Everyday bravery
Sometimes I think as the final Fourth of July firework fizzles away in the blackened sky our dedication to celebrating our daily freedoms expires.
It’s as if we become roaring fires for a single day, then turn into blackened embers waiting another 365 days for the lighter fluid, poured ever so liberally, to make us, once again, colossal flames of patriotic passion.
Often, when national disaster strikes, we light again. We become a united front, aimed at preserving our precious freedoms for another generation. This flame lasts longer than our flame on the Fourth, but it too dies.
What kind of society would we be if we made sure our patriotic flames never went out?
What could we accomplish if we worked every day to ensure our flames burned bright?
Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized the importance of keeping freedom alive in us.
“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men,” he said, “and so it must be daily earned and refreshed — else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”
However, preserving freedom often feels like a difficult, nearly impossible task. So many people have so many different definitions of what freedom means.
In fact, I bet no two people have an exactly identical idea of what it means to achieve personal independence.
Because of this, we must be brave in declaring our freedom. We must stand up and herald it, fight for it — truly believe in it. We must never forget the importance of the fight. We cannot stand idly by expecting freedom to fall and remain in our laps.
In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.”
So, for what freedoms should we cast aside our individual agendas to defend?
All are important, that’s why they shape our nation, however I have my favorites that I fight to defined.
Freedom of Religion.
So much depends on our ability to worship as we please. It takes an amazingly tolerant people to allow so many different religions a home in one country.
I know our country is not perfect. Persecution still exists and intolerance lives on. Sometimes, people are cast aside or rejected for their beliefs.
However, these are the exceptions — however bitter — that make us remember the importance of our freedom.
As a rule, we worship as we please. We never need to hide our beliefs or our practices.
Freedom of Speech.
Given the freedom of speech, individuals can safely share their opinions with the public. There are stipulations with this — you cannot infringe on anyone else’s freedom — but you do not have to remain silent.
Speak up, speak out. Feel free to be who you are wherever you are. In this country you have been blessed with the right to announce your thoughts. Be civil, but don’t be quiet.
There’s a safety in
Obviously, my list is not complete. Each person has their own freedoms they would fight for above any other.
Now that I have shared with you the freedoms I hold dear, I hope you’ll share with other’s the freedoms most importatnt to you.
I urge you to discover what yours could be. Once you do, don’t forget. Fight for them, live for them. Let your passion for them create a roaring fire for freedom inside of you.
Whatever you do, don’t let it die.
Don’t let your flame be smothered by popular opinion or political pressure. Do not let it flicker in the winds of doubt and hostility.
Be brave. Be bold. Be free.
Allie McCoy is the opinion editor for The Daily Universe. This viewpoint represents her opinion and not necessarily that of The Daily Universe, BYU, its administration or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
