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GUEST COLUMN: Celebrate service today

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By Dan Holst | Thursday, July 3, 2008 9:01 PM CDT | () comments

Independence. Liberty. Freedom. Each word different, yet so much the same. Each sacred meaning raised the ire of our revolutionaries, and each ideal spirited from the brows of America’s founders.

Yet I wonder how each person relates to those words today. In America’s darkest age liberty was the right to own and beat slaves, not for individuals to build their lives upon personal character and strength.

During World War II, German independence called for the ethnic cleansing.

Freedom has been the muster call of criminals around the world — freedom to do what they wanted, when they wanted, and to whom they wanted.

What are these words? Why are they used so much for personal gain? Some look at independence and stop at the letter I. When did the fulfillment of the American dream stop at our doorsteps? When did our endowed rights stop at our needs?

A religious question often asked is, “If God is so loving, why does the world suffer?” The answer is that God doesn’t allow it, we do! We are the cause of suffering; we hold back the means to correct it. Our pride, our greed, our lust, but not my problem as long as my entertainment sustains me.

Independence, Liberty, Freedom. These words apply to, but reach beyond individual aspirations. The greatest aspect of personal achievement is to serve others: police officers, firefighters, soldiers, clergy, even politicians.

As a nation, our highest ideal was once our nation. Now, it seems to be just ourselves.

Be proud, but while we bathe in personal pride, remember people need us. The American flag sees no color, hears no accent, tastes no wealth, bows to no one, but reaches down to lift our hearts, our lives, and our spirits to the ideal that strengthened ordinary lives from Jefferson and Lincoln to those making history today.

To love America is to love its ideals and its people, even when you don’t personally agree.

Live and honor America!

Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Dan Holst of Bettendorf served 21 years, including four tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.