However, undaunted we tackle this chore with all our abilities. As we lay out
our plan, we make lists, we prioritize our desires, we ascribe value, we
access worth and we call forth all of our experience in our decision-making.
It is important that we exhaust all our talents in gift purchasing because,
in the global marketplace, we will compete with the entire world for the
rarest of goods. Americans need to educate themselves on the true treasures
in our world.
One day we may find ourselves in a unique out-of-the-way antique store, and
on the counter of the near-empty store will sit two fetching, beautifully
wrapped gifts, one labeled "Peace," the other labeled "Freedom." We will have
enough money to purchase only one. Which gift will we buy?
"Peace" is a very popular gift, especially at this time of year. Peace always
looks good, even to the common man. Peace is a semi-rare gift that is not
available in every country. A cheap, imitation peace was produced in the old
Soviet Union; however, the quality was always suspect, and it was never as
good as the American-produced peace.
The Soviet-bloc countries all produced their own peace knock-offs. Polish,
Czechoslovakian, Romanian and Hungarian peace were highly touted by Western
socialists, but never acquired good reputations with Western capitalists, who,
as it turned out, proved to be a better judge of genuine peace.
An artificial peace is still being produced in Cuba and China, but these are
of an embarrassing and inferior quality. Oddly, Western socialists are
still trying to enhance the value of this bogus peace with specious claims,
probably in an effort to flood the global marketplace and lower the overall
value of authentic peace.
Peace can be expensive. Many concessions must be given in exchange for peace,
and even the counterfeit peace can prove to be extremely costly. However,
peace is frequently favored as a gift because it makes the giver look very
noble. Many tyrants wore the cloak of the peace giver.
"Freedom" is an immensely expensive gift, which is extremely difficult, if
not an impossible gift, to obtain. While freedom is popular, its demands are
too costly for most common men, and, while many claim to want freedom, few
people throughout history have been willing to surrender the personal wealth
needed to obtain it.
Authentic freedom is recognized only by the discriminating eye of one who
knows the true value of peace and freedom. Freedom is extremely rare and
may only last a little over 200 years if acquired. It can slowly
evaporate if you lose your nerve, heart, backbone or brain. Freedom is the
greatest asset used to acquire health, wealth and happiness; however, this
also, requires independence, faith, hard work and constant vigilance against
those jealous enough to rob you of your freedom but not courageous enough to
maintain their own.
The rare choice between peace and freedom was played out in a scene in the
movie "Braveheart." In their fight for freedom, Scottish soldiers were
outnumbered 10,000 to 2,000. Scottish rebel William Wallace addressed his
soldiers: "I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of
tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will
you do without freedom? Will you fight?"
"No, the English are too many. We will run and live," came the answer.
"Yes,
fight and you may die, run and you will live ... at least a while," says
Wallace. "And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to
trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance to come back here
as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they will
never take our freedom?"
A difficult choice, perhaps: A high price, absolutely. But have you ever
thought to answer the question: "What will you do without freedom?"
You may e-mail Joan at
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.