We’ve been remembering and revering fallen, endangered or ill people for quite some time now—so long that most of us have lost track of who started it all.
We have felt the need to mark graves—a kind of Kilroy was here—for ages. Heck, I’ve even seen R. I. P. (dearly departed relative or pet) car memorials, often on the most pimped out of vehicles.
Songs have been written. Two come to mind: Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.
Speaking of yellow, the yellow ribbon magnets slapped on cars that were all the rage at the start of the Iraqi war are noticeably fewer in number these days. While we still support the troops, we just aren’t so sure we need to show it anymore now that it’s safe to disagree with the Bush administration. Even the republican senators are joining the opposition.
I have a pink ribbon or two and have sold products featuring the ribbon so ubiquitously identified with the disease I’d sooner forget. Lance Armstrong’s plastic Live Strong bracelets are a favorite presidential candidate accessory.
But, the other day my daughter-in-law forwarded a story from NPR about a couple from Kansas City who had simply planted American flags on their lawn—one for each of the U. S. soldiers killed since we got into Bush’s War. The couple didn’t appear to be loud or obnoxious like some war protestors cut of the Cindy Sheehan cloth. They were just sad. It was a stark and powerful statement.
Sadly, it’s taken many months and many lives, for many Americans to come to the conclusion that this war and what the administration says it is striving to do, just isn’t wanted by many Iraqis. American-style freedom isn’t the panacea it’s cracked up to be. I love my freedoms. I love my country. I don’t expect the world to discard ancient and traditional ways just because a U. S. president thinks his way is the way to go. I do expect other countries and their citizens to leave me and my family the hell alone when I’m minding my own business.
Maybe, just maybe, we should leave the Iraqis alone. That is if we can wind the clock back to the time before all hell broke loose.
9 comments:
The bad thing is to catch a hundred of bad guys a thousand of good guys are getting killed. On both sides. War is not an option!
If the mothers were put in charge, I think we'd have fewer wars.
November 2008 gets closer every day.
It's so painful right now though.
I loved your comment over at Miss T's place, stopped by to see what was in the Alabama Kitchen Sink. I was looking for a mess of pole beans and some fresh corn on the cob but instead I found someone not too happy about whats up in America.
I got to say since I did a little time in Vietnam, I feel for our soldiers today, you see, I have been there and done that, it sucks. We have soldiers in harms way, like it or not, they need whatever we can do for them. Is it going to work in Iraq, I doubt it, but it is the best hope we have for today to stop what is soon to be in our homeland, we have to stand and fight somewhere. Where should it be?
Oh, stop by for a visit, I am right neighborly..........
Thanks for visiting Sarge and for your comment. While I look at the war in Iraq with a different view than you, I appreciate your politeness. You definitely have been tested if you served in Vietnam. I do respect the men and women who are in harm's way as well as people like you who have served America in whatever way is asked. I'm not opposed to all war. I just want to be damned sure we are fighting and seeing precious lives lost for a just and reasonable cause.
I don't have a solution because I feel like we cannot pull out of Iraq until there is more stability. What I am maddest about is that our president took us there under false pretenses. I think there are and were far more dangerous training grounds for people who want to destroy Westerners and Americans in particular. I also feel that we cannot impose our ways on a people if they aren't willing. These factions are more intent on knocking each other out of the way than seeking peace and freedom.
Thank you for the visit and the kind comment, I don't think anyone has the solution at this time, as they did not on D-Day, but sometimes you just have to keep plugging along until you find you way.
I do not agree on the false pretenses but we are allowed to disagree and still be friends, Oh, by the way, I love pie.
Yes, Sarge, I think if more people adopted your view that we can disagree and not be enemies, the whole world would be better. I will visit again.
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