Memorial Day, 2008: HuffPost Bloggers Weigh In

Bob Geiger: Dead Troops Remembered By President Who Had Them Killed:

Yes, that's a harsh headline for this piece.

But I'll ask you to forgive me because, as a Veteran, there isn't a day on the calendar that causes my hatred -- and I do indeed mean hatred -- of George W. Bush to bubble over the top more than Memorial Day.

Dante Zappala: Our Sacrifice:

My National Guardsman brother would be alive were it not for the war in Iraq. I must repeat that to myself with a quiet firmness. For many, Memorial Day represents the promise of burgeoning possibilities, a chance for a BBQ, afternoon beers and family gatherings. We, however, are consumed with flags, tears and the names of our dead.

For my family, Memorial Day bookends a season of anniversaries. For the fourth time now, we have repeated this litany. The last time I saw Sherwood was in February. The last time we talked was in March. His last e-mail came days before his death in April. His funeral was in May. And now we have this weekend to remember him amongst all of the fallen.

April Somdahl: Mourning My Brother and an Unjust War:

Brian was one of more than a hundred active duty soldiers to commit suicide last year. The Veterans Administration now admits that 1,000 veterans are attempting suicide every month. The Army is trying to blame these deaths on personal problems and failed relationships. Earlier this year, their top suicide expert, Col. Elspeth Ritchie, even put some of the blame on military families, telling a reporter that "Families are getting tired. Therefore, sometimes they're more irritable, sometimes they don't take care of each other the way they should, are not as nurturing as they should be."

Frank Schaeffer: A Memorial Day Speech Obama Should Give:

I never served but my Marine son did when he was deployed to President Bush's wars. I disagree with the President about invading Iraq, but I'm proud of my son's service. He didn't volunteer to serve an administration but our country.

I live on the Volvo-driving, higher-education-worshiping North Shore of Boston. I'm a novelist, not your usual "military parent" these days. I've learned a little about working class America -- especially the white Americans who live in places like West Virginia and Kentucky who provide an outsized contribution of men and women to our military.

Kerry Trueman: Sacrificial Limbs:

This Memorial Day, most Americans are too busy struggling to feed their families, fuel their cars, and cling to the roof over their heads to spend much time thinking about the sacrifices our soldiers are making on our behalf.

Greg Mitchell:At Memorial Day: Another Iraq Vet, With PTSD, Suicide:

On Memorial Day weekend, yet another American family is mourning the death of son who survived the war in Iraq -- only to fall victim at home from post traumatic shock disorder.

The family lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Marine was Chad Oligschlaeger, age 21, who committed suicide this week at the Twenty Nine Palms base in California.

Paul Helmke: Memorial Day: Remembering All Who Protect And Serve:

This Memorial Day weekend, as we remember our men and women in uniform serving around the world in our armed services, I encourage you also to remember those who serve in our local law enforcement agencies.

They put their lives on the line every day, and every day they have to deal with a criminal element armed with weapons of ever-greater firepower.

Martha Burk: Advertising For Trouble:

Most Americans acknowledge the service of our troops on Memorial Day, whether we agree with our country's involvement in the war or not. But the U.S. Marine Corps is taking advantage of the moment in a new way.

Long a bastion of macho military mystique, they're now actively recruiting women. Ads are running in such magazines as Shape, Self, and Fitness, which mainly appeal to women readers. They show a woman marine striking a martial arts pose in front of a crowd of men, who are supposedly looking up to her as a leader. The tag line reads "There are no female marines. Only marines." In a shrinking economy, these ads may appeal to a lot of women who need jobs. But like most advertising, they don't tell the whole story.

Susan Deal Booth: Thinking About Memorial Day And My Father:

The men and women of the armed services earn our respect. They act on what we as a democracy decide. Most of us just see glimpses of their heroism in history books, movies or the daily news. If we are very lucky, we know someone who has served or who is serving in the military. Lucky, because these men and women sometimes reveal the personal nature of their commitment. What they tell us can be electrifying, shocking, sad, awe-inspiring, but it is always humbling. It makes our debt to them very real.

I am especially lucky because I grew-up with a man who is a veteran. My father-Harry William Deal-fought in World War II and then thankfully, came home to raise our family.

Comments

[forpeace]

*

On this Memorial Weekend:

........ loved ones getting killed right in front of our eyes......­.... sadly based on LIES!

All the troops killed for Bush's LIES may rest in peace.

Bring the remaining troops home right now, alive not in body bags, instead of keeping them for another 100 years to continue the Illegal Invasions.

Salute to all VETERANS.

STOP the WARS.

*

[darthdarcy]

935 Lies...and there's more to come...

All these people died over Bush's Lies..!

[ThePublicRecord]

http://www.pubrecord.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=11

Son of Obama Bashing Minister Lies about Bibles for Our Troops

By Chris Rodda
The Public Record
May 26, 2008

Favoured : 1

Published in : Commentary

In a Memorial Day message on the Revival Fires International website, evangelist Tim Todd urges his followers to "make an eternal investment into the lives of our U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan" by donating money to send Bibles to the troops.

Tim Todd is the son of Revival Fires founder Cecil Todd, the minister whose recent sermon, "Who I Want In The White House!," accused Barack Obama of being "a Muslim in his heart," "posing as a Christian to get your vote," and wanting to bring the troops home from Iraq because he "doesn't want his Muslim brothers and sisters killed." Read more of Cecil Todd's sermon here

Tim Todd explains why private donations for military Bibles are so desperately needed: "Our government no longer provides Bibles for our troops! Because of the foolish 'separation of church and state' battle going on in this country, our military stopped this years ago."

This is an outright lie.

[goldenshaman]

If we really think wars are fought for freedom we are suckers.

The only time when that is true is when one nation is attacked by another. The defender in that case is defending it's freedom from imperialism.

How does that apply to Iraq?

Mostly wars are fought over "interests," which usually mean access to resources.

These days when you debate righties they will admit that the war in Iraq is a war for control of the oil.

That's why we are thinking about installing a new Sunni dictatorship. This democracy thing is not working out too well over there.

[Mogamboguru]

As a European, I have come to the clue that, the American society long ago fell victim to a false logon.

a. The USA fought and won "Good Wars" - WWI and WWII.

b. A country, which wins good wars, is good by itself.

c. Therefore, the USA is good and does good by fighting wars.

d. Any war is good, when it is fought by the USA.

And one might add :

e. War is good.

No. War is NOT good. With the seriousness and conviction of a European, who has lost half of his family during WWII - and almost lost the other half - I must tell you:

War is bad. Absolutely bad. War is bad down to the bones. War is Hell. War is an invention of the Devil, to spoil the creation of God: Man.

There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING which allows to glorify, justify, cause, enjoy or project war.

But in mourning our dead we meet.

[HumeSkeptic]

Thank you, Mogamboguru.

Thank you.

[BlueStateMan]

Thanks, man.

Spot on.

[chinacatsunflower]

good points, all. we've had it pounded into our heads since kindergarten that we are the BEST. unfortunately, a lot of us never saw past the b.s. and realized that we're actually NOT.

[AdLib]

Hard to fathom all the sacrifices made by individual Americans, men, women, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, all in the pursuit of protecting this country and its citizens.

It is sad that so many valuable lives have been so casually thrown away, by this administration alone and Bush only pours more salt in the wounds by claiming that giving up golf is his way of showing his appreciation of their sacrifices.

Meanwhile, McCain opposes the Veteran Rights bill.

Republicans pose as the party of the military but they are the ones who do the most damage to soldiers and their families. Time for a change indeed, time for us to respect those who put their lives on the line for our country by showing how much we value their lives.

We can do that by bringing our troops home from this endless conflict in Iraq, funding their physical and mental health care needs, supporting their educational pursuits and never again allowing them to be used for the political agendas of such greedy, power hungry people ever again.

[BlueStateMan]

"Republicans pose as the party of the military but they are the ones who do the most damage to soldiers and their families. "

-----------

Indeed.

Read "Great American Hypocrites" by Glen Greenwald.

[goldenshaman]

If we know someone who served, we know someone who lives the nightmare of war every day and night of their life.

For instance, my father, who has thrashed in his sleep every night since 1940.

Most of the people who glorify war and service in war have never been there.

[HumeSkeptic]

The War Prayer : by Mark Twain

O Lord our God, help us tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended in the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames in summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it--

For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, strain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!

We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJsZCpp8hR4


Happy Memorial Day!

[GoodwithWood]

thak you

[Betsy]

"What, no remarks from Cheney?" He must be busy today. I imagine he's surrounded by loved ones who never served. Those of us who pay attention remember his last remarks on Iraq. "So."

[Sparty1]

Betsy, you got him with that. I wonder what all of the warmongers with have to say about your post.

[provgrays]

The bravery and valor of these soldiers has been wasted because of the smirking ignorance of George W. Bush. To go with the anguish and grief being felt today, just as much rage should be expressed against the war criminals who invaded a country that never attacked the United States.

[maxdenn]

My late father served in Normandy during WW II. Thanks Papa. My uncles all served in the Navy in the last world war. They are all gone now. But never forgotten. Thanks guys.

[BlueStateMan]

My late dad was Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater (first mission over Japan)... my Uncle Bert (still kicking) was at the Battle of the Bulge.... others were in the Navy.

TRULY the "greatest generation­"... they literally saved the world.

[provgrays]

I had an uncle at Pearl Harbor and a great Uncle at Normandy. A grandfather served in World War 1 and my father served in Korea. They provided the freedom I too often take for granted.

[FogBelter]

The American people have to take more responsibility for the actions of their elected officials. I think that there should be a reevaluation of the way the War Powers Act works. I believe that in addition to a declaration of war from Congress being required in ALL cases to keep troops in the field for greater that 90 days (which is more or less ignored already for some of the United States Police Actions) there should also be a national confidence referendum for the President and Congress required, and if the President and Congress lose the confidence vote all of their seats are up for re-election at the end of 120 days if the troops aren't recalled.

Currently the American Public has no leverage over actions of the Federal Government when it comes to War or Police Actions ... that needs to change in order to protect our troops and guarantee their sacrifice isn't for base political purposes and in vain.

I am proud to have had forefathers who were veterans of WWII, WWI, the Civil War, the Mexican War, the French Indian Wars, War of 1812, and the Revolutionary War. I am also proud to have had an opportunity to visit the graves of America's forsaken heroes of Bataan at the Cemetery on the grounds of the former Fort William McKinley in the Philippines. My thoughts are with those valiant souls and with the Military personnel we currently have deployed in dozens of locations around the world.

[ailbhe]

Good idea but how about having a national referendum to decide whether you go to war in the first place?

[goldenshaman]

At this point, I think that our wars have had very little to do with our freedom.

Our freedom starts inside us and ends at our borders.

It's foolish to think that going halfway around the world to wage war has much to do with our freedom at home.

Certainly in this war our illegitimate leaders have done everything to undermine our freedom.

[FogBelter]

I'd agree, but in the case of a Pearl Harbor where an unambiguous response is required an immediate referendum would hobble the proper reaction ... It would be nice if Americans could vote aye or nay to war before it starts but that isn't always possible ... but keeping the officials honest after the fact would definitely improve the oversight and rein in acts of political irresponsibility.

But I agree having a National Preventative War Engagement vote would be theoretically the best course of action.

[cinnysmom]

I would like to thank every single service man and service woman who has served here and abroad. Thanks to you we are free. I love all of you brave people, you make me proud. Long live America!!!

[christianslayer1955]

To all the idiots who have bought into the notion that serving in the military is a noble cause,I say that you have been fooled.I served in the military and I only admire t the time I served because of the health benefits I am receiving from that service...­..Asides from that,I consider the military of the United States to be the tool of Corporate America to use when it serves their purpose...­...The military has been exploited over and over in the name of Democracy to invade other countries and force them to adhere to our will......­..The people have allowed themselves to be used as such in order for them to feel useful and appreciate­d.It is truly a sad statement when a mother allows her son and daughter to be snatched away and destroyed by the likes of Bush,Cheney and Rumsfeld..­..etc...an­d she says nothing in protest in memory of that sibling...­...What kind of a parent is that?..."I will never raise my son or daughter to kill another person's son and daughter"
Eric Oriol

[coyote4]

Are we allowed to comment today? or is Memorial Day too sensitive for Americans to handle without Arianna's guiding hand?

[macbabe]

if you have to ask, you know the answer!

[ResidentChimp]

Dante Zappala doesn't know what he/she is talking about. There is no way to know if his/her brother would be alive today if he had not given his life in the service of his Country. HIs sacrifice is felt most strongly by his family, but it doesn't mean he couldn't had die in some less noble way, regardless of his own nobility. Our Country honors those who have fallen in the service of their Country. It demeans their sacrifice to belittle it.

[HumeSkeptic]

I am sure there are statistics to demonstrate that ones who fight in wars have a higher incidence of death than those who don't. ;-)

The flip side of what you said is that we shouldn't give special importance to those who died in wars, because they might have died prematurely even if they didn't go to war.

[ResidentChimp]

You better check your numbers Skeptic, because that is not the case overall. In fact the fatality rate in the Iraqi War has been less than some of the years in the Carter Administration when we fought no wars. And it's your flip side , not mine. My point is that most parents mourn the passing of their children before they themselves die. And there are a lot more Americans in that 18-24 age group who die in America from far less noble endeavors. And when I talk about nobility, I'm talking about the military men and women who give their lives without making a judgement on any particular war. I don't believe war is moral, and I didn't Volunteer for Vietnam because I felt our cause was just. For me the men and women who have given their lives in the service of our Country deserve our respect and thanks. What they don't deserve is someone demeaning their service by denigrating a specific war as if their sacrifice wasn't up to par.

[Ant]

"Dante Zappala doesn't know what he/she is talking about. There is no way to know if his/her brother would be alive today if he had not given his life in the service of his Country."

His brother died in a completely avoidable and unnecessary war instigated by a reckless and feckless president and that's probably what hurts the most.

War is a high risk occupation compared to other things his brother could have been doing so the probability of him being alive (if it weren't for this unnecessary war) would be pretty high.

[Norge]

The day of Americas' terrible terrible tragedy for the American people and the generations to come certainly is not to be celebrated but should be a day of prayer throughout the land asking the world for forgivness for the untold atrocities commited by America throughout the world
.
It is truely a day of the deepest of sorrows and grief and much of such being The Blindness, the awful blindness of the American people.
The blindness caused by their awful grief with the unspeakable suffering their government has caused to millions.
For your sake, I hope your God can forgive you America as the parents of the children you have murdered, sees you only as a cold, ruthless and mercyless machine deserving only distruction.

May your God have mercy on your land.


Rolf Krogsæther

[peacekitten]

rolf,

not all of us are blind, nor have we been from the beginning. and perhaps i am not as generous a person as you, but i hope there is no mercy, ever, for those who led us into this illegal war, and for the sector of the voting electorate who allowed them to do it.

bushco isn't america. they have been a cancer on this land since they insinuated themselves into power all the way back to world war I when samuel bush got himself made the secretary of war right before the u.s. became involved in it. it is long past time for that cancer to be excised, and for them to be justly tried for their crimes against us and all of humanity.

[ResidentChimp]

Those who withold mercy deserve none themselves. To pretend you are not complicit in Iraq is denial.