TEA, Anyone?

This may seem odd for a Memorial Day post. Actually, this post has taken on many incarnations since it started percolating in my head. Hope I don't have to make it a two-parter. I hope I can pull the whole thing together.

I know some of you aren't going to agree with me. That's OK. In fact, that is kind of what this is all about.

Memorial Day is to honor the military who have died in service. It started as a Civil War celebration but was later expanded to include all wars.

There has been a very obvious movement over the last year or so in the political world. The TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party. They have protested certain things and supported others, but they have been very vocal in their beliefs.

And that's fine with me. I don't have to agree with them but I will absolutely defend their right to say it.

Some of what they have been saying, and I myself have said here, is coming true. We've seen incumbent politicians being voted out of office of late. The word is finally getting out. "Career Politician" should be an oxymoron. Unfortunately that phrase is typically only half right. It is time for a true change in the way our country is being run.

That statement is not aimed at the President. It it aimed at the whole kit and caboodle.

We have some serious problems in this country. You and I may not agree exactly on what they are, but I daresay everyone reading this would agree with that statement. Change, of some sort, is necessary.

But what does that have to do with Memorial Day, you ask?

Plenty. Let's go back to the very first folks who died in military service to this country. The Revolutionary War. Those men died for our freedoms. Every war since has been in defense of those freedoms. In some cases our citizens died fighting in countries that currently disagree with our political outlook on things.

People died so that we could have a representative government. Died so that if we speak out against that government we don't have to fear a knock on the door in the dead of night. Died so that the people could have a real say in how this country was run.

And it is working.

People can speak up. They can freely protest the Arizona Immigration Law if they choose. They can vote out a politician that is no longer representing their beliefs and values. They can express their opinion on out of control spending or taxes or social programs.

Anything and everything they don't like they can say.

All because men (and women later on) believed in it so much they were willing to die for it.

Remember, most of the wars in which this country has participated were fought by volunteers. Men who in believed in State's rights over the federal government. Men who wanted to stop dictators and communism. Men who believed that this way, our way, of life was the best way to live.

In some other countries, I couldn't write this. In some simply because I'm female. In others because I disagree with our government. In some, just because.

So it is important for us to remember, every day not just the last Monday in May, that we live a free life because of the sacrifices of many men and women. We can hold our parades and our protests. We can speak up or remain silent.

We have choices.

So, whether or not you agree with the TEA Party movement, or any other movement, we have to respect the right to move.

Without it, we are nothing.

Happy Memorial Day. Thank a solider if you see one. Hug him if your can. Pray for the safety of those still fighting.

Remember, above all, the ones who didn't make it home. You can thank them in your prayers tonight.

And while you're at it, thank them for the freedom to pray at all.