July 4, 2011

Greetings readers,

I'm looking out the window of my West Texas prison cell and thinking about my freedom. No, I am not looking at the fences or razor wire; I'm looking beyond all of that to the cotton fields I've grown up with! The freedom on my mind is the freedom I gained by being an American. Yesh, okay, so I'm locked up, for now. But I did that all to myself. That doesn't change how I feel about this great land I was born in.

I read in the papers or see on the news about the men and women of our military forces getting killed all over the world and leaving families behind, but they continue to do it because they believe in the concepts of "true freedom!" That's what our forefathers founded this country on, so why should it be any different now? I hope, with all of my heart, not one day goes by that each of us doesn't remember the price of our freedom!

With all of that said, if there is something we should do, it's this: Find the people you care about and, if you love them and show them, as much and as often as you possibly can. In a second, it could all be over so don't leave spaces for regret.

I know this isn't going to be posted until after the 4th of July, but honestly, should we not find more time to celebrate our independence? When you see a vet, tell them, "Thank you!" The next time you pass the flag of our country, salute it or walk through the section for Fallen Heroes! Don't forget that most of the things we got to enjoy in our day-to-day lives, we only enjoy because we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Okay, things in the economy aren't too great at the moment, but it could always be worse. As for me though, I'm just looking out the window of my West Texas cell, thinking about my freedom and damn, I am proud to be an American!

Sincerely yours,
Eric Z. Youngblood