Memorial Day

Monday, May 29, 2006

Today is Memorial Day...mostly celebrated as a day off from work and/or a day for shopping the sales. In some case, we do remember but, more or less, as a glorification of armed combat and war. All but forgotten are the ramifications of armed conflicts. More than anything else, this day should be a reminder to us that the face of war is an ugly one and that there are no "good wars", only horrific ones.

I am not here, today, to debate which wars were necessary and just and which ones were wars of choice. Suffice it to say that in either case, the outcome is death, catastrophic injury, sadness and despair. Lives are ruined, families torn asunder, cities and nations devestated. How can we ever choose to glorify such actions?

We must always remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, irregardless of our politics or opinions. Whether their country's actions were right or wrong, understandable and acceptable or selfish, self serving, Machiavellian and disdainful, those men and women who accepted the responsibility and chose to serve will always be laudable. It was not their lot to choose where the wars and fighting were to occur, only to serve as commanded.

Our leaders are the ones who bear the responsibility, no matter what the nationality or historic milieu. There was a time when, for better or worse, leaders took their places at the front of their armies. Right or wrong, they had the courage to stand with their men and women and fight along side. That is no longer the case and such inaction deserves more scrutiny than it has been accorded of late. Today's men of power rarely send their children to serve in the armed forces. I see this as the pinacle of cowardice...our leaders should hang their heads in shame. They must be held accountable for their actions, called to task for their decisions and they must be forced to accept the responsibiity for the consequences of their actions.

So...on this Memorial Day...let us join together and demand that our leaders show us the accountability that each and every soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice deserves, the same that each and every American deserves.

trickster108