This is so true, what do you think.?

Question

> I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at
> Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his blood hands. He stands
barefoot
> in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and
> emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by
> nothing but death and carnage of war. He stands though, with fire in his
> eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust
and
> tells us this...
>
> I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your
> children graduate too illiterate to read it.
>
> I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you
stay
> at home because it rains!
>
> I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you
remain
> silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.
>
> I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has
> stolen democracy from the people.
>
>

Answer 1

I have the upmost respect for you and all you have done and i thank you and i wish i could shake your hand....and i try so hard not to take the little things for granted....and live life like it is....so very precious.....words cannot express what i would like to say so i will just stay silent for a moment and ask others to do so as well...and say a silent prayer for peace and strength to all who give up there freedom so we can be here today....thank you ...

Answer 2

You might consider these facts:

Your minuteman was probably also incapable of reading the Constitution.

Our government so distrusted your minuteman to be able to make an informed decision that they barred him from voting either for Senators or for Presidents.

Roughly 20 thousand Americans fought in the War of Independence at a time when the country had a population of 3 million. Today more than 3 million Americans serve actively or in reserve, relatively speaking this is an improvement of more than 50% over colonial times.

Freedom of speech was not guaranteed in the original articles of the Constitution so your minuteman really had nothing to do with earning it. Besides which the freedom to say what you want includes the right to say nothing.

Your minuteman's last point, about the erosion of American democracy is the most valid, but our government hasn't stolen it... we've given it away. Time after time, when Americans are asked to choose between security and democracy, we choose security. This has given our government all sorts of latitude to act in ways that are contrary to a democratic society.

You paint a pretty picture and raise some valid points, but you actually undermine your arguement by using a fictitious figure to present these points. The America of 1776 is not the same America in 2006, your minuteman knows nothing of WMD's of international trade, or world spanning wars. His congressman was likely a friend and neighbor, ours we might see on television once every few months. His first choice for president was between Adams and Jefferson, two giants of American history, our latest choice was far less illustrious.

It's a temptation to idealize the past, to ignore it's flaws and say that what they did was better than anything we have done or will do. Remember something though, there were other things that your minuteman fought for and whether accidental or intentional, one of those things was slavery.

Answer 3

We have certainly romanticized history to some degree but perhaps your theoretical soldier did actually have such thoughts. We are very spoiled in our great country. We take our substantial blessings for granted and assume entitlement to them. At the same time we whine over the minor requirements of being a good citizen. No where is that more plain to see than in the total manipulation of the public by our policians. They just know that we have a very short attention span that is shallow and lacking in any educated detail. In short, we get what we deserve.

Answer 4

Freedom is not free. Many soldiers have fought and died for our freedom. I am grateful to every one of them. Democracy has not been stolen, it is decided by the 10% of the population that bothers to vote. If we can get people to participate in the decision making process, things will be better. By the people, for the people. Peace to you from frogspeaceflower.

Answer 5

Yes I agree, most kids today are to lazy to do anything except lay in front of the tv, stuffing junk food in there mouths or playing video games all day.

Answer 6

wow!!! how true and unbelievable is that. yes you have made a statement here and i hope everyone has a good read of this what you have put down so a few eyes can open . and heads start thinking

Answer 7

It is true and I'm so glad that that soldier didn't know what really happened to the future that he unselfishly faught for.

Answer 8

Didn't know he was still alive. J/k, thats rite, everything is screwed up here, its not new news.

Answer 9

Yep.

Answer 10

Wow!! SOunds pretty accurate to me!!