By Becky Holland
Every Veterans Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces.
We thank them for their service, their sacrifices and their willingness to stand between our nation and the dangers that threaten it.
But I wonder sometimes if we fully appreciate what their service has made possible.
We often speak about freedom in broad terms. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. Freedom of the press. The right to assemble. The right to disagree.
Those freedoms are more than words written in a history book. They are part of our everyday lives, even in small communities like Cochran and Bleckley County.
They give us the freedom to worship in the church of our choosing, express opinions without fear of government punishment, gather peacefully and ask questions of those entrusted with public responsibilities.
And that last freedom deserves more attention than it sometimes receives.
Government, whether in Washington, Atlanta or right here at home, exists to serve the people. Public officials are entrusted with responsibilities, decisions and resources that affect the lives of those they represent.
With that trust comes accountability.
Asking questions of government is not an act of disrespect. Requesting information is not an attempt to create controversy. Expecting transparency is not an unreasonable demand.
It is part of being an informed and engaged citizen.
A question should not become offensive simply because it is uncomfortable. And a request for information should not be viewed as opposition simply because it comes from someone outside the walls of City Hall or the County Courthouse.
There will always be disagreements about policies, spending, priorities and decisions. That is part of living in a free society.
But communication and transparency should never depend upon whether the person asking the question agrees with the person being asked.
As a journalist, I believe deeply in the responsibility of the press to ask questions, verify information and provide citizens with facts they can use to form their own opinions.
I also believe public officials deserve fairness, accuracy and an opportunity to explain their decisions.
Those responsibilities go hand in hand.
Our veterans did not serve so that every American would think alike, vote alike or agree with every decision made by those in authority.
They served a nation founded on principles that allow its people to participate in their government, question its actions and expect accountability.
And those principles matter just as much in the meeting rooms of City Hall or the County Courthouse as they do in the halls of Congress.
Today, as we honor our veterans, I hope we remember more than the ceremonies, flags and expressions of gratitude.
I hope we remember the freedoms that make those ceremonies possible.
I hope we remember that democracy requires participation, responsibility and a willingness to listen to one another.
And I hope we never take for granted the right to ask a question and expect an honest answer.
To every veteran in Cochran, Bleckley County and beyond, thank you.
Thank you for serving. Thank you for sacrificing. Thank you for helping preserve the freedoms that belong to all of us.
May we honor your service not only with our words, but also by being responsible stewards of the freedoms you helped defend.
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