It’s Memorial Day. A day to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom, liberty, and way of life. Some just like to celebrate a three-day weekend with barbecues or soaking up a little sun at the beach. Others attend parades and memorials hosted at cemeteries. Whatever the chosen activity, one thing is for sure: This year, Memorial Day will be one for the history books as people remain locked up inside their homes, and festivities are canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Liberty Nation’s James Fite explained, we have been gradually losing our liberties for a while now. The hard-won freedoms for which hundreds of thousands of American service members gave their lives have been chipped away. During the Coronavirus crisis, proof of this fact is clear for all to see, if one is brave enough to open one’s eyes.
In just three short months, Americans have seen many of their freedoms suspended with no idea when – or if – they will be restored. Citizens are being arrested and fined for opening their businesses and trying to work to put food on the table. State lawmakers, drunk on the power they’ve squandered, are imposing still more restrictions. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, for example, threatening to build a fence to keep New Yorkers away from their beaches. People are losing their jobs, businesses are closing their doors for good, and children cannot attend school. The faithful are not allowed to worship in church, the economy is being strangled, and families cannot hold funerals for their deceased loved ones. Unemployment has soared, and seniors cannot attend graduation. On and on it goes. But that isn’t the scariest part of this pandemic. What’s terrifying is all the people who so easily give up the freedoms and liberties that so many others have died to protect.
Too many people drank the Kool-Aid in the flavors of easy acceptance and surrender. The media has hammered in the fear factor so much that citizens are afraid to check their mail or go to a grocery store without donning face masks, gloves, and whatever else they think will protect them from a virus. All of this despite the inconsistency of reports and confusion among the so-called experts. The pandemic lockdown prevents us from honoring the fallen in our traditional ways while cemeteries filled with brave soldiers remain quiet – the gates locked to keep us out and prevent us from showing our respect.
What would these warriors think of America shutting down because of a virus with a greater than 98% recovery rate? Of people receiving more in unemployment benefits than those out working on the so-called front lines? Of a mom arrested, thrown in jail, and fined for opening her business while thousands of criminals are released from prisons, supposedly to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Of the homeless being sheltered in hotels and illegal immigrants given relief payments while Americans lose their homes? And, how would they feel knowing that they gave their lives to protect liberty and freedom only to see how quickly it can be thrown away – blindly and willingly?
This year, as we remember the sacrifice of our military men and women, let us also hope that 2020 does not end up becoming the year Americans permanently lost their freedom.
~
Read more from Kelli Ballard.
