October 25, 2005

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

I just returned from a very physically tiring but quite well-worthy East Coast trip. There is definitely a huge difference between traveling alone and in a group, specially with a one year old baby and all the baby gears in tow. However, I would do it again anytime. Still on a 3-hour time zone groove, I was up quite early and was downloading to my icecube PC digital photos taken from the trip while catching up on the news on TV and checking on 5 days of unopened emails.

Primarily to attend a wedding and family reunion (Warren & Angel's) in New Jersey, I took advantage that I am still on a "extended" vacation to visit very good friends in Frederick, MD and also took my two girls (my wife and my daughter) to see a bit of Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.

Something on the TV news feed early this morning caught my thought process. A newscaster was blurting with hyperbole that the US is nearing a "milestone" number today as the Iraq US military death count now stands at 1,999. I would expect that many political pundits, anti-war protesters, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Cindy Sheehan and her MOVEONdotORG colleagues, and anti-Iraqi freedom supporters may and will likely use such an event to further their position: that the war is not worth the lives of any Americans. I question their position and digress.

A photograph that I took while walking by a souvenir stall located by the Reflection Pool between the Washington and Lincoln Memorials came to mind. I opened up the digital photo again. On on side the shack was a statement, "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE" just above the "HELP SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" statement. It stuck with me and I pondered on those words as I walked on some parts of the National Mall that cold, drizzly, and grayish day.

As an immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, I mused at what it meant to me to be an "American" after 35 years living in this land where freedom rings (but a land where some have taken this privilege for granted) and a country that spreads and fosters freedom around the world. I also thought of where I came from, my land of birth, which also went through many transformations and wars -- even against the U.S. at one time -- that eventually lead to its freedom today (no matter how politically ugly and corrupt it may be currently).

We went to the Arlington National Cemetery, just a short bridge hop over the Potomac River from Washington D.C. Although I've been to D.C. a few times in the past, this was my first visit to Arlington's hallowed grounds. Here, many US soldiers and citizens have been honored a hero's final resting place - from the Civil War to the latest fallen soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. I imagined the personal stories of each of the number of soldiers who died fighting for their country's call... albeit a "just" war or not... , including the hundred thousands who died in a war we could now view as a "sibling" feud between the north and the south -- the U.S. Civil War. I tend to think there is no such thing as a "just" war. "Just" seem to depend on which side one was on. Go review history.

We also walked the Vietnam War Memorial, a tribute to a war fought where a staggering 58,148 U.S. soldiers died [ref.: Combat Area Casualty File November 1993. (The CACF is the basis for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, i.e. "The Wall"] and another 304,000 wounded in action. As a remind to everyone, we lost this war by virtue of the U.S. pulling out and not finishing what was started. Across the pond was the Korean War Memorial, a tribute to the 54,246 dead and 103,284 wounded US soldiers during the "Forgotten War." Technically, an unfinished war that is just on hold by an truce and a thin line called the DMZ. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and missed a visit to the recently completed WWII Memorial which honors a mind boggling 500,000 + U.S. soldiers who perished to help free Europe and perhaps the world.

Yes, I have no qualms that every American life, particularly each and every U.S. soldier on the frontline is precious and highly valued. Two thousand in Iraq may indeed be a lot in a number count... but should it really be called a milestone? What is the difference between 1, 10 or 2,000 when we talk of lives? Each and every life lost is a big loss. But this arbitrary number counting that some people are using for their special interest and causes aught to be shunned. We need to get real. It may seem a lot -- until statistically compared to other wars the U.S. have fought.

Using this same counting scheme, it seem apparent that we are fighting wars, hellish as they are, much smarter than in the past. Number counting seems relative when put into this perspective.

These fallen sons and daughters who gave the ultimate sacrifices to protect our freedom and our rights must be respected. Otherwise, their deaths would have been in vain, their life sacrifices desecrated. Yet, I would not stop the fight merely because we reached a 2,000 mark. This is not a video game where one should quit because a number quota has been met.

Nobody loves war. But darn it, if we are in one, we ought to finish it right. War is hell! And since we are facing hell right now, like it or not, we might as well fight it brilliantly and gallantly. The soldiers who are fighting over there are unselfishly dedicated to fighting gallantly and courageously. We should support them gallantly and courageously as well. We do so by not undermining their objectives there. Pulling out in a middle of a battle is not the right way. Unless our goal is surrender. Besides, bloody as it is, people in Iraq are indeed getting a chance to experience what many in the U.S. may have taken for granted - their freedom and liberty.

 By pulling out now and leaving the fight, we will demean the deaths of these fine men and women. Their ultimate sacrifice was and is well worth it because what they were and are fighting for is indeed for Freedom, Liberty, and Justice for all (and not just for us Americans!!!). I believe that we are fighting for the survival of our very own existence, now and our future because definitely... there are those who will stop at nothing to harm or eliminate Americans, regardless if we are at war or not. Read up and look at the listings of terrorist attacks that have happened since September 11, 2001 at: Put the Numbers Into Perspective.

In Philadelphia, we visited the Liberty Bell along with stops at the Independence and Congress Halls. Visiting this icon of freedom today has changed since my visit 25 years or so ago. The security process may deter those who are perhaps uninitiated, spoiled, shortsighted. And those "instant gratification" demanding few who now have to go through tighter-than-airport screening process...  "just to see a dumb bell" as I overheard one quip, aught to be ashamed. These folks just don't get it.

One can see cracks on the bell. The more obvious bigger, wider crack is from past failed attempted fix. The hairline crack that works its way up and nearly around towards the top of the bell is more subtle. I found out that the bell was even fragile ever since its first use. Perhaps, herein lies the clues to the bell's symbolism and messages: that the bell is fragile, just as freedom and liberty is fragile. Yet, with all its faults and imperfections, the bell has stood wonderfully and still stands as the ultimate symbol of freedom for many peoples, not just for us Americans.

A powerful moment occurred when the docent ended her presentation by asking us to do a simple observation, to look amongst the crowd gathered around the Liberty Bell that day to view this symbol of freedom and notice the diversity of the people present. Alas, we were not just "Americans" but peoples of many colors and countries from around the world.

My final thoughts and wish of the bell is this: I'd like my children to take their children to see the Bell someday. Perhaps fighting over there right now would allow this wish to come true. It is well worth each life offered because Freedom and Liberty is definitely not free! Thus, our soldiers continue to risk and offer their ultimate sacrifices. My support and Booyah to them all! Now, you know where I stand.

(Note: As I end writing this article, Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room just gave an update that the Iraq US casualty count has reached 2,000.)

For some up close frontline Iraq reporting that is missing on mainstream news media, check out this indie journalist's blog:

Added Nov. 11, 2005: Watch a video of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison presenting some of Michael Yon's work on the Senate floor:
http://src.senate.gov/public/_files/television/kbh_nov9.ram

 (PS: On a lighter note, Nick's special Philadelphia cheese steak sandwich with fried onions over at a small hole in the wall bar and restaurant called Nick's at 2nd St. between Market St. and Chestnut St. was divine!!!)