Citizen Soldiers: The Non-Violent Protestors Who Protect Our American Freedoms
A lesson in understanding patriotism, enlisted, and un-enlisted: On the heels of this passed Veteran’s Day, I am in great reflection. Like many, my newsfeed was filled with pictures of my fellow citizenry in noble uniforms from their time of military service. These living heroes stood up to answer the call, valiantly helping to insure the freedoms, prosperity and lifestyles we enjoy in American culture. Truthfully, there should be more than one day set aside for the honor of their courage and sacrifices for the benefit of all.
In my newsfeed, I saw current soldiers and former, who served in almost every conflict, from the Korean War, Vietnam War, the first and second Iraqi Wars, plus Afghanistan. It was good to see an American populace, which largely takes its freedoms for granted, reflect on those who insure it. I joined them in that reflection.
During this contemplation, I began to note all of the high plateaus of character these individuals embody; courage, spirit, resolve, uncanny fearlessness, willingness to run right into harm’s way, strong sense of brotherhood-sisterhood for those who stand with them, facing the threat of real killers who have proven their willingness to harm them. Yet, even as bodies fall and blood flows, they stand on principle willing to resist with every tool and strategy they have. For me. And for you.
After I looked beyond the noble ‘uniform’ of the soldiers of the armed forces and into the core heart and character of them, I noticed another section of our society standing in “unison formation” with them. I noticed that both populations were staunch protectors of our freedoms.
The non-violent American Protestor is often vilified by media and (the unaffected populations of the) American citizenry. These social disruptors are often seen as only ‘disruptors’ instead of recognized for their willingness to stand against elements in our society who are disrupting American principle.
We’ve seen thousands and thousands of protestors in recent years pour into the streets, onto bridges, highways and into city squares to let their concerns be known –– in the wake of what seems like a police brutality epidemic –– leaving countless, vulnerable, unarmed American citizens dead.
We’ve all seen the famous photo of the young African-American woman, protestor, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dressed in beautiful attire, standing in defiant peace, inches away from anxious riot police in military gear and loaded weaponry –– ready to kill an enemy where there wasn’t one. She was calm, she was not militant, she was not covered in armor, she was not armed, she didn’t need to be. She stood covered in rock solid American principles, while her militarized local neighbors stood on the other side of those principles.
This one lone woman, protesting the killing of Alton Sterling, easily a mother, a wife, a daughter, embodied everything I described when I envisione American military personnel standing in war fields to insure our freedoms.
In her, I saw courage, spirit, resolve, uncanny fearlessness, willingness to run right into harm’s way, a strong sense of brotherhood-sisterhood for those who stand with her in the cause of justice, facing the threat of real killers who have proven their willingness to destroy unarmed citizens. Yet, even as body-counts rose and blood flowed in cities around her, she, untrained and unarmed, stood fearlessly on principle willing to resist the opposers of American freedoms, opposers of true American justice, with every tool and strategy she had in the resolve of her heart.
She, and those like her, past and present, stood on the frontlines of justice at home, while our soldiers stand on the frontlines of justice abroad. Patriotism and love of country is not only proven through the valiant medals on our uniforms, but the valiant metal of our hearts.
I’d like to personally thank this unnamed woman for preserving my freedom as I thank every soldier who stood to preserve the same. They are all the defenders of American principles and the truest embodiments of real patriotism. For me. And for you.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
