THE MARK OF LIBERTY

    The events of Sunday January 30th, 2005 should go down in history as the rebirth of a nation, a nation at last free from tyranny and and taking its first baby steps toward democracy.  While we mourn the price we as a nation had to pay to help reach this momentous day, we should still realize that although the price was high, the mark of liberty, the purple finger of an Iraqi, gives our loss incredible value.   While the loss of our loved ones cause pain and grief, it should also bring to each of us incredible pride and solace for we the American people have helped to provide freedom to a part of the world which had not known any freedom for decades.  Will it last, will this fledgling attempt at democracy withstand the onslaught of those who would bring it down?  Who knows? Certainly not I and probably not anyone except maybe God or the Creator or whomever you choose to believe in.   The good news is this my friends.   Without the efforts of our fine young men and women in our military that purple thumb, that mark of liberty would not exist and any hope of democracy i Iraq or anywhere else would not have a prayer.  That is something you can indeed be proud of.  Thank you American and coalition forces for standing tall and bringing the opportunity for democracy to the Iraqi people.