There was an episode of the original Star trek TV series where Captain Kirk and Spock were on a strange planet (this occurred every week), only this time they were in jail with a group of locals. Kirk and Spock spoke of various issues while in jail, with no reaction from their cell mates, until Kirk said, “Freedom,” at which time everyone turned to look at the space explorers with keen interest. “Freedom,” the local leader said, “Is a sacred word.”
He was right; freedom is a very sacred word, to we American’s who have it, and to the billions of people in the world who want it. As a country, we declared our independence, our freedom from rule by England, yet in the Declaration of Independence, signed by those brave rebels in 1776, the word freedom was never used. But the intent was clear because 25,000 American’s died in a war to defend our right to be free; to defend our right to make our own choices and set the course for our destiny, as a country and as individuals. From the beginning of time, freedom has been a sacred word.
When news agencies speak of “The Recovery” it is done in general terms, often with little regard to specific effects on individuals; like you and me. It is too difficult for national organizations to extract the minuscule detail of individual circumstance, yet it is the sum of the individual stories that create the overall picture.