"All the sacrifices made so that we can live the way we do today."

Hmmm. Questionable. I don't think the Empire of Japan was out to change the way North Americans live...nor ever could have done so even if they'd wanted to...which they didn't anyway. They were trying to secure a large Asian sphere of influence in order to acquire vital industrial resources for their limited island economy. I don't think they gave a damn one way or the other about the way we live. Why would they?


"Were they made in vain?"

Yes and no. Depends on how you look at it. It helps if you win, of course. I hate to think how those on the losing side of a war must feel after several years of blood and sacrifice.

"Does freedom ring?"

Not when you pass things like the Patriot Act and the NDAA, it doesn't. Not when you waterboard people in secret prisons. I'll tell you where freedom rings. It's inside your own heart and mind.

"Or are we slaves?"

To some extent, yes. We are slaves to a system. But we are still free inside our own hearts and minds.