Freedom

I was asked once, in the heat of a debate with a large group of people, what do I think freedom is.

I gave my answer, clearly and honestly and without any hesitation. I believe freedom is the right to free speech, to own land, to bear arms, and to vote without others knowing who Ive voted for.

I was told, after that statement, that I was being too literal, reading it right out of a book, not being sincere, a mere regurgitation of what I'd heard before.

Maybe if I had been more eloquent about my words and said: "My freedom is to be able to purchase any kind of jam or jelly I want, and be offered as many as I want," than maybe they would've listened to me. But I'm saying it now, in whatever words I want.

My freedom is to speak my mind and have no concerns about the safety of myself or my family. To make friends with whomever I chose and have no need to worry about political or religious orientations. To have a free market where if I have the money and wish to purchase something, I may do so without my governments consent, and if I so chose to own a legal weapon for the safety of my family and myself. And the freedom to love whom I wish how I wish and have as many children (or the lack there of) as I wish.

I don't understand why I was chastised for my views on freedom, but I do know this, if anyone ever attempts to take them away from me, I will fight, and it will be a fight to recon with.

Remembered

I was doing a lot of remembering today, talking to some friends about school (while I was in Germany) all the outrageous phone calls Id make on a daily basis, but I remembered something that I never thought about before.

At a party my host family went to there was this family with a girl about seven years old and they came over and introduced themselves and the little girl said "Hallo."

I responded with, "Hi!"

After a little conversation I remember hearing the little girl ask what "Hi" meant and her mother explaining that I was American and it means hello in America.

Id love to meat that little girl again. Id love to go back.

STUPID

I did a stupid thing today.

I went through the pictures of all you guys, from the year. my year.

Its weird to think of but Ive been home for... three months now.

And looking at all the pictures of all you guys didn't help me out.

I wish anne louise had left hers up. Hers were the best. The best of the best.

I miss the people. Not really the places as much, but the people I talked to and got to know. As hard as it was, its easier than now.