So, I guess I am a little bit late - with Memorial Day being over, but I decided that 1 day should not be all of the time we spend being proud.
Today I am proud.
I am proud to be surrounded by people who are, and have been willing to fight for our freedom - and I support them whole heartedly. So many have given so much to insure that we can have a voice, speak our minds, have as many children as we want, buy as many loaves of bread as we need, vote our conscience, go to any school we want, teach our children our own beliefs, believe our own religious ideals, marry whom we choose, pick our profession, let our children play outside, etc, etc, etc!
I could go on and on with everything that being an American entails - all of the freedoms that it allows, and yet it is something I take for granted, without even realizing it. Maybe my period is coming...I don't know, but if that's what it takes to help me be appreciative of all that I have, then so be it.
I am not a history person and James says I should be. He is probably right. It would help put all of the sacrifice in perspective for me. It would help me see the enormous contribution, soldiers have been making for me, and my family for much longer than I've been on this earth.
Every once in a while I am struck by something, sometimes it is small, and other times it really forces me to take a look around and get some perspective to realize just how lucky I am. What did I do right to get me born into a family that lived in the United States? It could so easily have been different. How did I luck out when so many other did not?
I don't know how many of you have seen the movie Blood Diamond, but when I watched that movie I couldn't help but think of the children. To live everyday in fear, fear for your children's lives. Real fear. That is unimaginable to me.
We have it so good. So unbelievably good. I hope I can instill in my children just how much we have - how lucky we are - and how much responsibility that puts on our shoulders to take care of what is ours. Take care of this country we are all privileged to live in.
Be proud, I know I am.
4 comments:
that was touching.
and a good reminder.
What a fitting tribute! Yes, we all need to be patriotic year round. Great job, Tamara!!!!!!
When I list the things Im thankful for, it always includes being born into the freedoms that this country has, to be able to raise my children here.
Thank you for the reminder, so many people forget how lucky we are.
that was so wonderful you are so right we have everything we could possibly need or want at our fingertips. I could not imagine fearing for my childrens lives every single day... I am proud to be an american and proud of everyone who protects it... Our birthday date is still incognito... miss ya love ya all
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