A Lesson
To Learn
The train of freedom is rolling and
it's time to get on board
Commentary by Carleen Cairns
As I watched the elections in Iraq, the lump in my
throat became almost unbearable. I shed a tear or two for the people who risked death to
let their voice be heard. I cried for a people who for years have known nothing but
brutality, who long to throw off the shackles of pain, humiliation and of helplessness. I
cried for the sacrifice America has made to bring about the freedom for the people of
Iraq.
But most of all I cried for those in this country
who have stood squarely on the side of oppression. The ones who said, "America
couldn’t get the job done," who said, "our military was the problem in
Iraq," who said, "the people of Iraq would never vote for fear of
reprisals." I cried for those in this country who wanted to follow the lead of the
United Nations and Europe by turning a deaf ear to the cries of those living in fear, pain
and humiliation.
Our military has more than met each task given to
them, when people in this country said, "the fight for Iraq would be a blood
bath," our soldiers made the job look easy. When people said, "the elections
would never be held our soldiers provided a secure vote. Our President and our military
have much to be proud of today. They met the challenge head on; they turned aside the
negative words. The people of Iraq now stand one step closer to freedom, a freedom paid
for in blood. The only way true freedom can be acquired.
Instead of cheering on our young men and women and
our President many on the Left (Liberals or Democratic Party) continue to place negative
words as the main stumbling blocks on the long march to freedom and self-determination for
the people of Iraq. No words of praise met the ears of our young people in uniform. The
Left (Liberals or Democratic Party) could provide no words of encouragement for those
people in Iraq who risked their lives to cast their ballots.
On January 20th of this year, President
Bush basically told the world loudly and clearly any country desiring to throw off the
shackles of slavery and darkness could count on America to stand on their behalf. Did the
Left (Liberals or Democratic Party) in this country cheer and applaud the words of the
President; no they simply put forth the same old rhetoric of failure. America when guided
by strong and committed leadership is always a winner.
If the task of freedom had been given to John (stab
my fellow soldiers) Kerry, Ted (the red nose) Kennedy or Robert (the white sheet) Byrd,
the people of Iraq would still be living in darkness and oppression. If Michael
(can’t tell the truth) Moore and his Hollywood cronies had been successful the
torture chambers in Iraq would still be fully functional. Thankfully the President and the
people of this nation pushed forward to a vision of a free Iraq.
When President Bush took office this year,
oppressive governments around the world sat the edge of their seats, they begin to wonder
who would be the next to fall. The face of the Middle East will be changed forever;
freedom will come to the land of the oppressed. Light will shine forth, where only
darkness has prevailed. The people of Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia are watching very
closely the determination and commitment of the people of America.
Here in America we witnessed an event of such
historical proportions that it boggles the mind, free and open elections in Iraq. One
woman voting in Iraq said, "That since 1953 Iraq has been in darkness, today we stand
in the light." She proudly displayed her ink-stained finger that proved she voted. A
stain that could cost her; her life. Under the threat of death people in Iraq went to the
polls, they stood in long lines and for some they walked great distances through troubled
areas to vote. Yet they thumbed their noses and danced in the streets in defiance of death
threats and homicide bombers.
We know there are still problems in Iraq from those
who do not want freedom, who know freedom will end their reign of terror. But as the
people of Iraq keep pushing forward, those who wish them ill will eventually wither and
die. America once again stands tall and proud to the world, a light shining forth to the
dark. Light always overtakes the darkness. A new day is dawning all over the world.
For those of you in this country who think the job
can not be done, I say, the train of freedom is rolling along, either get on board or be
run down on the tracks. The choice will be yours. This President, our military and the
people of this nation will succeed in their mission with or without you. Your position of
doom and gloom has already been delegated to the ash heap of history.
Put aside your petty little self-righteousness and
realize there is something far greater than you at work here. What we see in this country
today and throughout the world was written in the heavens before the earth was ever
created. But then that is what really bothers you that you are not the gods you imagine
yourselves to be. President Bush doesn’t mind saying he spends time on his knees and
you are angry that he prays not to you. He doesn’t worship at the alter of
Liberalism, he worships at an alter far greater than you can ever imagine.
To the people of Iraq I say, you have inspired me,
despite your fear and trepidation you prevailed. I admire your hunger and thirst for
freedom, the lengths to which you will go to achieve your goals. And this is one American
who will continue to bang the drum of freedom for you.
To our military, I say you men and women are beyond
belief, the sacrifices you have made and the ones you are willing to make, to see others
live in freedom leave me breathless. Although you have much to be proud of, you are
humble. You stand as a thorn in the side of those who hate freedom. You are the reason we
sleep safely at night. I look at you and see the best in this country.
To President Bush, I say keep standing strong and
definitely spend time on your knees looking for the guidance you need to guide not only
this country but the world on it’s quest for freedom. You have been "anointed
and appointed for such a time as this."
To all of you who only have criticism for this
President and our military, I say, take a lesson from Thumper the Rabbit, "If you
can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all." The sound of your
silence will be music to our already overburdened ears.
