As we honor the men and women who have given their lives in military service this Memorial Day, we often focus on the visible sacrifices: the battles fought, the bravery displayed in combat, and the ultimate price paid with death.
Excellent essay, Tom. I call your attention to only one passage, the very first line. You refer to "the men and women who have given their lives in military service." I'm not sure that women fight in combat even now, and they certainly didn't in earlier times. Some women did dangerous jobs near the front line, to be sure, and were sometimes wounded or killed. But that was not the expectation of either the women or their commanders, let alone of society. It was the expectation only of men. Personally, I don't approve of that distinction, but I also don't approve of rewriting history for political purposes. You surely didn't intend to do that. You merely used an expression that has become so conventional in this age of "equity" that few people actually notice it.
You could just as easily have referred to "the soldiers who have given their lives." Even that wouldn't be good enough for me, however, because it's still a euphemism. Conscripts don't and can't "give" their own lives. By law, the state takes their lives (whether they are willing or unwilling).
This euphemism originated in Western countries, because of the religious assumption that every soldier who dies in battle is symbolically Christ who dies on the cross. But Christ sacrificed himself for the salvation of others. The state, however, sacrifices soldiers in the name of society, including their parents. There's a huge difference between sacrifice and self-sacrifice.
I thought about that Paul. I had just read about a female nurse who was a medic who was shot and killed on the front lines. She wasn't a combatant but she was surely killed in combat. It made me think of the feminists who refer to all the women who are victims of breast cancer and not mention the 1% of those who are male. I think if I did it again I would just say "As we honor those who have given their lives in military service."
But you are correct, the vast majority of those who have sacrificed are males and they did so willingly. Men Are Good!
Thanks for this moving essay, Tom. As a veteran of the US Army, I always feel the power of this day. As a boy in Iowa I watched the Decoration Day parade (as we then called it) and saw neighbors in their uniforms from World War II and the Korean War. I never thought I'd be putting on a uniform myself. But then, in 1969, like many men, I had a choice, either enlist or be drafted. Being drafted was a sure ticket to Vietnam and perhaps to what is still called the “ultimate sacrifice.” Enlistment meant 3 years rather than 2, but it offered occupational specializations that could lead away from the front lines. I spent my extra year at language school, learning Korean, and was then stationed in Korea. I was bitter about it but in later years I was able to see how that experience gave me important skills and resources. At the time I felt that I was being sacrificed, but in the Army I learned a few things about the value of self-sacrifice. Servitude can be an expression of sacrifice, which involves obedience and self-discipline.
I am a totally and permanently disabled Vietnam veteran, who has recieved nothing but thanks and intelectual support from my family, friends, and fellow patriots throughout my post war adult life, and I am grateful.
The more one stays in gratitude, the more one is given by God to be grateful for.
The toll is invisible because it is orchestrated by our fearless leaders. Why are they fearless? Because they have buried their guilt. They are guilty of fomenting the wars they order our fathers, brothers, sons, and grandsons to do their bidding. They inject them with dangerous mind-altering drugs to "keep them awake" for long stretches without adequate rest, muddling their thinking so that they follow stupid orders against people who would not would not hate them if their own "superiors" weren't bombing their wives and children, poisoning their water and food chain, and endlessly sending barrages of outright lies to prop up their endless thievery of their "enemies'" natural treasures. Washington is full of thieves and liars robbing their own citizens as well as the citizens of the world, and imprisoning and murdering those they are unable to scare into submission.
Politics is an endless WEF-style conflict to distract us from their chicanery, and they have unlimited access to information about their real enemies, namely us. There is nothing Muslims, Chinese Communists, Russian ex (ha ha) former communists, or anyone else we're fighting the our Government has not done to us and them. Does that make me un-American? Only to those who rule us. Tell me, truly, has anyone else stolen your wealth? Has anyone else made war on your children? Has anyone else killed your babies before they could take a breath? Has anyone else imported pure poison from all over the world to addict and murder your families and neighbors?
Oh, they don't do that? Who is getting rich off the war on drugs? Lawyers, judges, police departments, and the owners of prisons and hospitals; that's who. And it's just the men and women on the street corners, in the back allies, and in the houses of ill repute, not the multi billionaire drug lords, who double as governments that peddle their drugs, women, and children. If a big-wig gets too visible and ends up in prison, he is easily killed off before he can spill the beans.
War is terrible. It is not glorious or wonderful or a way to prove your courage. The men who go to war, willingly or not are the heroes. Terrified, deafened, shot, blown apart, fighting for political or protective reasons, survivors and those maimed and rendered disabled and mentally afflicted by war should be remembered for their service. There are two other things we should remember too. It is often the ambitions of old men sitting
In palatial surroundings welding power who send young men towards death or destruction and their demands, commands and actions impact on all the women and children and relatives who suffer so profoundly from the loss or disabilities of loved ones. Sometimes the only way to combat the spread of evil is to destroy those who seek to conquer your country and make servants or slaves of your people. To make war in order to seize a country other than your own for reasons of power gain, prestige or simply political ideologies is criminal and those pursuing conflict for these reasons are criminals.
Excellent essay, Tom. I call your attention to only one passage, the very first line. You refer to "the men and women who have given their lives in military service." I'm not sure that women fight in combat even now, and they certainly didn't in earlier times. Some women did dangerous jobs near the front line, to be sure, and were sometimes wounded or killed. But that was not the expectation of either the women or their commanders, let alone of society. It was the expectation only of men. Personally, I don't approve of that distinction, but I also don't approve of rewriting history for political purposes. You surely didn't intend to do that. You merely used an expression that has become so conventional in this age of "equity" that few people actually notice it.
You could just as easily have referred to "the soldiers who have given their lives." Even that wouldn't be good enough for me, however, because it's still a euphemism. Conscripts don't and can't "give" their own lives. By law, the state takes their lives (whether they are willing or unwilling).
This euphemism originated in Western countries, because of the religious assumption that every soldier who dies in battle is symbolically Christ who dies on the cross. But Christ sacrificed himself for the salvation of others. The state, however, sacrifices soldiers in the name of society, including their parents. There's a huge difference between sacrifice and self-sacrifice.
I thought about that Paul. I had just read about a female nurse who was a medic who was shot and killed on the front lines. She wasn't a combatant but she was surely killed in combat. It made me think of the feminists who refer to all the women who are victims of breast cancer and not mention the 1% of those who are male. I think if I did it again I would just say "As we honor those who have given their lives in military service."
But you are correct, the vast majority of those who have sacrificed are males and they did so willingly. Men Are Good!
Amen
Thanks for this moving essay, Tom. As a veteran of the US Army, I always feel the power of this day. As a boy in Iowa I watched the Decoration Day parade (as we then called it) and saw neighbors in their uniforms from World War II and the Korean War. I never thought I'd be putting on a uniform myself. But then, in 1969, like many men, I had a choice, either enlist or be drafted. Being drafted was a sure ticket to Vietnam and perhaps to what is still called the “ultimate sacrifice.” Enlistment meant 3 years rather than 2, but it offered occupational specializations that could lead away from the front lines. I spent my extra year at language school, learning Korean, and was then stationed in Korea. I was bitter about it but in later years I was able to see how that experience gave me important skills and resources. At the time I felt that I was being sacrificed, but in the Army I learned a few things about the value of self-sacrifice. Servitude can be an expression of sacrifice, which involves obedience and self-discipline.
Superbly written, Tom.
I am a totally and permanently disabled Vietnam veteran, who has recieved nothing but thanks and intelectual support from my family, friends, and fellow patriots throughout my post war adult life, and I am grateful.
The more one stays in gratitude, the more one is given by God to be grateful for.
The toll is invisible because it is orchestrated by our fearless leaders. Why are they fearless? Because they have buried their guilt. They are guilty of fomenting the wars they order our fathers, brothers, sons, and grandsons to do their bidding. They inject them with dangerous mind-altering drugs to "keep them awake" for long stretches without adequate rest, muddling their thinking so that they follow stupid orders against people who would not would not hate them if their own "superiors" weren't bombing their wives and children, poisoning their water and food chain, and endlessly sending barrages of outright lies to prop up their endless thievery of their "enemies'" natural treasures. Washington is full of thieves and liars robbing their own citizens as well as the citizens of the world, and imprisoning and murdering those they are unable to scare into submission.
Politics is an endless WEF-style conflict to distract us from their chicanery, and they have unlimited access to information about their real enemies, namely us. There is nothing Muslims, Chinese Communists, Russian ex (ha ha) former communists, or anyone else we're fighting the our Government has not done to us and them. Does that make me un-American? Only to those who rule us. Tell me, truly, has anyone else stolen your wealth? Has anyone else made war on your children? Has anyone else killed your babies before they could take a breath? Has anyone else imported pure poison from all over the world to addict and murder your families and neighbors?
Oh, they don't do that? Who is getting rich off the war on drugs? Lawyers, judges, police departments, and the owners of prisons and hospitals; that's who. And it's just the men and women on the street corners, in the back allies, and in the houses of ill repute, not the multi billionaire drug lords, who double as governments that peddle their drugs, women, and children. If a big-wig gets too visible and ends up in prison, he is easily killed off before he can spill the beans.
Wrong glasses I’m afraid. It should read “wielding” not welding. You really have to watch out for PC both politically and spelling-wise.
War is terrible. It is not glorious or wonderful or a way to prove your courage. The men who go to war, willingly or not are the heroes. Terrified, deafened, shot, blown apart, fighting for political or protective reasons, survivors and those maimed and rendered disabled and mentally afflicted by war should be remembered for their service. There are two other things we should remember too. It is often the ambitions of old men sitting
In palatial surroundings welding power who send young men towards death or destruction and their demands, commands and actions impact on all the women and children and relatives who suffer so profoundly from the loss or disabilities of loved ones. Sometimes the only way to combat the spread of evil is to destroy those who seek to conquer your country and make servants or slaves of your people. To make war in order to seize a country other than your own for reasons of power gain, prestige or simply political ideologies is criminal and those pursuing conflict for these reasons are criminals.
Beautifully written and fully supported.