Redstate

By Tbone Posted in User Blogs — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Everything I have in this world, every relationship, every opportunity, every memory, every experience and every hope I owe to Ryan and to his fellow members in a fraternity that I am thankfully, but diminished, not a member.

Ryan traded all those things for his membership and all I can do is stand amazed by his sacrifice and be humbled by his gifts. One of my hopes is that every beneficiary of these sacrifices eventually comes to a point in their lives that they too realize the significance of the unpayable debt that each of us owes.

Unfortunately, I am reminded daily that there are among my fellow beneficiaries those who are incapable, unwilling or so full of self loathing that they will never be able acknowledge these as gifts but view them as entitlements. Most of these are just ignorant and are to be pitied until enlightened. However, some are openly hostile and are only deserving of our utter contempt. We should never withhold it.

Also to be deeply appreciated are those who walked with our Ryans and have both the burden and privilege of the personal love that they held and will always hold for them. It is our duty and our solace to say a "thank you" for each of the infinite "whys" that can never be completely answered.

So if you would please take a moment to consider Ryan, his sacrifice, his brothers and sisters before him and to come, and thank him for his gifts to you and countless others and marvel at the strength and understanding one who loved him unconditionally and must now bear the most personal of burdens because of it. You should be better for it.