This is my inaugural blog post as the Liberty Pirate and it is Veteran’s Day 2015. I am an Army infantry veteran. And those that know that fact about me are likely to thank me “for my service” today. I am likely to say, “you’re welcome”. And that is the polite thing to do. However, it might come as a shock to know I did not serve you in any way. Furthermore, had I lost my life, it would not have been a sacrifice on your behalf.
You see, I believe in the principles of Liberty enshrined in the founding of this nation. I understand that they have been imperfectly implemented but this was the first nation to even try. And I believe that those principles are worth defending. In fact, I believe they are worth the risk of my life. As Patrick Henry famously said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” As they say on license plates in New Hampshire – Live Free or Die. I think that those principles are probably worth the risk of your life as well but only if they are your principles and that is for you to decide.
We throw around terms like “service” and “sacrifice” without ever stopping to think about whether these terms are accurate or why we, as a national culture, use them. We muddy the term sacrifice and use it incorrectly. If I give up one dollar to get five, I sacrificed nothing. If I bunt and get out so that my team can win the baseball game, I sacrificed nothing even though we call that a “sacrifice” in baseball. The trading of a lesser value for a greater value is not a sacrifice. We treat the term “service” in a similar manner. If I am doing something for my own gain or benefit, I am not serving you.
So my willingness to risk my life for the principle of liberty was neither sacrifice nor service. I did so for me. I would rather die fighting than live as a slave. And that is true whether or not the rest of you even exist. Furthermore, that commitment did not end when I took off my uniform and any future enemies, either foreign or domestic, would discover this to be the case.
Some have estimated that only 3% of the colonial population actively participated in the American Revolution. I suspect that they did not view their efforts as either service or sacrifice. Many of them were dedicated to liberty and were unwilling to live as subjects of a tyrannical king. So why, as a national culture, do we bandy these terms about? I suspect there are two reasons. First, those that are not willing to risk their lives for liberty’s sake feel either guilt about the fact that others are doing it for them or gratitude toward those others and are looking for a way to express it. To those whose lives are more valuable than liberty, the fact that others are risking their own lives appears to be a sacrifice. And second, it is in the state’s best interests to build up a philosophy of sacrifice and service because that actually runs counter to the principles of liberty and bolster’s the state’s role in society. So the state seeks to develop a national patriotic cult of service and sacrifice. This helps the state when it demands actual human sacrifice. In our country it has done this during major wars by implementing the draft. The forcing or coercion of people to fight for their country is a form of involuntary servitude and is contrary to the principles of liberty (and outlawed by the US Constitution). Those who are forced to serve deserve more than gratitude, they deserve apology. Those who were forced to serve and who died doing it were truly sacrificed. While I value my liberty enough to risk my life, I do not value it enough to sacrifice yours. If a nation dedicated to liberty cannot survive without involuntary military servitude then it no longer deserves to survive. Let it fall and let those who are dedicated to liberty continue to fight on.
So, to those who were forced into involuntary servitude by our nation, you have my apology. For those who served knowingly and voluntarily, out of principle, I’ll just give you a knowing nod when I see you.
The Liberty Pirate 
Thank you for expressing your motivation, because I’ve always felt that thanking a veteran for their service sounded hollow somehow. Might I say instead, “Thank you for defending liberty and freedom,”? I’m glad that is your motivation. It speaks volumes.
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You’re welcome Vivian. I do understand the sentiment because it is true that not all join the military and defend liberty so others receive the benefit of their doing so. I like the way you phrased your thank you though. It not only acknowledges that benefit gained but the motivation of the defender.
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Liberty Pirate: An uncommon view yet a candid one. “…that the principles of liberty have been imperfectly implemented but this was the first nation to even try.”, yes, this is true and we as a nation have paid dearly for this liberty for ourselves and for others. I honor your efforts in defending this liberty.
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JC,
Thanks for your comment. We have paid far too dearly for this liberty. Some of that unfortunately due to the contradictions originally built into the Constitution where it did not follow our ideals leading ultimately to the bloody civil war.
Mark
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I feel the same way. Great first post.
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Thank you.
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Thank you for expressing what for many is cognitive dissonance. As a 28-year veteran, I too simply nod and say thank you. They mean no harm, and are expressing good will towards us; just as a (rational-thinking) atheist wouldn’t take offense at someone saying “God bless you” when you sneeze–they are offering good will.
For me, I was defending the US constitution. The only restraining order I have against my irrational fellow citizens, some who may become politicians. I was defending my rights. The fact that every other American also profited is secondary. So if they thank me for my service, I simply say “Thank you”, smiling inwardly.
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You’re welcome. I agree. Defense of the Constitution to me is defense of the principles of liberty. Thanks for the comment and for “following” my blog.
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