Sunday, May 26, 2013

Memorial Day

They say we are civilized, we have evolved, but.....




And the beat of the drums goes on.

Why?

When will we ever learn that war is not the answer?

I have lived more than six decades, through 4 major wars and countless smaller conflicts.

Bless all who have served and bless their families.

42 comments:

  1. I do believe there are justifiable wars. But WW2 was over before I was born and I don't believe that any since has been necessary.

    Yes, bless all who serve. I'm sorry for their loss.

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  2. I am with Austan. And we need to remember that every death in every war hurts someone.
    I am glad for the people who serve - and wish that it wasn't considered necessary. I remember a slogan around during the Vietnam War. 'Fighting for peace is like fornicating for virginity.'

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  3. Every day 22 veterans in the US commit suicide. The wars are never over for our soldiers.

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  4. Napoleon Bonaparte said 'War is the business of Barbarians', I think he was probably right!

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  5. Replies
    1. I cried when I saw this. So many, too many, never see home again.

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  6. I wonder, will it ever change. How will brutality and inhumanity be bred out of us. I've seen vast graveyards of soldiers and thought in future limit wars to fists, and that between the men who would send other men to war. Bless the soldiers.

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  7. Seeing our veterans gravesites always moves me to tears. Why the heck can't we all just get along?

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  8. I'm with Cro Magnon. Remembering all who have gone before with gratitude and thanking all who serve now.

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    1. More should be done for our returning soldiers than just thank you. Many of them are hurting in so many ways. Check out The Wounded Warrior Project.

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  9. For years I've followed the concerned writings of Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman. There are profitable influences in many cultures, even in popular entertainment, that erode people's natural resistance to killing. If Col. Grossman is concerned, we should all be.

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    1. I looked him up Geo, and will investigate further. Thanks for telling me about this man.

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  10. "War is not healthy for children and other living things" said that poster back in the day. I think it had a point. Still, I honor those who fought and died, while I wish that no more young people would have to.

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  11. Somebody's son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother - the pain goes on

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  12. Lest We Forget....

    We should always remember and respect our men and women of the Forces...past and present.

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  13. Amen. God bless them all. May we never...never... forget.

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  14. I am grateful for those men and women who fought for our country. To save the helpless and to defend our country was their calling. God bless them.

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    Replies
    1. In Vietnam, it was not their calling, instead they were called up.

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  15. That video was very moving. Thank you.

    As a Vietnam vet on a 1985 PBS special by and for Nam vets said, "The lesson of war is... no more war."

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  16. I don’t have an answer to this question, which I have asked many times myself.

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    1. They won't allow us to find another answer other than the one of violence.

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  17. Speaking up and not shutting up is a way we can bring about change. Ignore those who call us naive. My new blog is all about the small steps we can take towards a kinder, gentler world. As a species I think we are far from civilised, just supremely arrogant.

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    1. Did that, but I found that no matter the information out there, things remain the same.

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  18. Dear Arleen,

    You echo my thoughts. Maybe one day those that would start a war might find that nobody showed up to fight. And to all those who fight these wars and the families who live with the uncertainty of it all, bless them.

    In peace and hope for a better future.

    Gary

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    Replies
    1. That is all we can do, bless them and find a pro-active way to care. Everybody is someone's child.

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  19. So sad that war seems to be part of human society.

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  20. Hi-ya. After drawing a winner for an autographed copy of my book, I decided it was pretty chintzy to pick only one measly comment out of more than 400... so I picked another one. Yours! Before I can send it to you, I'll need your mailing address, and whether you want it written to you... or to somebody else. You can email me by clicking on that "email me" doohickey in the sidebar of my blog.

    I'm really glad you won. I'll look forward to hearing from you.

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  21. War: diplomacy by other means. At other peoples' life-expense. But as long as war is profitable, it will keep happening. Sadly. And the bodies will keep coming home, along with the maimed and mutilated.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting, Life in the Urban Forest (poetry).

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  22. Dear Arleen, I am sitting here crying. That song from "Les Miserables" always touching me but in the context of war and the video, it spoke to me in a new way. Like you, I have lived through so many wars: World War II, the Korean war, Vietnam, the first Gulf war, the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. We continue to let our representatives send our young women and men off to die for reasons that often make no sense at all. When will we fund peace and not war? When will be pound our weapons into ploughshears? Peace.

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  23. My heart also goes out to all of the brave men and women who have served our country.

    Julie

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  24. I applaud you for appreciating the sacrifices made for our country. The end of all war is a lovely sentiment, but I think that unless testosterone is taken out of the equation, there will always be violence, crime, and wars. They can't help it.

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  25. I remember one war that was called “the war to end all wars” wasn’t that WW1 ? It did not end it, unfortunately. My father went to WW2 and was badly injured and it affected the rest of his life, and our family life as well. Hope you summer is going well.

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  26. I have to admit that, as the mother of one of said soldiers, I couldn't even watch the video. But I am so grateful to those who put their lives on the line for me. And all for lawless, senseless war.

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    1. it has been a month since I posted this. My heart breaks for you. I cannot imagine what you go through every day. My humble thanks for your son or daughter who puts their life on the line. I wish that all people will realize that there are other solutions to disagreements. We ALL want to live in peace and take care of our families. It is simple but so difficult to achieve. Crazy, Crazy world.

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