In the distant past wars were fought over the next hill and in nearby pastures and at the back door, in the geographically distant present they still are. As much as I love bonding over the barbeque and the first batch of homemade ice cream of the summer, this holiday is not about making memories for my family; it is for remembering those who cannot make them, who exist now only in memories. It is easy to lose that amidst the picnics, house projects and sales, so I wrote the following poem to remind myself.
Today I am Free
Today I am free
to remember or forget
soldiers whose names I do not know
who died in battles long ago
and those who perish yet,
in middle eastern sands
or other distant lands.
Today I am free
to berate or celebrate
the U.S.A. with all its flaws,
unfair taxes, unjust laws,
who excludes the God who made her great.
I fight government's grasping touch
because I have so much.
Today I am free
to honor or condemn;
to sit in safety and abhor
the very thought of death and war,
or proudly be American
like those who bought my liberty.
Today I am free.
May 2009
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