Freedom Isn't Free

Freedom is defined by the dictionary as

exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

In the 60's when the Vietnam War was on the minds of every person in our nation, a song was written by Paul Colwell, Freedom Isn't Free. The chorus

Freedom isn't free! Freedom isn't free!
You gotta pay a price...You've gotta sacrifice,
For your liberty.

remains as true today as forty years ago. The meaning may lend itself to different interpretations, but the truth remains within the substance of the verse.

At the time of its original performance the song was meant to support the war. Today while the same arguments continue over the military occupation of Iraq and our military intervention in Afghanistan, we may all do well to heed one verse of the original song.

Freedom is a word often heard today,
But if you wanna keep it there's a price to pay.
Each generation's gotta win it anew,
‘Cause it's not something handed down to you.

We have different ideas and thoughts about freedom and its cost. The current U.S. involvement around the world comes as the result of our being told our freedom is at stake. In continuation of the war effort we have lost many of our Constitutional freedoms. We no longer enjoy the freedom to speak or communicate in any medium without risk of being recorded without our knowledge. We no longer enjoy the protection of habeus corpus. Even the freedom of assembly is often abridged in public places when President Bush is in the area.

What will freedom be in our future? How will we define freedom as time goes by? Are we as a nation willing to let our past freedoms be bygones? Or will we find the national will to fight for our rights as human beings and as citizens of this great nation? Can we even hope to predict with any degree of accuracy what the future holds?

We have a new President-elect in Barack Obama. He will enter the White House with a Senate and House of Representatives both holding Democratic Party majorities. We Democrats have stood for freedom, human rights, and civil rights for many years. Today we are on the cusp of real change to restore many of those values to our nation if we are willing to push our leaders in the right directions.

Freedom requires some measure of sacrifice on the part of every person in the nation. Each of us as individuals must decide which freedoms are most important. Do we allow unrestricted freedoms or do we each give up a small bit for the greater good? What parts do we forego and what do we fight to keep?

Decisions, decisions. There are so may choices to be made. We have real hope today with the potential of a new administration. But there is work to be done. The course will not change if we fail to do our part and push for the right direction. We must sacrifice some of our free time to work for renewed freedom in our nation. If we fail to take action and to make the small sacrifices necessary to move forward we may in the end find all we value is lost forever.

Peace.