Ray Madaghiele posted on January 28, 2012 16:42
We all yearn for freedom. It is the reason the United States of America was created in the first place. As I bicycled across America in 2002 and asked hundreds of people, “What has become more important to you since 9-11?”, two of the most frequent answers I received were ‘my faith’ and ‘American freedoms’ (democratic process, speech, religious preference, etc.)
Events this past week remind me just how vital freedom of choice is to our well-being.
On Monday, I had the honor and privilege of speaking at a rally for two bicyclists who stopped over in Tempe, Arizona, enroute to Los Angeles, California, from Atlanta, Georgia. Seijin Tranberg and Josh Wildman are 23-year-old college students who were inspired to raise awareness of human rights violations occurring in Japan where some religious organizations are experiencing persecution. Seijin and Josh chose to endure the pain and uncertainty of cycling 2,300 miles in order to be “rays of hope” for improving human rights worldwide. Seijin and Josh have chosen to make a difference by assuring that people have freedom to choose their own spiritual path.
Click here to view Ray’s “Be a Ray of Hope” 10-minute video.
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