"Freedom Fighters???"

America is supposed to be the freest nation in the world, and the defender of freedom for all of those who seek freedom. Where do these roots of freedom come from? What heritage do we have in seeking freedom? Has America ever sent out our troops to gain territory to annex to our nation?

How many of you remember the Stamp Act? This act was passed by the English Parliament on March 22^nd of 1765 and it was a tax on pamphlets, newspapers, almanacs and legal and insurance documents; none of the American colonists wanted this imposed tax. On August 14, 1765, some men from Boston rioted against this illegal tax; they were known as “the Sons of Liberty”, they were freedom fighters. John Adams and Paul Revere were members of this group dedicated to freedom; they were also freedom fighters.

In Texas, from February 23, 1836 until March 6, 1836 a battle took place that spawned a phrase that every Texan knows by heart, “Remember the Alamo!” During that battle a small band of Texans fought against an overwhelming hoard of Mexican troops led by President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana. This small band of freedom fighters held off over 1500 of Mexico’s finest troops, killing over 500 before falling to the aggressors; approximately 200 Texas freedom fighters died protecting their country.

We hear the words “freedom fighters” thrown around in a pretty casual way today. How can we define what a “freedom fighter” is supposed to be? During WWI, American and Allied troops were freedom fighters because they deposed aggressors who had invaded lands and taken nations by force from their citizens. Americans did the same thing during WWII; once again they were freedom fighters who only looked to liberate oppressed people.

This week in Texas, the home of the Alamo, at Lumberton High School, a geography class was being taught about Muslims and the Islamic culture. Some students in this class were given the opportunity to wear Muslim garb as the teacher brought burqas for the girls to try on. I don’t have a problem with studying other cultures, but I do have a problem with calling terrorists “freedom fighters”. This was an instruction from the teacher of this class!

On 9/11, it wasn’t freedom fighters who murdered 3,000 innocent Americans; it was TERRORISTS!!! If we begin to soften what these people are doing, we open a door that we won’t be able to close, and the enemy will suddenly become palatable to the American people.

We have reached the ultimate in “Political Correctness” when we are afraid to insult the feelings of those who wish to destroy our society. These people are seeking to take our freedoms away by force and impose their fanatical religious beliefs on us. Does this goal qualify someone to be a FREEDOM FIGHTER? Were NAZIS freedom fighters, or Mussolini’s fascists freedom fighters?

If I was a resident of Texas, I would be pretty unhappy about my state’s education standards, I’ll bet Sam Houston, Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett would be a little upset too!!!