Freedom from Fear

During World War II, artist Norman Rockwell painted the essence of American freedom. The series of four paintings illustrated two enumerated freedoms that are spelled out in the U.S. Constitution; Freedom of Worship and Freedom of Speech.

The other two freedoms are not ones written into the Constitution, found in the Bill of Rights, or spoken of in the Declaration of Independence. The other two were Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear. These two freedoms are inscribed on the hearts and minds of Americans and are enumerated by countless citizens who volunteer their time and money to anyone in need, whether it is the neighbor across the street or a neighbor across the world.

It is an idea enforced by the firefighter who runs into a burning building, regardless if it is a house on Main Street or a Tower in Manhattan. It is protected wherever an American soldier places his combat boot down on the parade ground in Ft. Benning, GA to graduate from boot camp or in a foreign land to tear down the prison of tyranny that has jailed others in want and fear that can be more solid than any iron bar or concrete block. Finally, it is enshrined in the clicking sound of the shoes of those who guard the Tombs of the Unknowns; the whispers of those who say a prayer in the chapel that replaced the offices destroyed by the plane in the Pentagon, or the soft rustle of flowers left on a sidewalk in New York or a field in Pennsylvania.

The battle we face today is one that started decades ago, but was only finally brought home to most Americans six years ago. It is the same battle faced by every generation of Americans. Every generation has been asked to answer a call to take up arms for freedom, not so the next generation will live in peace, but so the next generation will not be burdened by fear and want when it is their turn, their duty and their responsibility to hold up Freedom’s torch in a dark world. Unfortunately, as the years pass, many in America seem to be losing their resolve. They harp that the war is lost; not understanding the war is not in Afghanistan and Iraq. These places are just missions in a greater war. If these were the war, then we have already won.

The Taliban is out of power in Afghanistan, replaced with an elected President. Saddam Hussein and his sons are dead, replaced with an elected Parliament that is struggling to learn how to rule a nation. As the United States Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine provide arms of support, it is ultimately these new governments that will be responsible for securing the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity. But success there does not mean this war is over for us. The threat will not go away. Catching Bin Laden will not do it. Freeing Iran would not do it. It will only be accomplished when respect for freedom and self determination is recognized and enforced by freedom loving people the world over. This will require nothing less than the total and complete defeat of the terrorists and those who support them. Sticking our heads in the sand and wishing it will just go away will not solve the problem. Resolve, determination, and strength of purpose will.

Today we will place flowers, plaques and mementos to honor those who fell 2191 days ago. These symbols of remembrance, along with the retelling of the stories of those who risked their lives to save others will stir us. Our hearts will flutter and eyes tear up, even if we don’t know the people involved. We act this way because we know in our heart that people are worth dying for. We know it to be true in the deepest regions of our soul. It is engraved in our collective national spirit to the point that when we see or hear of someone’s self sacrifice, it's overwhelming. Our culture of life stands in stark contrast to the Culture of Death that will strap a bomb to a child so they can murder dozens of innocent people.

The Culture of Death must keep people in want and fear to have hope of surviving. A people who have nothing but want and live in nothing but fear will do anything for the hope of escape; even kill themselves and others for the hope of a trip to paradise. As Americans, we must remember that the greatest weapon we have in our arsenal of freedom is freedom itself.

Don’t just use today to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be around to remember them year later, but remember them and honor their sacrifice each and every day by making sure it was not in vain. We will never forget the day, but many have already long forgotten the lesson of that day. It is up to each of us to make sure our fellow Americans understand the attacks on September 11, 2001 were not just attacks on four concrete and steel targets, but attacks on those very Four Freedoms.

We will never truly know the fourth target was because the passengers on flight 93 had freedom from fear and exercised that freedom when they took their plane down. They held fast to their freedom to an end that was of their ultimate choosing. As long as Americans hold to their freedoms with as strong a conviction as those brave souls, we will continue to live in Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

Jason Shepherd
Chairman, Georgia Young Republicans