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This time we are honoring our Fallen Soldiers beginning with the Civil War up to this very moment in Afghanistan. Arlington Cemetery is a-flight with American flags. At this time of year, we also see the news pull out the stock photos of grave crosses/markers and patriotic homage. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. It's part of a national ritual, and, for some, is a continued element of their personal grieving process.
What we don't see in the overall impression of another excuse to BBQ and drink ourselves into oblivion, are those who have memories of children, partners, spouses, fathers and mothers who have perished while fighting a war in the name of U.S. Freedom or some such explanation, which was based on nothing whatsoever to do with defending American soil.
And I'm referring to Vietnam and the Iraq wars as the battles in which we lost too many for no reason other than misguided, often cynical, greed-mongering, political and economic machinations.
Oh c'mon! Is stating the truth going to ruin your escape from reality this weekend? Yes, for some. When you work at least a 40 hour week or are your "boss" and nail yourself into more clients than you can handle, a few days off from anything requiring the use of those fabulous grey cells embedded in your brain wouldn't be a subject of choice.
Hey, I'm not planning to ruin your party. I have my own plans which involve fresh hot-dog-sized buns and Dijon mustard and that sort of thing. I am calling attention to the wars that need not have been and to remind all of us that we are still at war, and more deaths are on the horizon.
Too bad we had to invade Iraq because we wanted their oil; disliked-distrusted Hussein, and a certain group of Bitter Liars wanted to settle a score. Which cost - See This
But, to take away the jaundiced attitude for a moment, no soldier dies without knowing they may die when they sign-up for duty - these days. The difference in the overview between Iraq and Vietnam is/was the draft. You were sent a letter and, unless you fled to Canada or had flat-feet and other undesirable physical or mental impediments which were collected by government-paid officials, you HAD TO GO TO WAR.
Or be enlisted in one of the services for whatever they might need. But most of the Vietnam draftees ended-up on the front line. Who wouldn't protest to be ordered to your probable early grave? Aside from the quizzical "Why are we here in the first place" questioning of The Shafted, the "Peace" era was upon us and so, a war with questionable roots, terrain, and overall purpose, didn't go down well with those who were immune to the draft. Thus, the protests. The alarming clashes between police and students or just pissed-off people.
To the families of those who met an ill-fate due to Iraq-Gate: Know that everything is for some strange, perverted, positive, odd reason in this life, and if you still refuse to acknowledge that Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, with the blessing of their window-dressing of an inarticulate ne'er-do-well with lots of contacts and contracts, Mr. Bushie, created the platform on which your loved ones fell, than I doubt we'll ever be able to have a rational chat.
Beware any leader who would expose their people into harm's way based on a grudge.
And that includes what the U.S. has been doing for ages. This time? We know that war takes place in robot space. Does it differ?
Perhaps.
I see a need to an updating of the Constitution where it undeniably states the U.S. to refrain from becoming involved in other country's problems. Kinda a contradiction in these times. We are globally connected. It's time to make changes for that very fact, or get off the world stage altogether.
(Yeah, sure, she smiles with foregone conclusions.)
Image via: http://pamsmidwestkitchenkorner.blogspot.com
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