« Let a Senate Guru keep you up to date in 2008
In the face of failure, Bush and crew hold on tightly to fear »

Memorial Day: A day to commemorate those who gave all - and to apologize

For the past five years, Memorial Day consistently causes many mixed feelings. It is a day to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. And there is no confusion over the fact that the memories of these fallen soldiers are to be honored.

It is our own behavior that Memorial Day shines a light on. And Memorial Day should now be as much a day to apologize as a day to honor. A day for the U.S. citizens, all of us, to apologize for using our military so haphazardly and ineffectively, and treating them with such disrespect. We underfund them, send them into unwinnable situations, and treat the wounded with near malice.

On Memorial Day we honor the fallen. And next year we’ll honor even more that have made the ultimate sacrifice. And we’ll need to apologize again.

Suggested Memorial Day reading:

  • “Militants Widen Reach as Terror Seeps Out of Iraq” — N.Y. Times.
  • “Al Qaeda terrorism in Iraq foreseen” — The Boston Globe.
  • “Walter Reed patients told to keep quiet” — Army Times.
  • “U.S. Security Contractors Open Fire in Baghdad” — Washington Post
  • “Soldiers with PTSD Need Better Care, Experts Tell Committee” — Scripps Howard Foundation Wire
  • “Doubts Grow as G.I.’s in Iraq Find Allies in Enemy Ranks” — N.Y. Times.
  • “U.S. Deaths Near Grim Memorial Day Mark” — Associated Press
  • “Bush: be prepared for more bloodshed in Iraq” — The Independant

    • –WKW

    This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2007 at 5:46 am and is filed under Politics, Essays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    One Response to “Memorial Day: A day to commemorate those who gave all - and to apologize”

    1. Sunny Says:
      May 28th, 2007 at 5:24 pm

      This is the first year I did not hang my flag-the flag that draped my own brother’s coffin-a vet who died of leukemia at age 26-on the front of my house.

      I just could not do it.

      The feelings about my country border on the expatriate.

      I honor my brother’s service in my heart. For those who lost their lives on the battlefield, I bow my head in gratitude.

      I do believe our government finds these souls dispensable.

      My brother would never believe that life in the USA has stooped so low.

    Leave a Reply