PRISONER EXPRESS

I've got a flag on the wall here in my prison cell. It's paper, but still... The police leave it alone. Pretend they don't see it. The rules say "nothin' on the walls." I don't think they want to go there.

That flag means something to me. I know what it represents and the costs we've paid in its honor.

I'm not sure that everyone who enjoys the freedoms it stands for do. I pity these people. I can't imagine what it would feel like to look at that red, white and blue symbol and NOT feel pride, respect, thankfulness, appreciation, sadness and something I can't quite nail down and put into words. All I know is it feels good, causes me to stand a little straighter. If you don't feel that way when you look at our flag then you're missing out, my friend.

I still remember looking forward to reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in grade school... "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." How profound are those closing words?! "One nation," the single greatest nation on this earth! "Under God," the absolute assurance and belief that God watches over this miraculous country. "Indivisible," a strength and unity so complete that no man and nothing can split it asunder. "With liberty," liberty, man! Freedoms unsurpassed by any other country in the world! "And justice," a solemn promise that our rights and freedoms will forever be protected and upheld. "For all," each and every man, woman and child, with at least one foot on our soil, can believe in and be whatever they so choose, as long as it causes no others harm. Now tell me that's not worth pledging your allegiance to?! You're damn right it is. The next time you see our flag think about what it stands for.

Then, think also of the many thousands of great heroic men and women who have fought and died, and those still bravely risking their lives to guarantee that these rights and freedoms remain available to all of us.

Not only for us, either. Our service members risk making the ultimate sacrifice so people living in other countries can be free of tyranny, torture, terror and subjugation to beliefs they don't even believe in.

I've heard people say we shouldn't be playing "global police." Is that right? Go ask the women who are now free to do something so basic as read if they think we were wrong. Ask the men, who no longer have to fear that their political opinions or religious beliefs will land them in prison to be tortured, maimed or killed if they think our soldiers lives have been sacrificed without purpose.

Still think we're wrong? Tell ya what, pick a country where we aren't making an effort to liberate oppressed peoples. There are many of them in dire need of assistance, pick one. How about Angola? Tyranny, war, famine, people forced to flee their native lands or be raped and killed. Will that one do? Alright, what I want you and all of your know-it-all friends to do is use your next bit of vacation time to fly your asses over to Angola. Spend a week or two with the thousands of homeless, starving refugees, then tell me someone doesn't need to intercede and get those innocent people their homes and lives back!

If, after having done this, and living through it, you still feel we should mind our own business, then my friend, I think you're the one that needs to be in this prison cell! To any servicemen or women out there that might be reading this I say stay strong, stand tall and proud, stay safe, and thank you for all you do! Peace, love and much respect, in you, to you and for you.