Letters to the Editor
Freedom defined

Editor:

We can never define the power or true meaning of freedom.

"For those men and women who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know."

I read that once, and it couldn't be more true. It's not the average American's fault that he or she is "blind and deaf" to the taste of freedom. Most Americans are born into their God given right so it is all they ever know. I would even dare to say that it isn't surprising that we take for granted what we have had all our life.

9-11 taught me one thing. What if I lived in a country that wasn't free? What if someone told me when I could or could not go to church, or have heat, if I had electricity? What if I had no sewage system and human waste flowed into the streets? What if someone put me in jail or killed me for bad-mouthing my government?

The Iraqis pour into the streets to wave at us, and when we liberated the cities during the war they gathered in the thousands to cheer, hug and kiss us.

It was what the soldier's in WWII experienced - yet no one questioned their cause! Saddam was no better than Hitler! He tortured and killed thousands of innocent people.

We are standing by watching our heroes give all they have and lose their lives and limbs for what they believe in.

I can no longer stand silent and let the "dead" be the only voice shouting.

Stonewall Jackson once said, "All that I have, all that I am is at the service of the country."

Nothing is free. So freedom in our country has had its price … and we know it was not and is not free, but yet it is everyone's right to have. Ironic isn't it? That is why we stand free for now.

Never forget 9-11, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm. Only God knows our future.

But our community, as we stand by watching, is being destroyed by drugs, alcohol and hatred.

If we could only step back and count what we do have - our freedom to worship/vote / serve and our ability to be anything we want to be.

If you like Burke County you can stay. If you don't like Burke County you can leave. How great is that?!

Linda Kitchens

Hephzibah

[Note from writer: If you would like to send a letter or card of support to a soldier in Iraq but don't personally know one, you may drop it by Waynesboro Church of God and we will address and mail it to a soldier for you.]