Freedom 365

Every July 4th there is always a lot of talk about saluting our women and men in uniform who defend our freedom. And we do owe them our gratitude. Each of us, however, military or civilian, has a role to play. Gaining and protecting our freedom is best done off the battlefield, picking up arms being our last resort.

Our freedom as individuals and as a nation has it roots in understanding and basic civility. When I say understanding, I am not referring to some maudlin, soap opera, bleeding heart kind of thing. I am talking about being interested enough in our neighbors, fellow citizens, and people with whom we share this planet, to make it our objective to see things from their point of view. Ignorance is at the root of war. Ignorance of other cultures, and ways of doing things that are different from our own. It is far easier to close our minds and coast on assumptions than to engage with people we don't understand. When we close our minds to other perspectives, we seal our fate, entombing ourselves in mistrust and misunderstanding that crystallize into raw hatred, which drives us to commit unspeakable acts in the name of freedom.

Universe, let us put down our guards and our guns and love our neighbors as ourselves by opening our minds and hearts to understanding and civility, to the possibility that ours is not the one and only right way. (I've heard it said that war is an acronym for We Are Right.) It is a noble goal, to free our minds from the chains of ignorance not just today but 365 days a year. May it be so. Amen.