.<\/p>\n America is America because of our diversity.\u00a0 Except for the American Indians, all other groups came from somewhere else in the last 518 years.\u00a0 We all came from immigrants at one point or another in our family ancestry.\u00a0 There are citizens in America from every other country on this planet.\u00a0 Do we all get along? Hell No.\u00a0 But that\u2019s America.\u00a0 Do we all agree? Absolutely Not!<\/em> But that\u2019s what America is all about.\u00a0 Can we express our personal views, our beliefs in our own fashion?\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 And that\u2019s what makes America great! Our Rule of Law protects the Freedom of each and every citizen!<\/p>\n Is it American tradition to turn people away because they\u2019re different, or they don\u2019t seem to fit in? No.\u00a0 When we said, \u201cGive me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free\u2026\u201d we felt it and we meant it.\u00a0 A lot of us still do.<\/p>\n Americans first tolerate, then adapt and eventually become accustomed to and accepting of the diversity and customs of other cultures.\u00a0 It\u2019s been that way with every new group of immigrants since we all began this American Journey together.<\/p>\n So then, in considering the Rights of all<\/em> citizens, of all shapes, sizes, colors, creeds, customs and beliefs, how then do we not<\/em> accept our young men and women who have so willingly served to protect this Nation?<\/p>\n Are they different now?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 Are they Americans who gave all they had and were wounded by the brutalities of War?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 Do we hope they simply fade into the homeless population so we can turn our heads while speeding by after our shopping spree, never looking into their pleading eyes? \u00a0Absolutely not!<\/p>\n Do we pretend War doesn\u2019t exist? \u00a0I don\u2019t think that\u2019s possible for us Warriors.\u00a0 And for many civilians, that notion may be a case of denial. \u00a0\u00a0But as a Warrior, my perspective is a little different.\u00a0 \u00a0As far as Afghanistan and Iraq go, I don\u2019t pretend to understand all the \u201cWhys\u201d of either War.\u00a0 The fact is, we\u2019re there and we\u2019ll most likely be there for some time to come.\u00a0 But it seems to me that if we as Americans allow politicians to start Wars, then the very least politicians can do, is to take care of our Warriors who fight in those Wars.\u00a0 Are elected representatives not the guardians of freedom?\u00a0 Was that not so clearly stated July 4th<\/sup>, 1776?<\/p>\n Yes! Freedom is worth dying for. And in the purest sense, Freedom is what America stands for.\u00a0 Freedom is what makes us proud to be Americans.\u00a0 And as Americans we must remain ever vigilant to guard it and to protect it.<\/p>\n We must also ensure with all of our collective strength that our young Warriors, our men and women, the children of this great Nation are part of that future, of that Freedom. \u00a0Not only have they faced death on the battlefield, they have seen the darkest sides of Humanity.\u00a0 Heroes all, no question.\u00a0 But along with being witness to the atrocities of War, they have also lived through the Nobility of the Human Spirit, the very best in us all.<\/p>\n Through their baptism in blood, our Warriors have been given the Gifts of War:\u00a0 They may now judge, not harshly but fairly; they hold all life as sacred, never to be taken without just cause, but in so doing maintaining a reverence for the dead; they have truly learned the meaning of unconditional love worth dying for, setting the standard for all future relationships. \u00a0And finally, they have learned the true meaning of Honor, Friendship, Love and Trust.<\/p>\n I ask you then: Who better to lead this Nation into the future, than those who fought to defend it?\u00a0 Are they not the true<\/em> Guardians of Freedom?\u00a0 And who among us could possibly become better leaders and teachers to set the course of our destiny, the vision of our great nation?<\/p>\n Our Warriors now living by the Code of Honor defend the Freedom that we all hold as sacred.\u00a0 It is their \u201cGod Given Right\u201d to be treated equally. It is their Right to be welcomed home, acknowledged for their sacrifice and to then be given the Freedom of life expression they so deserve. Indeed, they have earned that Right.<\/p>\n This decision is up to you, to all Americans citizens who stand in silent anticipation of an uncertain future.\u00a0 Look into your hearts and choose with Wisdom.\u00a0 The future of our Nation depends upon it.<\/p>\n Respectfully submitted by:<\/p>\n Sgt. Andrew Brandi, United States Marine Corps<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One Warrior\u2019s Perspective If we accept the fact that all returning Veterans having survived the brutalities of \u00a0War in Afghanistan and Iraq have now become New and Different individuals, and that they have now graced our shores as those seeking … Continue reading