by Larik Sonfar

Created on: May 23, 2008

To date, more than an estimated forty-two million three hundred forty-eight thousand four hundred and sixty patriots have fought under the banner of freedom. Each one of these heroes stood on a path. A path of choice. For each one of them, one small step back would've meant the warm shelter of home, and the unconditional love of family. But each one of these heroes chose the path forward, chose their duty to freedom over their own personal comfort. An estimated six-hundred and fifty-one thousand and eight died on that path. That's six-hundred and fifty-one thousand and eight men and woman who made the ultimate sacrifice so that here today, you and I could have our freedom.

But as I remember their service and I look around, I see that people have forgotten. The very freedoms that our servicemen paid for with the ultimate sacrifice are now nothing more than tools of politicians to use in empty stump speeches, mere words of nothingness for children to memorize for vocabulary tests.

For me, the word "freedom" could never become merely a word. The motive forever etched in the graves of our servicemen should never be taken for granted. What most Americans don't realize is just how unique America is, just how important our freedoms are. Born in China, I have that realization. Today, being here in the United States, blessed enough to have the freedoms of America, there is not one day I would go without demonstrating my freedom.

What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular. These two famous lines, posted in classrooms across the world, are a perfect reflection of the value of our freedom. In a democracy, in America, we have the right to speak out for justice, to take the stand for what is right.

In my everyday life as a high school student, I try to do just that. When I see an act of wrongdoing, I speak out. Whether it's an act of my friends at school or an act of America's leaders in Washington, injustice is injustice, and it's my freedom, my duty, to speak out.

Sometimes, demonstrating my freedom means being able to stand up in a crowd of people chanting no and say yes. Sometimes, demonstrating my freedom means starting a club at school to fight for the things I believe in. During last year's Presidential Elections, I realized the importance of government, but even more importantly, I understood, for the first time, just how important voicing our beliefs is. Because of that, I joined a group of my like-minded peers, and together we formed a club driven by the sole purpose of voicing our thoughts, and promoting our freedom.

In high school now, as a member of Young Democrats and Speech and Debate, I regularly voice my thoughts, even when it's against the leaders of the club, even when it's against the majority of the club. I do so and I can do so because in America, speaking out is a duty and speaking out is a freedom, my freedom.

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