by Monica Benderman | May 24, 2008 - 12:33pm

I received an email message not long ago � it contained these statements:

�It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.�

Truth matters. I wonder if people will ever reach the point where the truth takes precedence over the need to control others.

It is NOT the veteran who gives us freedom of religion. It is the veteran who has gone to war over arguments of religion between cowardly, self-centered people who refuse to understand just what freedom of religion means.

It is NOT the veteran who gives us freedom of the press. It is the veteran who has sacrificed their life because freedom of the press has been interpreted to mean spreading propaganda as fact in an effort to sway the consensus of the masses toward supporting a cowardly, self-centered attempt at controlling others.

It is NOT the veteran who gives us freedom of speech. It is the veteran who has spent years away from their own life under the orders of those too cowardly to listen when others speak from a different perspective, choosing instead to destroy the voices they fear.

It is NOT the veteran who gives us the freedom to assemble. It is the veteran who has been forced to step in when those who should be assembling for themselves do nothing until there is nothing left except war.

It is NOT the veteran who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the veteran who has faced the injustice of war because cowardly, self-centered people are too afraid of their own weaknesses to allow the truth to stand on its own.

It is NOT the veteran who has given us the right to vote. It is the veteran who has died because cowardly, self-centered people believe money buys the ability to lead others and others simply follow, regardless of the depth of the chasm whose edge they have been led to.

Truth Matters.

How can there be freedom of religion if we are not willing to tolerate the religions of others?

How can there be freedom of the press if we are not willing to question the information we are given?

How can there be freedom of speech if the speeches we give are nothing more than a criticism of what others are trying to say?

How can we expect the exercise of our freedom to assemble to have any value if the assembled masses are doing little more than throwing temper tantrums at not being in control?

How can we expect fair treatment in a court of law if we are not willing to respect the laws in our own actions of living?

How can we expect our vote to matter if we do not hold those we elect accountable to their promises and our expectations?

Isn�t each person responsible for their right to believe in the religious teachings of their choosing?

Isn�t each person responsible for their right to knowledge and information � for their own education regarding the affairs they choose to be involved with?

Isn�t each person responsible for giving voice to their opinions and beliefs � and if each person accepts that responsibility for themselves, are they not also responsible for respecting the rights of others to do the same, whether as individuals or in an assembly?

If we are to demand fair treatment for ourselves, isn�t each person also responsible for ensuring fair treatment before making accusations against the actions of others?

After the vote, isn�t there an individual responsibility for ensuring that each vote becomes more than just a checkmark on an empty page?

If we are in danger of losing our freedom of religion, isn�t it because we have not practiced what we have preached?

If we are in danger of losing integrity in our news reporting, isn�t because we have not asserted our right to know and understand the truth?

If we are in danger of losing our freedom of speech, isn�t it because we have chosen to remain silent?

If we are in danger of losing our right to assemble, isn�t it because we have wasted the effort when assembled together?

If we are in danger of being treated unjustly, isn�t it because we have chosen to disregard justice?

If we do not believe our vote has counted, isn�t it because we have not risen to hold those we have elected accountable?

If we want the freedoms we claim to be ours, then why are we not taking actions to show we will let nothing and no one take them away?

If we believe our rights to be as important as we profess, then why do we profess it to be the responsibility of our veterans to defend them?

If our rights matter as much as we demand, then why are we not the ones on the frontlines living as if we actually believe what we say?

How can we be free if we are not willing to defend that freedom for ourselves?

_______



About author
Monica is the wife of Sgt. Kevin Benderman, a ten-year Army veteran who served a combat tour in Iraq and a year in prison for his public protest of war and the destruction it causes to civilians and to American military personnel. Please visit their website, www.BendermanDefense.org to learn more.

Monica and Kevin may be reached at mdawnb@coastalnow.net
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/14820

Everytime someone posts a copy paste thread, somewhere a kitten dies.

Save the kittens!!

Nothing wrong with shareing ideas and spreading information, isnt that the american way?

I always thought capitalism was the American way, not the slaughtering of innocent kittens.

heard the same thing about voting democrat...

every time someone ignores valid information a bit of human freedom dies....

its a valid post and the best one Ive seen so far about vets...remember today is about them. Instead commercialism and propaganda has skirted the importance of this "holiday" and turned it into the first day of summer vacation......

Maybe you fellows should move to China since you have such a big problemb with freedom of speach and expresion. One would think after 8 years of disaster by a republican led government you would simply re- ases your positions and admit you were wrong

who said i have a problem with freedom of speech? I certainly did not. In fact I advocate speaking your mind, which is why I hate copy paste posts. You could read it, talk a little about it and give your own opinion and then link it if people want to read it.

I also don't think this was 8 years of disaster, but thats my opinion.

Why, do their comments/opinions bother you?
Maybe you should move to China, then.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Like Bush and the Neocons what say and what you do are two differant things

Your constant over-simplification amuses me my friend. Actually the thing about the republican government i think is called a false cause fallacy. Common critical thinking error. Anyway, i was not really trying to insult anyone, i was just joking.

I think voting for someone, or not voting for someone just because the their political party is the most retarded thing ever. Look at the candidates beliefs. Then cross reference them with their voting records. This is why i say the next 4 years won't really be any improvement. (Although i am sure that selffulfilling prophets will try to convince everyone otherwise.) Another thing i would like to point out is that we've had a democratic congress for a couple years now. Has anything changed? Me thinks not. They are all playing for the same team my friend. What we need is less government control, and some federal government shrinkage. But i don't see that happening with the dems in office. Actually the only person i saw that ever preached this was Ron Paul. Anyway this is besides the point.

Sorry if the jokes offended you. It was a good article. As everyone here already knows i am a fellow veteran an i shall take the time to remember what we all stood for. Happy memorial day folks.

In what way? I say I don't like copy paste posts I like people who actually have an opinion and express it. Formulate your own opinion, and write about it. Dont be lazy and copy and paste crap.

For goodness sake think about the kittens!

honeslty I do not like our choices at all we can choose between coke and pepsi Idont think either party has the answers to fix this train wreck and I expect it to get worse no matter who is in office.

Kudos man, I too was a Ron Paul supporter and really liked what he stood for. I agree, these candidates are kind of the same and I really don't like any of them. I will vote for who I consider the lesser of two evils.

Can't remember when I felt I was voting for the best man, not lesser of evils.
Ron Paul is interesting, wish the people would support him.

Glad to see you aren't blinded by any of the candidates. Many of our problems started earlier, with the clintons, and even before with all our overseas trading and the buying out of farms on U.S. soil. But that's just the beginning.

I decided i'm not going to play their game when it comes time to vote. I honestly believe Ron Paul is at least a man of his word. He's got some crazy ideas, but when you think about them it actually fights corruption. I figured i'd write him in instead of voting for the "lesser evil" because i want to vote for someone who i really believe might help us. I'm not voting who im told to vote for.

I just love the sources he uses. Often the most unprofessional articles from unprofessional sites with a very clear bias and intended goals from their reporting. Most of the sites he uses have political cartoons all over the place to jab at those they hate, are blatantly hateful against those they disagree with, and are affiliated with networks back to George Soros, the billionaire radical who is pumping millions of dollars into the political campaign via his multiple organizations.

you dont expect the mainstream/corperate media to Man up and do its job do you?