what freedom means

Even though I know my husband will not be happy when he finds out, I watched Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience because I have a desire for understanding and knowledge. One day my husband will have his own story to tell and I hope and pray that it is nothing compared to what the men and women in this documentary have to say. The media is doing the American people a great injustice for not telling us the truth of what it means to sign your rights away to the military. However, I do not believe that any one of us can truly understand what it means until we've had an AK pointed and fired at us. I think that every one of us should educate ourselves. The resources are out there. We need to stop believing that war is this Hollywood creation. These are OUR men and women, who are not anything different from us, out there making life changing decisions every day. The word "hero" is so small compared to these people who fight for our freedoms. It is so sad to me to hear these stories. I cried during each one. These stories are bigger than anything I had ever imagined. I've met people who have faced death and I have heard what life is like for them when they come home and have to adapt this a naive nation. It was saddening to hear that some men and women do not tell people that they've been to Iraq and Afghanistan because of the lack of knowledge so many people have. "Oh that's cool". No. It wasn't cool to anticipate being killed. It wasn't cool to take someones life even though you were sure they were not harmful. But the enemy does not have a face. Shoot or be shot at. Grateful doesn't even compare to how I feel.

Thank you to the men and women who are willing to make the biggest sacrifice for people who do not appreciate their freedom. Freedom to me means not having a story to tell.