What is more important? Freedom or survival?
Freedom is without a doubt more important to me than survival. Personally, there is no comparison. Without freedom, I would not live the life I do today. There would be no life behind my eyes. I could not do as a pleased. When I look at third world countries and see their limited liberty, I feel disgusted. If I try to imagine myself living like that, I simply try to clear it out of my mind at lightning speed. I would not want to live a kind of “life” where I knew what certain things I was missing out on. Freedom is life.
Survival is just the state of living, nothing more. Life without freedom is just skimming the surface of existence. There is nothing to look forward to or potentially live for. You would wake up, “live” your day, and then return to your sleep. It would be an unfulfilling pattern. When I think of people living their lives just surviving, I feel heartbroken. It may sounds stereotypical, but I immediately think of people with war in their country. I remember the stories of women not being able to vote or be taken seriously. I imagine children without parents, merely surviving. That to me is unfair and unacceptable.
My life is fueled by my freedom. I cherish and take pride in my freedom. I will proudly wear my red, white, and blue on Independence Day. I live for my freedom. I love and support my troops. And most importantly, I firmly believe in when I say the Pledge of Alligence, “with liberty and justice for all”.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tugging Between Idea of War
Is war ever a good thing? Is there any cause for which you would go to war?
War is often thought of as violent bloodshed affecting millions around the world. To many, including myself, war is not necessarily a “good” thing, but is commonly a necessity. Yes, bloodshed makes people shudder, but sometimes you almost need it in order to make your point. For example, headlines and crawlers on the news often read “Alert: 10 American Soldiers Dead in Afghanistan”. The immediate reaction is horror. Men and women from our nation: dead. War is bloodily violent, but mostly needed to get what you want. Yes, practical ways of peace making should be tried first, but when all else fails war is what we must turn to.
I assume that my argument is contradictory when saying I support both peaceful resolutions and war, but I believe that it is a practical way of thinking. This is a just way of thinking because of course, no one wants to fight in a war and would much rather participate in peaceful manners, but when the going gets tough, it is time to bring out the big guns.
Personally, I could never make myself physically fight in a war. Yes, I stand strongly behind my troops, but never could I do what they go through daily. I very much so admire our troops fighting for us while we are at home, safe and sound. Fighting in war takes courage, physical and mental strength, and passion for your country. I most likely sound like a coward, but that is not entirely true. I have a burning passion to help in the war efforts, but maybe not first hand.
Seeing myself physically killing for something I believe strongly in would most likely never happen. But one does not need to do that to “go to war”. One can simply help second handedly. For example, I am not first handedly fighting against Joseph Kony for the Invisible Children, but I am still “fighting” for what I believe in. I desperately try, and sometimes fail, to fight for the children of Uganda. I fight to raise money. I fight and race against other schools. I passionately “go to war” for these unseen children. I believe I am at war. And just like our soldiers, I will not stop fighting until I win.
War is often thought of as violent bloodshed affecting millions around the world. To many, including myself, war is not necessarily a “good” thing, but is commonly a necessity. Yes, bloodshed makes people shudder, but sometimes you almost need it in order to make your point. For example, headlines and crawlers on the news often read “Alert: 10 American Soldiers Dead in Afghanistan”. The immediate reaction is horror. Men and women from our nation: dead. War is bloodily violent, but mostly needed to get what you want. Yes, practical ways of peace making should be tried first, but when all else fails war is what we must turn to.
I assume that my argument is contradictory when saying I support both peaceful resolutions and war, but I believe that it is a practical way of thinking. This is a just way of thinking because of course, no one wants to fight in a war and would much rather participate in peaceful manners, but when the going gets tough, it is time to bring out the big guns.
Personally, I could never make myself physically fight in a war. Yes, I stand strongly behind my troops, but never could I do what they go through daily. I very much so admire our troops fighting for us while we are at home, safe and sound. Fighting in war takes courage, physical and mental strength, and passion for your country. I most likely sound like a coward, but that is not entirely true. I have a burning passion to help in the war efforts, but maybe not first hand.
Seeing myself physically killing for something I believe strongly in would most likely never happen. But one does not need to do that to “go to war”. One can simply help second handedly. For example, I am not first handedly fighting against Joseph Kony for the Invisible Children, but I am still “fighting” for what I believe in. I desperately try, and sometimes fail, to fight for the children of Uganda. I fight to raise money. I fight and race against other schools. I passionately “go to war” for these unseen children. I believe I am at war. And just like our soldiers, I will not stop fighting until I win.
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