Since September 11, 2001, Independence Day in the United States has been especially poignant.  Therefore, following the most horrific terrorist attacks in our nation's history, a growing patriotism swept our land, the likes of which had not been seen since World War II.  But somewhere along the way, it seems as though the patriotism of the American public has taken a downturn.  Thus now, as many of our nation's citizens are embroiled in military conflict in tumultuous nations far from our borders, fighting to preserve and protect the freedom we hold so dear, it is important that we always remember what it is our young people are fighting and dying for.  No, it is not for a particular presidential administration or primarily for Republicans or Democrats, but rather these brave men and women fight, and die, for the whole of the American public.  If this is understood, our patriotism as a nation will always be strong, despite our individual political leanings or personal opinions about the machinations of government.  We must, I believe, learn to view patriotism through the eyes of our children.  We should, as Jesus commanded, make ourselves as children in order to adaquately feel and appreciate the loss of every single American life.  For children, unlike adults, have no political agenda.  They sadden over all loss of life.  They desire security and look up to those who are brave, strong, and willing to provide them with it.  And without the U.S. military fighting to protect our children and their future, this security would be impossible to maintain.

Put down your picket signs, drop your political agendas and double-speak, and view war for what it is: death to two different peoples.  We must not desensitize ourselves to the point where death is just numbers on a casualty list.  Look instead at the issue as would a child...with a tear in his eye and the horror at the capability of mankind.  If we all softened just a little bit, we would be better off.  And yes, that includes the radicals, for I'm not foolish.  Maybe I'm sometimes idealistic, but when I look at my son as he accidently catches the glimpse of something terrible on the evening news, I know that that is why Jesus told us to be like children.  Children, in their innocence, might very well know more about the purpose of our lives in this world than the adults who have gone colorblind with regard to issues of life and death.  The world is not black and white, and God's covenant, the rainbow, is evidence of this.  Disaster, war and death has many shades of color.  It's time the world begin a second phase of evolution...one where we work harder towards progress than hoarding resources and destroying other societies.  Am I wrong?