I feel that with my posts about religion and supporting the troops this blog could very well turn republican (EEEEEEK!), but I am willing to risk it today.
It is Memorial Day weekend, a time to get out your BBQ and dust off the pool toys. Unless you live in my town, then it is the day to dress warmly and pull out the old umbrella once again. But whatever you are doing this wonderful weekend, I hope that we each acknowledge, in our own way, the sacrifices given for all that we have. If our forefathers never sacrificed for that original fight (read the American Revolution) things would be drastically different. If the Civil War never happened who knows where we might have ended up. And so on and so forth, you get the picture.
Don't misread this, I don't support war as an option in the grand scheme of things, but the scientist in me- the one that has studied human evolution and behavior- recognizes that violence and war are a part of human existence. And until we are able to exist in a manner that cherishes all beings (plants, animals, rocks, the earth, and each other) war is an inevitable side effect of existence in my mind, and I truly appreciate those who have sacrificed so much for so many.
I went to a Memorial Day service at a local cemetery today- it happened to be at one of my favorite cemeteries, when I lived closer to it I use to walk there regularly because I found it comforting; yes I am weird, get over it- and it nearly broke my heart. Those that sacrificed were there to honor the fallen, but very few of the general public had shown up. There were so many war veterans and so few of those they sacrificed for I wanted to cry. There was actually a WWII veteran and despite being very old, stooped over, and walking with a cane, he rose and saluted the flag and the fallen men when the time came. The very few younger people that showed up didn't even place a hand over their heart.
So I guess my message is this, one day, in the not to distant future, we will be the older generation. We will soon be the ones that (hopefully) made the sacrifices that allowed future generations the luxuries we now enjoy. When that time comes, I sure hope the younger folks are respectful and appreciative enough to recognize it and pay tribute to it. And the best way to ensure that happens is to start doing it ourselves.
