The Catholic Defender: Freedom isn’t Free/America, Freedom always comes at a high price
- Donald Hartley
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
It honors fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate price for national liberty.
Freedom is not inherited but must be fought for and defended by each generation, as noted by President Ronald Reagan.
President Ronald Reagan frequently spoke about the high cost of freedom, particularly emphasizing that it is not inherited, but must be earned and protected by each generation.
His most famous articulation of this theme occurred during his In his 1982 Memorial Day address, he reflected on the sacrifices of soldiers, stating that their lives demonstrate that freedom is not inexpensive and requires a burden. He suggested that just as they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, current generations must also be willing to give of themselves, even if in a less heroic way. , and in a Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on May 31, 1982.
During a 1982 Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Reagan stated, "The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price".
In his 1982 Memorial Day address, he reflected on the sacrifices of soldiers, stating that their lives demonstrate that freedom is not inexpensive and requires a burden. He suggested that just as they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, current generations must also be willing to give of themselves, even if in a less heroic way.
Ronald Reagan frequently defined freedom as a fragile, non-inherited treasure requiring active defense by each generation, often warning that it is "never more than one generation away from extinction". His rhetoric emphasized individual liberty, limited government, and a "shining city on a hill", arguing that freedom allows for self-governance, economic opportunity, and the pursuit of dreams without government overreach.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction": Reagan's core philosophy was that freedom must be fought for and passed on to the next generation, or it will be lost forever.
"As Americans, we know that freedom is as much a part of us as our blood. It's not a commodity. It can't be bought, can't be sold, and it can't be bartered away".
"If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth".
"Our nation was conceived in liberty, and we have always understood that the fate of our own freedom is tied to the fate of freedom in the world".
"To stand on the side of human freedom is truly to stand on the side of history".
"The task that has fallen to us as Americans is to move the conscience of the world, to keep alive the hope and dream of freedom".
Reagan believed that limited government is essential for individual freedom, stating that "Man is not free unless government is limited". He saw government's primary role as protecting the people, not controlling their lives. He also highlighted the power of the people over the government, noting that the Constitution is "'We the People' telling the Government what it can do".
Linking freedom to economic well-being, Reagan asserted that "Freedom leads to prosperity" and peace. He defined the American dream not as forced equality, but as the freedom for each individual to reach their potential. He also described freedom as the right to challenge the status quo and as the "continuing revolution of the marketplace".
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