This blog is not for the light-hearted or easily offended. If either one of those descriptions applies to you, i would suggest you start drinking before you read this blog. A sense of humor is suggested. If you don't have one that sucks for you … find one and get a life!
In which today is Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day and I honestly didn’t really prepare anything special “blog wise” for it but I did want to say something. As you know, I spent the previous week down at Duke Hospital with my daughter. What you don’t know is that directly across from Duke Hospital is a large Veteran’s Administration Hospital (VA) that has been there forever and ever.
I remember when I used to go down to see my brother at Duke Hospital when I was a kid and this ugly red brick building was there and it’s still red brick and it’s still ugly although not quite as ugly as it used to be. I couldn’t help pondering what was going on in that hospital as we waiting in the surgical waiting area that had a bank of windows overlooking the VA hospital.
Were those people getting the care we were getting? Were their families with them? Were they being paged with updates on the status of the patients they were waiting for? Or were they just there for long-term illnesses and problems, victims of forgotten wars of long ago.
I wondered, as they were telling us that Keely might lose her leg, were there many amputees over there; victims of landmines and other explosions in Iraq and Afghanistan? It made me really think of the military and my relationship with it.
My dad was in the Korean War although he was safely ensconced in Maryland doing research for chemical warfare. My uncles and father in law were in World War II although they obviously made it out alive and for the most part, unscathed. But what about the millions of people who didn’t?
This weekend is about remembering those who gave their lives for this country and more and more, those people are from an underclass that uses the military as a way to get an education and a skill; as a way out of whatever economic climate they’re currently in.
I don’t think that’s fair. The more disenfranchised the “upper class” gets from the military, the easier it is to go to war or “start a war.” After all, if you have no “skin in the game” the consequences don’t directly affect you. I personally believe that we should be more like Israel with a mandatory requirement to serve your country after high school for each and EVERY citizen.
If this happened, then everyone would know what it was like to serve and every parent would know what it was like to feel the fear of having a child serving during an active war. While I don’t really agree with war and I’m certainly not advocating it, it’s never really directly affected me but there are millions of other parents fretting at every minute while their children defend MY freedoms.
I don’t think it’s fair. I just know that more and more, people are completely removed from the realities of war and the more this happens, the easier it is to make decisions to go to war.
On this Memorial Day, I want to thank the men and women who have given their life for this country, my country, to make it safe. My freedom was hard won and I know it wasn’t by me but I certainly do appreciate it.
To each and every person, Happy Memorial Day and think of all the people who have served and are serving even as we speak.
Thank you,
Lynn MacDonald
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Lynn, this really hits home for me this year. Our oldest, my stepson, has enlisted and heads out to boot camp in September. Memorial day feels *different* somehow.
Thank you for this…
aww…I hope all ends well and good luck!
Margaret, my son is about to enter West Point and though I have four years before he is in any chance of danger I felt the same way about this Memorial Day. It was different somehow. Good luck to your son.
Ann! How’s the graduation party coming along?
Sadly, this country has a huge disconnect when it comes to service and rights.
I could go on and on here … I wish people would recognise the need for more equality.
We state that everyone is equal, but it doesn’t really manifest itself in reality.
Healthcare, education, service … it should be across the board – isn’t that why its a democracy?
By Word of Mouth Musings recently posted..Memorial Day – Raise Responsible Citizens
The statistics support your attitude. I’m not sure that I advocate a mandatory service requirement – our circumstances as a nation are vastly different from Israel’s. But I get where you’re coming from.
they are different but it allows people to become very removed from the reality of war
Thanks for such a wonderful tribute. Hats off to all the men & women who served for this great nation.
Claudia recently posted..RedX
agreed
Outstanding post, Lynn. Those are my exactly my sentiments. Although I did serve (Vietnam era…draft times), my kids did not. While we all enjoy the freedom our military has enabled, our military is generally made up of those that need the benefits of service. And it isn’t fair. Thanks for this post.
Aww thanks…I appreciate it.
I agree…my husband served in vietnam and he is sick with leukemia. We almost lost him in March. If not for God and his awesome doctor for his PAH-pulmonary he would have died. I think about all people without families and I am forever stoppng to talk to older people. My girls don’t like it but too bad! I want to talk to someone who might not have any fun that day or ever even! That is why I love your blog. You make me laugh. My Daddy just died. I miss him A LOT and I need to LAUGH!
i’m so sorry…it’s my opinion that death sucks. Hope you eventually just remember all the good times
I totally agree and I am one with your sentiments. It is really unfair that the more disenfranchised ones are those that enlist seeing this as a way to economic freedom, never mind that the cost is their own lives. Wars are a waste of resources but the powers that be see these as business and therefore, a means to acquire.
Amy Turner recently posted..Best Credit Card Deals for June
yeah, it’s sad really