When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Monday, May 29, 2006
Memorial Day, 2006
Today we are marking Memorial Day, when we glorify our war heroes, ie those who willy-nilly died in battle. I did not attend any ceremonies.
I don't wish particularly to dishonor the dead nor worry their grievers, but I am troubled by the glorification of war that always attends these things. And the frequent statement that they were "defending our freedom." That may be occasionally true, though I can't see that it has been so lately. Unless one means the "freedom" of large corporations to operate when and how they please around the world regardless of any harm they may cause to the earth or its people.
The page above that I linked to states numerous times that the ward dead "gave the ultimate sacrifice." I would guess something like five percent gave their lives. Rather their lives were taken by a government that pretends to care about them, but whose actions belie the pretense.
Many of our wars have been embarked upon because we wanted other countries to bend to our will in areas that we had no business dictating to them, such as when they enacted controls against foreign businesses operating in their territory. Central and South America, the Middle East, the far East. The government usually cites some other reason. "Freedom," "democracy," etc.
And then when it's all over, they cheer the veterans and put them out to pasture. The way Vietnam veterans were dealt with was shameful. The government denied any connection between their ailments and the herbicide "Agent Orange" and thus avoided providing health benefits. It is likewise denying health claims of veterans of the Kuwait "freedom" war of Bush Sr.
In this war, they are forcing National Guardsmen to stay on in Iraq for several tours of duty, beyond their enlistment time in many cases. Why? so the sons of the wealthy will not have to "give the ultimate sacrifice." The rich do not sacrifice anything.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Thanks for the Memories....
Memorial Day, 2006
Today we are marking Memorial Day, when we glorify our war heroes, ie those who willy-nilly died in battle. I did not attend any ceremonies.
I don't wish particularly to dishonor the dead nor worry their grievers, but I am troubled by the glorification of war that always attends these things. And the frequent statement that they were "defending our freedom." That may be occasionally true, though I can't see that it has been so lately. Unless one means the "freedom" of large corporations to operate when and how they please around the world regardless of any harm they may cause to the earth or its people.
The page above that I linked to states numerous times that the ward dead "gave the ultimate sacrifice." I would guess something like five percent gave their lives. Rather their lives were taken by a government that pretends to care about them, but whose actions belie the pretense.
Many of our wars have been embarked upon because we wanted other countries to bend to our will in areas that we had no business dictating to them, such as when they enacted controls against foreign businesses operating in their territory. Central and South America, the Middle East, the far East. The government usually cites some other reason. "Freedom," "democracy," etc.
And then when it's all over, they cheer the veterans and put them out to pasture. The way Vietnam veterans were dealt with was shameful. The government denied any connection between their ailments and the herbicide "Agent Orange" and thus avoided providing health benefits. It is likewise denying health claims of veterans of the Kuwait "freedom" war of Bush Sr.
In this war, they are forcing National Guardsmen to stay on in Iraq for several tours of duty, beyond their enlistment time in many cases. Why? so the sons of the wealthy will not have to "give the ultimate sacrifice." The rich do not sacrifice anything.
Palema
5:14 PM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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