Fritz Pfister

Happy Memorial Day weekend. Excuse me while I digress from real estate for this weekly observation. The time has arrived to again remember those who have gone before us, and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for freedom, and for our way of life. I wonder what those people, who so dearly loved our country and freedom, those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that  we and others could be free, would think about the events of today?

What would they think about the unalienable rights granted to all men by their Creator; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as they are viewed today?

What about life? What would these fallen heroes think about our country legalizing through judicial fiat, the taking of the most defenseless, innocent lives? In excess of forty two million of these lives? For what reason would they ask? Primarily selfishness rationalized as choice. What would they think of a sitting president who agrees with this policy and who said “I wouldn’t want my daughters punished by a mistake.” Would these fallen heroes look upon innocent lives as mistakes?

What would our fallen heroes think about the protecting of America? Would they believe a president on two straight days would have to say to the American public;’I will not do anything that will not keep America safe.” The fallen heroes would ask why would an American president need to make such a statement? Because many believe the policies and positions of the president may very well be placing America in jeopardy.

What about liberty? What would these fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our liberty think about politicians that falsely say we have lost a war when our men and women are still in battle? Or compare our military to Nazi’s, Soviets, or Pol Pot? Or say that our intelligence agency that keeps us safe lied to them? A president that would meet with dictators and thugs who abhor our freedom, and way of life? A president that goes abroad and says America is arrogant, and that America is not a Christian nation? What would these fallen heroes think of such statements?

What about the protection of liberty that our founding fathers empowered with freedom of the press? What would our fallen heroes think of a media and press that were envisioned to be the watchdog of government becoming the lap dog of government? Of a major corporation owning numerous media outlets dictating their agenda instead of reporting the news? What would our fallen heroes think of the death of objective journalism in order to promote their personal agenda? What would these fallen heroes think of our local newspaper editors distorting the views of local citizens protesting government spending and taxation at tea parties, because it didn’t match their world view?

What about the pursuit of happiness? What would our fallen heroes think of a government that would dictate the firing of the head of a private company, take over that company, and dictate what product that company can manufacture? What would our fallen heroes think about a bureaucrat who would dictate the pay of employees that work in financial institutions? What would these fallen heroes think about governments assault upon the free market capitalist system that has produced prosperity unmatched throughout history providing for the betterment of the human condition?

Would our fallen heroes believe that our freedoms are being besieged by our very own government through onerous taxation from all levels of government and in every facet of American life? What would these fallen heroes think of the audacity of a president who says we cannot sustain deficit spending after he tripled spending that will shackle future generations in debt? Would these fallen heroes believe that our president punishes success and productivity through taxation to redistribute their earnings to others, as has been done in failed socialist countries where many of these fallen heroes are buried?

Yes, I wonder about what our ancestors, our founding fathers, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice we memorialize this weekend would think of what the American people are allowing to happen to their freedoms in our country today?  I wonder what people will do after Memorial Day to protect their rights? Will they sit idly by and watch their freedoms slowly usurped, or will they stand up for their rights? I wonder what these fallen heroes, whom we honor this Memorial Day, would do were they alive today?

My thoughts about Memorial Day 2009 are dedicated to those who have gone before us. In special memory of Aunt Chloe Rehfield, Aunt Ruth Miller, and Grandma Helen Kruger who passed since our last Memorial Day. And in honor to the memory of Tom Healy, and Jerry Cooper class of 1967, Kenton Sr. High. Viet Nam veterans both.

The opinions expressed are solely those of Fritz Pfister, and not RE/MAX Professionals of Springfield or RE/MAX International.