What is Freedom?
( AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Brynne Shaw)July 4th 2008 had a greater impression on me than any other that I can remember. Then again, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning. What is Freedom? This has been one of the hardest questions for me to define and truly appreciate. The above image is of my family (minus Dustin Grella) I love this picture. My mother is holding my arm with my brother Drew Grella and my pillar of a dad, Dennis Grella in the far back. My other brother Devin Grella is in the forefront wrapped in the ultimate symbol of Freedom, the American flag.
There are so many attempts at the definition. Google gives 37 swings at defining it as well as pages of links to countless articles and sites referencing “what is freedom”. Here in America we have the right to say we are free. Free to act, to think, to practice, to live the way we want to. I wonder if anyone who’s freedoms are suppressed in some third world country or under a communist regime would know the definition of freedom. I would bet they know what it isn’t. Even though we say we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, do we live as if we do? My brother, PFC Grella, died in the name of freedom in Qayarrah, Iraq September 6, 2004. If I ever figure out how to put soundbites on this blog I will have to play a clip that he took just outside of Fallujah during a real live gun fight where he expressed his last recorded words. Devin is my hero but he is not the only person who has given their life for freedom. Why are some willing to die for this precious gift? There is a pretty popular country song that totes the lyrics, “I don’t want to die for you but if dying is asked of me, I’ll bear that cross with honor cause freedom don’t come free, I’m an American Soldier” That is why, because freedom is not free and some people have realized that.
I personally feel that freedom is much deeper than each of tend realize. One politician said that it is easy to take liberty (freedom) for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. That is probably the case for most of us. That is why I want to share with you my thoughts on this topic…don’t take it for granted! I feel freedom is finding your God given purpose and pursuing it with a passion and fortitude of persistence. Look at how our country was founded. A bunch of rebels (some with wooden teeth) who took a stand for a better way of life. A few men that dared to dream of a better tomorrow. We are living their vision, dancing on the stage of their legacy. What is your legacy? My definition of freedom is more than words or a pretty definition, it is a reason. I choose to live my life in a way so that the spilt blood of people like my brother will not be shed in vain. It would be my dream, that just one person dare to find their purpose and move closer to it every day.
There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought. ~Charles Kingsley (an english novelist)
If you want to know more about Devin, I attached a decent link from the military http://www.militarycity.com/valor/343912.html.
This is a video put together by the talented Tristen Kasten-Krause and Dustin Grella. I think Drew had a lot to do with it too. Pretty cool.
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Comments
Darrin – very thoughtful and moving post, and deeply moving and emotional photo. Thank you for sharing. I can only imagine what your family has been through and I for one am grateful for your brother’s service. Your post really hit home.
D – Thanks for sharing this personal story. The pride you have in your brother and family is inspirational. – Ron
Darrin, this is an awesome blog that I will forward on to others to view. Part of my Christian walk today has been rethinking this idea of freedom today and how we have manipulated the cause of Christ to create an excuse for redemptive violence. I want to share with anyone else who reads this the title of a book that has been helping me rethink politics and war from a standpoint as a sold-out follower of Jesus. It is titled “Jesus for President” by Shane Claiborne. I never met your brother Devin but I have met the rest of your family, I think, and I can tell why is so greatly missed. Love you brother, and keep bringing it. One of the most powerful things God gave us is an imagination to rethink the world today throuh the eyes of Jesus. Its more powerful than any WWJD bracelet or bumper sticker.
As an ex-military and current freedom seeking man, I appreciate this blog. I am deply saddened by our military commander but Devin was doing the right thing by protecting our freedoms. It caused major chaos when a war came to our soil (9/11). We should all be thankful that the innocent victims are primarily over seas. I am personally looking forward to exercising my freedoms and helping others do the same through Mona Vie from now to infinity. The difference between the common citizen and those that have true freedom is money. With more dollars, more opportunities become available, Mona Vie is a way for those people who want more to get more. THANK YOU DEVIN AND DARRIN!! AND THANK YOU TO ALL MILITARY FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TILL TODAY AND THOSE WHO WILL DEFEND NEXT!!!!!
Darrin — great comments. Because freedom and sacrifice are impossible to quantify, it may be difficult to ever truly grasp what Devin did for his country and for the people of Iraq. But I can tell you what it did for me — I wouldn’t be where I am today (physically and figuratively) without him and his example. While attending his funeral, I knew then and there that I needed to join the military — for me, my family and my country. For that, I will be eternally grateful — and I like to think the feeling is shared by the Airmen I help on a daily basis.
I worked with Devin at Sterling Jewelers for about a year and I was wondering how the family was doing. But I was rather disgusted to see how this post celebrates the corrupt officials and ideologies that ultimately destroyed Iraq and cost your brother his life. Please dont forget that Ronald Reagan funded and supported Saddam Hussien during the 1980s as well as many other murderous regimes in the “name of freedom.” I mean, this is not a right wing or a left wing issue. People such as Pat Buchanan from the right to Dennis Kucinich on the left verify this taboo truth. Maybe your readers should google “Shaking Hands with Saddam” and see the declassified documents stored at George Washington University’s database. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/ Bottom line Darrin, the USA will get into bed with any disgusting dictator it needs to in order to further its corrupt ends. I hope people really wake up one day and realize that if people dont start standing up to these corrupt officials that rule the USA, more and more people will be their victims. BTW, your brother went to Iraq because Jenna and Laura Bush didn’t have to. Don’t forget that.
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