Life Taken for Granted

Daily Life Taken for Granted

First and Last Name

Grantham University

Professor Name

EN 101

1 May 2012

Abstract

Sometimes the lifestyle that people live tend to allow them to forget values and purpose. In this essay you will see one thing that many Americans take for granted. Everything we do on this earth is or has been made available with reason and purpose and we should never take those things for granted.

Daily Life Taken for Granted

When I was a child I never stopped to think that everything we do or can do was made possible through the sacrifice of others. Lifestyles are different and seldom will you find someone that has the same as yours. I was taught respect for my country. It was a feeling of pride. I swelled up with excitement when hundreds of people stood in unison and saluted our flag or in silence while the anthem played.

This since of pride gave me incentive to join the United States Army at 17. Not until I was deployed to Afghanistan did I realize that I was among thousands that took freedom for granted.

I found myself in a living hell. It was not unusual to wake to 142 degree temperatures or sand fleas and spiders the size of your foot. I'd have knots in my stomach while facing the reality of living in a non free country.

I sat in the heat cringing at insects, sweat dripping down my face, thinking prior to finding myself in a country without democracy that my worries were being stuck in traffic while getting to a movie or waiting in line at the supermarket. No longer could I sit on my porch with a cup of coffee listening to the birds and not worry about someone shooting me for food, my beliefs, or for no reason at all.

The experience took such a toll on me that I got up one morning after returning home and went to Starbucks. Being stuck in traffic was no big deal. I found it amusing watching people get angry because...