Freedom

 What is freedom?  We have heard a lot about it and other words like "liberty", "independence" and "patriotism".  Are these old-fashioned concepts?  Do we take our freedom for granted?
 Anyone who has travelled to a Communist country will tell you about the different world without freedom.  Imagine someone checking your ID anytime they felt like it.  Or how about the government telling you what job you will have for the rest of your life?
 You can buy symbols for freedom in the USA.  Statue of Liberty Books, Liberty Bell T-shirts and posters with Rambo are just a few of the marketing ideas that have made money for enterprising people.  Where do you draw the line between showing your patriotism and buying a gimmick?
 No matter how you feel about presidents or politics; no matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent; and no matter what ethnic background is your own--the fact remains the same:  a lot of people died so that you could be here today.  If that sounds corny, maybe it is.  But maybe, we need to remember that the melting pot we call "America" is a place that we call "home".  We are free.  Don't take freedom for granted.