It's Veteran's Day.
I am grateful for the people who choose to do this kind of work. Who put aside their personal comfort, their safety and their whole lives in many ways to serve our country. I don't have to agree with the leaders who send them to and fro at their own whims to appreciate the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make.
The effects of war are far reaching and the injuries are not just from bullets and mortar shells. It is not with empty flag waving and marching tunes that I express my appreciation for the people who do something that I, myself, just wouldn't do.
I wrote about my personal Veteran's Day last year, here. I don't really have a whole lot to add.
I am a pacifist, I am a liberal, I oppose war for almost any reason. I rarely think that displays of might and firepower are productive solutions to anything.
I have the utmost respect for the men and women who wear the uniforms, follow the orders and face the unspeakable for me so that I can sit back and say "Nah, I don't think so."
I am grateful for the people who choose to do this kind of work. Who put aside their personal comfort, their safety and their whole lives in many ways to serve our country. I don't have to agree with the leaders who send them to and fro at their own whims to appreciate the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make.
The effects of war are far reaching and the injuries are not just from bullets and mortar shells. It is not with empty flag waving and marching tunes that I express my appreciation for the people who do something that I, myself, just wouldn't do.
I wrote about my personal Veteran's Day last year, here. I don't really have a whole lot to add.
I am a pacifist, I am a liberal, I oppose war for almost any reason. I rarely think that displays of might and firepower are productive solutions to anything.
I have the utmost respect for the men and women who wear the uniforms, follow the orders and face the unspeakable for me so that I can sit back and say "Nah, I don't think so."
We are very much on the same page on this, I think. I am off to read your Veteran's day post from last year since I think we "met" just after that.
ReplyDeleteI had a hunch we were on the same page about this. It's tricky territory to navigate - this combined respect and loathing. It's so personal, too. As always, a human face on something I don't fully understand goes a long way.
DeleteI don't want any more wars. Have you seen these haunting images of soldier's eyes before, during, and after serving in Afghanistan?
ReplyDeletehttp://lavinrac.tumblr.com/post/33433596920/rangerthefuckup-ungreatfuldead-the-eyes-of
I'm afraid to even look. Haunting, indeed. My heart is much too soft and my visual memory much too keen for such things.
DeleteI, too, am grateful for those who serve. That said, when my oldest was about 14, he told me he wanted to join the army someday. Nothing had filled my mother's heart with more dread than this announcement. With much prayer for guidance, my husband and I simply let him talk about military service without putting up any fuss. Thankfully, after a year or so, the idea sort of died out. While I would have supported him, I'm grateful I didn't have to send my son off to war.
ReplyDeleteWith 3 sons, I don't know how I'd handle that, Jewels. I'd probably tie 'em to their beds if they tried to enlist.
DeleteApparently, that's not the PC way to go, though.
I'm kind of with Marianne on this one. I shudder to even think. This is one of those knife-edge things. I'm grateful we have a military that serves, but not my kids, thank you very much. White, middle class hypocrisy, I suppose, but there it is. What parent among us ever wants to put our kids in harm's way?
Deletei am not really sure one can be a pacifist without sacrificing the ability to recognize altruism as work or a duty well done. i have no offers of solution to this irony other than to say that peace bears a considerable social burden including exclusion sometimes from a country and its values.
ReplyDeletewar is war and is ugly. i have borne my share of weapons, hurt my share of the innocent and my past makes me a bad pacifist but i swore that for the rest of my days, i would seek and support peace and try not to harm my neighbour.
It is an irony of which I am well aware. I can never fully understand the sacrifices made, because I refuse to make them. I have that luxury, and I realize it is a luxury, and indulgence I allow myself. Irony is a nice word for hypocrisy.
DeleteI think your past makes you an ideal pacifist. You know exactly that which you eschew.
Amen
ReplyDeleteWell said!!
ReplyDelete