He is a poor patriot whose patriotism does not enable him to understand how all men everywhere feel about their altars and their hearthstones, their flags and their fatherland.
Harry Emerson Fosdick
Freedom is still expensive. It still costs money. It still costs blood. It still calls for courage and endurance, not only in soldiers, but in every man and woman who is free and who is determined to remain free. Harry S. Truman
We live free to choose for ourselves our careers, our education, our worship and our ethics. We are free to criticize our government, military and police force. We can discuss the wrongs of the world in public without fear of imprisonment. We are free, even, to leave the country and live somewhere else if we so choose. In this, we are among the lucky ones of the world.
I hope you understand and appreciate the gift from men and women who believed in liberty enough to fight and die for it. Liberty is not now, nor has it ever been free. Worldwide peace will only be achieved when all men are free to think and choose for themselves, and can choose peace.
You may be called upon to defend the freedom or rights of someone. You may witness bullying, victimizing or other aggressive acts designed to reduce freedom. I hope you will be willing to stand up for the rights of everyone, speaking out for freedom from fear and mistreatment in behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
You may also be called upon to respect differences in culture, temperament and worship. There are people in the world who think very differently than you. Their values may be incomprehensible to you.
I pray that you will have the wisdom to understand the difference between culture differences and culturally accepted atrocities. I pray that you will have the courage to act when necessary. I pray that you will have the respect to allow everyone to choose his own morals and ethics.
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