BYBS: Freedom

I've had two mind-blowing experiences in as many days. The first time, I was listening to a story about some people who had served in Iraq, were being criticised for making negative comments about how the war was conducted, the policies leading up to it, etc. The part that blew my mind was that some other people had blogged about how the first group were traitors or cowards for having made such remarks. I don't know much about what it's like to serve in Iraq, since I have not been there, nor have I even served in the military. By all accounts that I've heard, it is an extremely difficult thing to do. So whatever I think of the conflict the policies that lead up to it, etc. I have a great deal of gratitude and respect for those who did serve. I feel that such people have earned the right to say whatever they want about my country. When someone else calls such people traitors or cowards, I don't just find it difficult to comprehend, it makes me angry. The second thing that just floored me was talking to a friend of mine who had gone to West Point. I asked him about the story. He said "Yeah, it sounds like those people [who called the soldiers names & whatnot] are crazy, but, it's their right to be able to do that." The thing is, I absolutely agree with him. Freedom means basically that, you can be an asshole if you want. You can say crazy shit. The reason why is because you're only an asshole from MY perspective. It is I who think what some people are crazy. Freedom means freedom for EVERYONE, not just for what I happen to think is right.