I fought in a miserable war and I can tell you that, yes, I and many others volunteered to serve in our military. Many others were definitely not volunteers, but nobody "gave" their life. To give and to lay down are active verbs, presupposing some manner of thoughtful consideration followed by the action of giving something away.
Their lives were taken away, against their will, whether volunteer or draftee.
Sure, we all knew we could die at any time, in myriad horrid, slow ways or instantly and nearly painless. Everyone who fights in a war or combat situation of any kind understands that.
But not one of us gave our lives away.
Not one of the soldiers killed by punji stakes or Claymore mines in Vietnam.
Not one of the soldiers blown up by a roadside IED in Afghanistan.
Not even those thousands of soldiers who were the first off the landing craft onto the beaches of Normandy, knowing that they would be the first to face the withering, deadly gunfire of the entrenched German fortified pillboxes and the first to die "gave" their lives.
Not. One.
Every one of those lives was taken away by duty, not given away.
So, on days like this, thank them and their relatives for their service, but please do not make their wartime deaths more than what they were...tools of a political war machine's decision to make war on warriors.
If you believe the hype, the last "good" war our country fought was World War II and those soldiers were "the greatest generation." All the conflicts, military actions, and just plain stupid wars after that were "bad" wars started by short-sighted or greedy politicians who wanted something.
No plants shut down temporarily for re-tooling to support the Vietnam or Korean wars.
No towns emptied of their young men, whose jobs were then taken over by women who worked valiantly to support a just Afghanistan conflict.
No, there have been no "good" wars since WW-II, just wars that kill people against their will. The dead bodies of our soldiers, then and now, have been just as dead.
At the end of this Memorial Day, when we see photos of soldiers, Cub Scouts, and family placing flags on graves of their departed family members, neighbors, and countrymen, please...instead of just "thanking" those who served and were killed, put pressure on your political leaders to stop the killing.
The killing continues. In fact, now, even women are allowed to take combat positions. How despicable is that? Which Dad will say his daughter "gave her life" for some greater good while serving the military machine? My guess is, not many.
I know I would not.
No, there have been no "good" wars since WW-II, just wars that kill people against their will. The dead bodies of our soldiers, then and now, have been just as dead.
At the end of this Memorial Day, when we see photos of soldiers, Cub Scouts, and family placing flags on graves of their departed family members, neighbors, and countrymen, please...instead of just "thanking" those who served and were killed, put pressure on your political leaders to stop the killing.
The killing continues. In fact, now, even women are allowed to take combat positions. How despicable is that? Which Dad will say his daughter "gave her life" for some greater good while serving the military machine? My guess is, not many.
I know I would not.
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