The 30th anniversary of co-education at Notre Dame is upon us, but I still have yet to see the special significance of the number thirty. Afterall, this is, also, if anyone is interested, the 160th anniversary of males at Notre Dame. But because of the supposed "gender problems" at Notre Dame, I'll stop myself here immediately, before I unintentionally get myself into any sort of trouble. Therefore, I'll digress, and discuss a different, albeit somewhat related topic: war. And this probably will get me into trouble.

Our nation is currently involved in a great discussion over the nature and purpose of war, and good people all over the country have well-thought out and deeply held beliefs on what this nation should do with its military might. Some suggest that it would be immoral for our nation to use force in attacking those who we deem a threat to our national and global security. Two wrongs don't make a right, they argue. Turn the other cheek, they say.

Certainly, from a Catholic perspective – especially here at Notre Dame – it is important to recognize that we should respect one another, and try our best to avoid violent resolutions to problems.

There is another aspect of the Catholic perspective that is too often ignored, though, and that is the failure to acknowledge that those to whom the gifts of liberty and prosperity have been given bear a serious obligation to the protect that precious possession. Taking care to ensure the continuation and respect of liberty serves not only to keep ourselves free, but also to inspire the world.

If we truly believe in the ideals of this nation, then protecting our way of life is truly selfless. We do not necessarily have to go around the world making sure everyone sets up their own versions of Congress, but we do need to make sure that our government – that experiment in liberty – remains a beacon for the oppressed of the world. If we value our liberty, we must protect it – at all costs. In economics they say that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Similarily, we cannot obtain liberty without cost. It comes at a price; oftentimes, that price is paid in blood.

If we do not cherish this gift, if we do not fight for its survival, then that flame in the hearts of freedom loving patriots could be doused by the waters of apathy and jealousy. If we do not show the trouble-making nations of the world that we will not sit passively while our values our trodden upon, while our way of life is threatened, then we might as well welcome invaders into our boarders today. If we do not care about safeguarding our liberty, that will be the inevitable result.

There is no garuntee that America will last forever – in fact, it is unlikely. If we like living here though, and if we have a real love for the freedoms which we enjoy – if we want others to be able to enjoy that – then we must defend it. For if the greatest bastion of this sacred liberty is ever conquered, then the world will be in a sad and nearly hopeless state.

• Protest America