DEFEAT AMERICA By Michael Ashbury The United States was founded on the principle of freedom for all. Freedom of its citizens to pursue their vocation, their religion, and their lives as they saw fit. We accomplished this by escaping from the dictates of leaders, who through their use of absolute power could determine the path we followed, the god we prayed to, the person we married, how we raised our family, and the tribute we paid for their control over us. For almost two hundred years we followed this principle. When faced with tyranny from within and abroad we banded together to defeat the enemy that threatened our way of life. These principles led to success in every aspect of our lives and we prospered way beyond dreams of those around the world. Prosperity bred prosperity and it led to millions leaving the homes of their birth to share in the American experience. When called upon young men of all status, race and creed willing donned the uniform to protect the freedom their families had experienced and what they considered to be the heritage of their future. They willing placed their dreams on hold and even gave of their lives so that the rest of us could continue the freedom, which had been earned by the blood of those that had preceded them. Then something happened. For some reason individuals by the millions felt that they were merely entitled to these freedoms; that these freedoms were not worth fighting to protect. Liberals, intellectuals, media spokesmen, entertainers and others felt that it is best to lay down our arms and seek appeasement from all that would take away even the right they currently exercise to voice dissent. The appeasement sought only emboldens our enemy like a snake waiting in the grass to strike when it is to their advantage. If history has taught us anything it is that strength and the willingness to put our lives on the line when called for is the only way to defeat those that desire to defeat us. However, this willingness requires that we band together, with a solid front, as we did in World War II. The break in willingness that was exhibited in Vietnam and now in Iraq only exhibits our weakness and resolve. This lack of resolve for short term political gain of the few will only result in the decline of America as, it did for the dozens of major empires that preceded us around the world, and loss of the way of life we all cherish. Michael Ashbury Medford, NJ