Freedom isn't pretty. . .

Freedom isn’t free. We have all heard that phrase before. And here in America I dare say that most of us, on some level or another, agree with this concept. It is a blessing that must be earned, cultivated and protected. But what most people don’t understand (or refuse to accept) is that Freedom isn’t pretty.

“What!?!?!?” You ask incredulously. “Not pretty? Noble eagles soaring against the canvas of a blazing sunset. The sun hung low in the evening skies, caressing purple mountains majesty like a sated lover; inducing a golden glow of contentment across the endless fruited plains.” How can that not be considered beautiful? Much less the baser status of pretty? I agree with you. The imagery of freedom is powerful, beautiful and even awe inspiring. The imagery of slaves throwing off their shackles, of countries toppling oppressive regimes and of common folk dropping the yoke of elitist controls in favor of designing their own destiny is truly beautiful and amazing on more levels than most of us can perceive at once. The imagery of freedom is stunning; but Freedom isn’t pretty.

Freedom is sneaking onto a boat in the middle of the night to toss crates of tea into Boston harbor. Freedom is men coming together quietly (without full disclosure, without press releases, without embedded media personnel) to draft a document many would have considered treason; to literally sign their own death warrants should things not go as planned. I wonder how many of our current “leaders” would have had the gumption to follow through with such a task. It might be scary, but Freedom isn’t pretty.

In retrospect, we tell the story of the midnight ride of Paul Revere with pride and humbled awe. But that is in retrospect. Imagine the night of the ride. One man scared out of his gourd; reeking of fear and sweat on a horse that smelled much the same. Riding at breakneck speed over fields and through forests risking his life to proclaim the beginning of the battle of rebellion. Yes rebellion. We won, so we refer to it as our battle for independence. But had we lost, it would have only been referred to as a rebellion put down by Mother England. Freedom isn’t pretty.

Someone has to keep tabs on the world around us to anticipate and head off threats to our country. Someone has to make preemptive strikes to ensure our safety and avoid larger conflicts. Espionage can be ugly, but the world can be uglier. There are those who are jealous of our freedoms and would rather destroy them than allow the idea to spread. As long as there is freedom, there will be those who would take it away. And as long as people are attacking our way of life, then there will be those who stand to defend it. Hostility is not our goal but is sometimes necessary; is sometimes thrust upon us. Conflict is ugly. But then again, Freedom isn’t pretty.

The invasion of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan even our own Civil war were all ugly, brutal, conflicts. But at the heart of each was the simple belief that a people, any people, have the right to form their own future; that they have the right to design their own destiny. The idea that a governing body can inflict their plan on the people it governs will always result in conflict. Rather it is the people, who by right and by design, should be inflicting their plan upon the governing body; the government itself being merely a tool of the people and not visa versa. Conflict, rebellion, war, espionage; these are all ugly concepts. But every time a people has claimed or defended their freedom, one or more of these has been involved. Freedom is a concept so pure, so necessary, and so innate to our mortal being that most of us would have it, or die trying to obtain it. And once held, we would rather die defending it for ourselves and our loved ones rather than relinquish the sweet existence of a free people. Freedom is wonderful, and amazing and truly awe inspiring. Freedom is the stuff of anthems, of epics, of myth and of legend. But Freedom isn’t free and Freedom isn’t pretty.