Did you ever think that maybe it would be great that if someday…
There was no Memorial Day?
Wouldn’t it be cool if at some point we in the States, or any other country for that matter, no longer had to set aside a day to honor the war dead?
Yeah, that would be cool. Idealistic? Of course, it is.
And the thought is also big minded…and out of the realm of possibility. Sure it is. I know….blah, blah, blah, Mr. Liberal.
But really? Is it a Liberal idea or one that every crying child in Tel Aviv, every anxious parent in Islamabad, every mournful mother and father in Belfast has…or once had?I think it's an idea that all of those folks have had. And that, ironically, is what makes this world a sometime sad and lonely place.
I believe that be you Muslim, Jew, or Christian…Westerner, Asian, or African…Gay, Straight, Black, or White…we believe in much the same things.
We for the most part, want to get drunk on the champagne laughter of kids playing ball in the street.
We want to go to the grocery, or to the market, or to the bazaar, and pick out something good to feed our family for dinner.
We want to lay our heads down at night and sleep…A deep, sound sleep that doesn’t include thoughts of suicide bombers, Wall Street vagabonds, or third rate dictators.
“That would be nice”, you say, “but it’s so idealistic.”…Only to the small minded.
Those of us, of all creeds, color, political bents, and nationalities who want peace, far outnumber those of us on this planet who do not.
And yet, many cower from their desire for a peaceful life by taking shelter within the shadows of their fear…and their hate.
From the Alpine campaigns of Hannibal, to the Battle of Crecy, to the thousands who died at Shiloh, war has done nothing but left the common man and woman and their families, the very dead exclamation on someone else's point.
I would like to see that within a generation or two, Memorial Day is no longer a day in which we honor the war dead…
But rather, a day to honor the sacrifice of those who gave of themselves in a practice in which we as human beings, no longer engage.
I don’t think that is a Liberal thought. I don’t think it’s a Conservative thought. I think it’s a Human thought.
On top of that, if this idea comes to fruition, I won’t have to read “In Flanders Field” on every damn blog come this Memorial Day.
Amen, and Amen…
Cheers!!
22 comments:
Poignant post Matt-Man.
A human thought indeed.
Chick: Why thank ya, dear. Won't happen in our lifetime, but one can still try to be optimistic. Have a great rest of the weekend. Cheers Chick!!
See what I mean? There's that deep thinking sensitive side of you.
You're a dreamer and I wish there were a few billion more just like you/me. Peace is such an easy concept, but so damned hard to obtain.
Jeff: True enough, however, if I were to write stuff like this all the time, I'd become depressed and my head would assplode. Cheers Jeff!!
My son and I spent many a Memorial Day putting flags out at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with the scouts.
Mike: Very good Mike. I hope you and your family enjoy the weekend. Cheers!!
OK ... OK .. I get your point. I also get the fact that you made sure to "pre-insult" anyone who disagreed with you. So, let your small-minded future ex wife say this:
If everyone in the world thought the same - had the same moral compass - had access to everything they needed to survive - then maybe ... just maybe ...
Dana: Who the hell would disagrre with the concept of no more wars? I didn't think I was writing something that would stir controversy. Cheers Dana!!
My disagreement isn't with the "wouldn't it be cool" idea, but with the "'but it’s so idealistic.'…Only to the small minded," statement.
It is idealistic. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be cool. The two are not synonymous.
Dana: Idealism maintains that correcting one's problems at home should also be dealt with abroad. Violence, poverty, squalor. Idealism in the more modern Liberal diplomatic sense also puts an emphasis on American Exceptionalism.
In this instance I think being idealistic and cool, are synonymous. Cheers Dana!!
...imagine...
Phfrankie: Damn right. Cheers P-Man!!
I stand.....and applaud!
Mick: Why thank ya Mr. Mick. Grill something good today and drink plenty of beer. Cheers Mick!!
This popped on on email while I was reading comments here.... Timing is everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hkGzqpGx1KU
This will be flying around on email today.
And in case some people miss it I'm posting it tomorrow.
Mike: Thanks alot asshole. I love that shit. Cheers Mike!!
Thanks Mike....I really needed some tears of joy, after all that have fallen thinking about what's happening in our Gulf.
But if there were no more wars, what would we do with the hundreds of billions of dollars we spend on them? Use that money to improve the lives of poor people? Educate our kids? Wipe out diseases and shit like that? That's crazy talk.
Besides, you can get a great deal on some furniture this weekend. In solemn memory of those who gave their lives to their country, of course.
And what's wrong with being idealistic every once in a while?
Micky: Dontcha hate that? Cheers Mick!!
Jay: Jay, my good man, everything you just said is crazy talk. We can do shit like that. Cheers Jay!!
war is the natural state of mankind. the larger version of "my brother can beat up your brother" or as todays language would put it - "oh no you di'int..."
every negative interaction with another human is a form of war. strife, drama, etc etc.. when you couple that attitude with tons of money you get millions of dead people,its sick. when everyone can learn to respect and honor others on all levels then it will end. but thats simply not going to happen.
i agree with what you wrote entirely. "a day to commemorate the moment we learned, as the human race, that war is no longer needed. the day we outgrew it."
now that would indeed be a memorial worthy of our childrens respect.
at the same time, those people who have fought and died for this country, whether they were drafted or volunteers, i appreciate and honor their memories, and hope that this useless madness will one day stop.
Love this post... and I agree that most of us want the same thing... the liberals of today are more conservative than they care to admit... actually I think they are somewhere in the middle and not as far left as some would say... anyway war needs to end but it mostly never will and that's unfortunate.
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