When I was a kid, other kids and adults were always saying, “It’s a free country.” Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t hear people say that anymore.

I really like this phrase because it expresses a very American idea and ideal: It says, I may or may not agree with what you just said, did, or were about to do, but I acknowledge your freedom as an American to say or do it. Of course, if as long as it doesn’t harm another person.

It’s a great way for kids to understand American exceptionalism from a young age.

“I’m going to do my homework instead of playing street hockey.”

Whatever… it’s a free country.”

“I’m going to jump into that pool with cold water.”

Okay… You do that. It’s a free…” well, you get it.

Now, I’m not old, but I’ll concede I can see old better from here than I used to.

I say this because I’m not talking about it being all that long ago when people used to say, “It’s a free country” all the time. I remember the phrase following me out of my childhood, into my teens, and then into young adulthood and beyond. Now, I can’t remember the last time I heard someone say it.

Well, that’s not actually true. I did hear it the other day. A character in the movie The Full Monty said it. It’s a British film made in 1997 so, I can really count it, as it’s not American culture. I just wanted to be accurate about hearing it.

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Still, since the Brits just dropped their stupid CCP virus mandates, I suppose they can once again claim to be a free country—well, freer. Unlike those of us living in unfree American states like mine, Washington.

Sadly, we probably don’t hear the phrase anymore because America is not so free anymore. Certainly, not as free as it used to be. When it is still mentioned, the phrase is often misunderstood—intentionally—by the “woke.” They don’t believe America is a free country. I hate to agree with the radicals, but they’re right. They should know. They helped to make our country less free.

For example, the Urban Dictionary “defines” it’s a free country as “a phrase often used by people who are saying that they can do whatever they want….” Then the UD uses a coarse, less than family-friendly example of the phrase.

I’m not sad to say when I was growing up, even though our freedom is not guaranteed, as kids, we took our freedom for granted. I’m not sad because this condition was a gift from those generations before us who fought, bled, and died so little kids could take it for granted—at least, for a while. As little kids, there was plenty of time to learn we should not take our freedom for granted. But, for small children, it’s not a bad way to grow up.

I think about this phrase today, and I can’t imagine my 9-year-old grandson responding to a friend by saying, “It’s a free country” or a friend saying it to him. He hears conservative and libertarian adults in his family and at school talk about American freedom and liberty, and he reads about it in history books, so he’s familiar with the concept.

But, unlike when I grew up, he’s living in anything but a free country. This is especially true because he currently lives under a blue state dictator called Jay Inslee in Washington State, who’s put up walls all around him. Inslee’s CCP virus and the Democrats’ public-school and private institution oppression have altered his life greatly.

He had just begun playing hockey about six months before the first CCP virus restrictions came down—in March 2020 (two weeks to “flatten the curve:). Because of it, he would not play hockey again for nearly a year.

When he did, he would be required to wear a useless (especially for children) face mask—in full hockey gear—in a cavernous facility—on ice. Incidentally, I’ll admit right now, I am pissed that this has also restricted me and his grandmother from watching him play. Or watching his sister practice and compete in gymnastics.

In Washington State, today, they are still forcing children who want to participate in gymnastics to wear masks during practice and competitions. My granddaughter’s practice sessions last three hours—meets can go even longer. I just read that children 18 and under have a 99.995 percent risk of no harm from the CCP virus. Far less than their risk in getting an mRNA injection.

We’ve made a personal medical decision about the experimental “vaccine,” which used to be allowed when we were a free country. We decided not to get a vaccine, neither of us want or need based on our “private” medical history.

And we won’t comply with wearing a mask because—as mentioned above—they don’t work. Hell, even the CDC and leftist media are finally admitting masks don’t stop the virus—Duh! Fortunately, our children have never been at any significant risk from the CCP virus, and they’re still not. We should celebrate that, not pretend it’s not so.

Yet in blue cities, counties, states, and with the federal government, the immoral mandates continue—some even against court rulings. Some people say things like, “Isn’t it worth getting the vaccine or wearing a mask to be able to see your grandchildren do sports? Don’t you love them enough?”

Isn’t that the point, folks? Resistance to tyranny is difficult. The government exploiting your love for your children or grandkids as leverage is insidious. It’s how they hook you into compliance. It’s truly evil. Also evil is telling you you’re doing it to save lives when we know well by now that’s a lie.

Instead, we’re teaching our grandchildren a much more important lesson. Freedom matters. If I’ll wear a mask I don’t need, just to placate the government, so they can accomplish their political goal (more power), I’m betraying my grandchildren who need to learn the importance of American liberty from their parents and grandparents.

One day, I’ll be able to tell them about loving them so much, I would not wear a mask or allow the state to pressure me into injecting into my body an experimental substance I don’t want, need, and so obviously doesn’t work as promised. Missing a few practices, even games or meets will be forgotten. Us standing up for freedom will not be.

I think of this possible future conversation (below) with my grandchildren as teenagers or young adults, after we American patriots have restored our entire nation’s God-given birthright to pursue our happiness as we see fit, not as the government deems it.

“Hey, Pop. I remember when they tried to make you wear a mask and get a shot, but you wouldn’t do it.”

“I’m glad you remember that. American freedom is that important.”

“You know what, Pop?”

“What?”

“If the government ever tries to make us wear masks or take a shot again, I’m not going to do it.”

“Well,” I’ll be happy to tell them, “It’s a free country.”