Our fairly new television station airs programs of interest specifically to Alaskans. I have found many interesting documentaries and programs being aired on this station whenever I've sat down and took a look-see.
This morning we watched a show about Canada's World War II Veteran's "Lest They Be Forgotten." (More show times and more "Lest They Be Forgotten" programs).
I appreciated being able to watch as these honorable veteran's remembered their part in that war. They encouraged us to remember their buddies and chum's who lost their lives during that conflict. It is a good thing - to observe the two-minute silence held on November 11th, each year in honor of all those fallen, brave men. We should stand at respectful attention lest we forget what they and all our veterans secured for us - freedom from a dictator. They forged on ahead to this likely death - so willingly!
Mom reminded me of the Bible verse: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Thank you to our "friends."
And thanks 360 North for showing such a fine documentary.
Aren't we all saddened to see the awful treatment one human being can inflict on another? Inhumane treatment was at an evil extreme inside the concentration camps of World War II.
I wanted to find a website on how many WW II veterans still remain alive today. I did a Google search and got side-tracked at REMEMBER.ORG, a website for the holocaust victims of WW II instead. Then and Now. The website has a collection of artwork created by concentration camp survivors. Stop by to view this exhibit of artwork along with actual photographs of the places they survived.
Author Terrence Des Pres described it as an "excremental assault" and wrote: "How much self-esteem can one maintain, how readily can one respond to the needs of another, if both stink, if both are caked with mud and feces?" [Terrence Des Pres, The Survivor: An Anatomy of Life in the Death Camps (Pocket Books: New York, 1976) p. 66.]
As I sat and listened to these guys and women speak of freedom, I began to think... what is freedom and do I realize what I have? I have thought of this before and don't ever want to stop thinking on this.
So I asked myself again... what is freedom to me?
It is going to sleep at night, turning off the light and knowing when I wake up in the morning there will be --- breakfast to be made. Dogs to be cared for. Bills to be paid. Air to be breathed. Beavers to be watched. Birds to listen to. Grandchildren to laugh with. Education, when I want it, where I want it. My God worshipped when and how I know is right. All these things done without someone with more power holding a club over me, demanding his/her way any of these should be done --- or not done. Freedom is so much more than what I think everyday! It's like breathing... we all should have that right, we die when we are not free.
After viewing the concentration camp art exhibit, I am even more aware of the many, many freedoms I enjoy each day. Clean water to drink, to wash in! I am thankful for these freedoms secured by men and women who gave up their freedom for a time.
I cannot speak of freedom and not mention that I am very thankful for the spiritual freedom secured by Jesus Christ giving up His own freedom. Freedom from the slavery I had to death - via sin is mine because of His sacrifice. Thank God for His willing Son! Because of the love Christ in us shows to all mankind, we are able to even be sane enough to remain free! Apart from Christ, all evil will be free to abound. He was the only Way our freedom from bondage could be won. All you have to do is believe it and you'll be made free too!
