What to Sacrifice?

Dear readers (or the reader), I did not lose my yearn to write. On the contrary, I am delighted that Easter has arrived! The coloured eggs and bread are the incentives, I am delighted at the end of Lent.


Lent, regardless if Catholicism is the practise in the household, is an excellent character and ideology builder. For 40 days, devotees fast or give up something, as Jesus Christ did in the bible. A character building tool, teenagers give up texting, some sacrifice food, etc. A little before Ash Wednesday, I was engrossed in the study of American history and civics. There amongst the pages of George Washington and founding fathers, emerged an unique mind changing lesson.

Taken for granted are our freedoms - speech, press and expression. What will life be if one of these free acts were eliminated from our lives? Going down the list, I cannot give up speech ( it helps pay the bills), freedom of expression ( difficult when I have the spawns of Satan to deal with daily), what about Press? 40 days without the freedom of press, forgoing the chance to publish one's thoughts. Interesting, what else can I lose? I thought this was a easy sacrifice, one for the record books!



During the last 40 days, my thoughts strayed to those in Communist Regime locations, silenced are their opinions while propaganda media is the way of life. North Korea, China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, some parts of the African continent too. Obey whatever is asked or face the consequnces of a jail cell, starvation, labour camps, even death. When the melamine in infant formula scandal emerged, the Chinese government had to quench the public outrage. The solution was an innocent minister and sentenced him to death. By the way, he was innocent, as well as a whistle-blower. Stories of citizens disappearing in North Korea is commonly heard by refugees. Any attemps to publish their opinions of Kim Jung Il, will be met with a firing squad.

Giving up the freedom of press, was difficult but rewarding. As with the old saying, "If you do not have anything good to say, then don't" Or "speak the truth or it is not worth speaking."

Now I savor the news and have a different perspective on how information should be reported. Journalists must uphold their primary objective, to be the eyes and ears for readers. Main stream media abuse this freedom, failed this freedom. Not reporting what you think is right or wrong, just report what you see.

*slightly rusty writing due to lack of practise.