Memorial Day 2006
I really don't care what your politics are. In the context of Memorial Day your opinion and my opinion are not the point. Memorial Day is established to give honor to those who have put themselves into danger for the "folks back home." It isn't important just now whether or not we want to define that danger broadly or more closely. It isn't important just now whether or not you think this that or the other is justified or right. What matters is that there are people - right now - who aren't able to go to a ball game, aren't able to go to a restaurant, aren't able to be with their families, aren't able to just goof off, aren't able to go fishing, jogging, watch their kids' soccer game, or make stupid entries in a blog about who is cool and who isn't, because they have a few more pressing matters to take care of.What matters is that these people are from down the block, across town, who used to deliver the mail, or fix your car, or serve your dinner, or drive that truck. There are people anxious for them to come home who may be in front of you in the check-out line, or selling you your lottery tickets, or just wondering where Daddy is and when he's going to read them a story before bed again. And there are people somewhere close to you who will never see the son they waved good-bye to again.
And you can take it or leave it. You can ignore it or think about it. You can turn your back or face to the front. You can say and think and feel anything you want.
But they are our sons and daughters, husbands, brothers, sisters, wives, cousins, uncles, in-laws or the guy down the street we set off fireworks with last 4th of July and never knew his name.
And if we forget them we've lost ourselves, and any grace and honor that we were born with.
