Freedom is Never Free

Michelle Malkin pointed out that Michael Moore's reaction to the election was to put the below photo mosaic of President Bush's face, formed with the images of fallen American soldiers on his front page.

"War President" Created by the American Leftist
This image is mirrored here in small, medium, and large sizes.

Michelle writes,

The mosaic was created by the blogger American Leftist earlier this spring...

....Anti-Bush bloggers--and, naturally, French bloggers--embraced the image as an anti-war indictment of Bush. But a mini-controversy erupted in the blogosphere when conservative bloggers saw the image as a moving tribute to the Iraqi war heroes and their commander-in-chief. (See, for example, Mog and One Fine Jay.)

American Leftist provided commentary about his image here.

This paragraph is particularly noteworthy:

I'd also like to point out that 'War President' is an image. It is not a textual statement or rhetorical argument. An image is like an empty room and any message that one reads in that room necessarily came in the baggage one carried when one walked in the door.

This picture should not be viewed as a leftist rant on an immoral war. Here we have a tribute to those who died in support of our country. President Bush has never taken the toll on our service men and women lightly. He lives everyday with the realization that his decision put these young patriots in harms way.

I served in the US Navy for 22 years. During this time I have lost hundreds of crewmates in various accidents and attacks and this was in "peace" not war. These proud Americans served their country knowing that in peace or war they were a target and that there is danger in the very nature of their jobs.

I salute these valiant fallen, young men and women of courage.

I also salute those who raise their voice in opposition to this war. I don't agree with them but I did serve to ensure America remained free and that we all have the right to speak freely.

Years from now when Iraq is secure in it's own freedom, this mosaic may indeed find it's way to a yet to be created museum in Baghdad as a tribute to those freedom fighters who fought and died so the Iraqi people could be free.

It appears that we forget one small truth, without which we would still be British, Freedom is never free. The following poem says it better than I ever could.

Freedom Isn't Free
Author unknown

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

Updates: Reactions from the left

BlackFive comments on Michael Moore's use of the Mosiac and its original creation.
Aggressive-Voice Daily, Just Disgraceful
The Evangelical Outpost has Sore Losers: The Far Left Reacts to the Election
Outside the Beltway has Not Only Rednecks Voted for Bush
Blogs of War is keeping us up to date with current news of our men and women on the frontlines.
Outside the Beltway has the Friday Morning News Brief.
The Jawa Reports: Michael Moore Blames Angelina Jolie for Bush 'Stealing' the Election