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

[Superbus]

Memorial Day commerorates the sacrifices of those Americans, who answered the call of duty and gave their lives so we could be free and today post on this site.

[coyote4]

WE ARE NOT FREE TO POST ON THIS SITE

[coyote4]

Amazing things do happen and some days our posts do not disappear. I am impressed.

[Dr. Sam]

OUR HEART GOES OUT FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM!!!
As the Clintons focus on blaming others--now the Democratic Party itself--for the failure of their campaign, I refer bloggers to Roger Cohen's OP-ED in the New York Times of today (May 26, 2008) titled "The Obama Connection." Cohen points to the basic politics of the Clintons as one of "'Me, me, me.' That tends to be blinding. Her most crippling blindness has been the networks, national, global, the threads that bind and have changed society." I add this comment: IT IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT; never the Clintons! That is the story of their life—AND, ON THAT SCORE, THEY HAVE ALWAYS USED OTHERS TO ATTAIN THEIR END. During the Clinton years in the White House, it was the "vast right wing conspiracy"--never the reckless conduct of the Clintons. Democrats rallied to defend them out of a sense of solidarity. Now, it is a conspiracy within the Democratic Party itself--never mind that Hillary Clinton ran a very poor campaign, played all the conceivable negative cards (race, gender, media, whining, working class, religion, victim, and on and on). After all these years, the Clintons, as serial users, are yet to learn the true meaning and virtue of personal responsibility. But then again, they in no way can symbolize an aristocracy of virtue. They have always played by the primordial rules of selfish individuality.

[wagonjak]

What the heck happened to all the previous comments? They've all disappeared! Webmaster run amok?

[MsLourdes]

My heart is heavy thinking of those giving the ultimate sacritice and their families, also the wounded both physically and mentally. I promise never to vote for anyone who supported and/or continues to support this war/

[ResidentChimp]

You believe you can pick and choose your wars? It doesn't work that way. Do you think you would be less complicit with those tyrants who kill and main innocents around the World? Those who don't want to face up to the grim reality think by isolating themselves from these atrocities, it will keep them pure. You heavy heart is of little consequence to those who are caught in a tyrant's grip. The men and women who have sacrifice their lives for their principles and our Country are far above your pedestrian feelings. Their nobility can't be tainted by your denigration.

[truthoutdotduh]

hey chimp, trouble is the Iraqis would be better off to still have Saddam in charge.

why you ask?

here's why:

A.) about 1,000,000 of them would still be alive

B.) at least 2,000,000 would not be maimed for life

C.) there would not have been 3-5,000,000 of them living as homeless refugees

D.) Fallujah

E.) Haditha

F.) a young girl by the name of Abir would never have been raped and murdered along with most of the rest of her family

G.) the country would not be forever ruined, and it would not be in a state of war with no end in sight

H.) and much more that I just can't think about right now

There was absolutely NO justification for the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq! NONE!

Afghanistan was a HUGE mistake as well! The Taliban had nothing to do with the events of 9/11, and neither did Osama. The worst enemies we have reside within our borders.

[shockmagog]

"You believe you can pick and choose your wars?"

Our right to pick and choose this one was usurped by deceit, hubris, fear, and lies.
So, "yes we can."

[kegbot1]

You really believe the garbage you type? You know what - go enlist yourself and go to some foreign land and kill brown skinned 'others' for your damn corporate masters. Warmongering know-nothings like you make me sick. And yes I served. You come across as a typical garden variety American fascist.

This is what makes me sick about Memorial Day are troglodyte idiots like residentchimp and the rest of the traitorous war loving scum in Washington use the day as a glorification of war more than to remember those who died for the Empire. And, in this case and in Vietnam - died in vain. IN VAIN.

[harriscrl3]

"Awesome people" what the heck kind of vocabulary is that. A teenager could do better. Just sad.

Happy memorial day and thanks to the service men who dedicate their lives.

Carol

[TomSongs]

Memorial Day 2008
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=4PGxCQy- -sQ

[TomSongs]

Here's my 2008 Memorial Day Tribute complete with a bush/golf cameo:

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=4PGxCQy- -sQ

[FiddleDD2]

You would think Chimp would have the decency to hide on Memorial Day. He didn't have his peers' backs when it was time for him to serve, and he doesn't have their children's backs now with supporting the Webb GI bill. This "commander in chief" is still AWOL when it comes to true support of our military and McMaverick is just waiting to fill his boots.

[JRandomPoster]

No matter what you think of our political leadership, it behooves all Americans to take a bit of time today away from the BBQ's and such not to remember those who have died for this nation, and those who are fighting at this moment.

And then, if you, like me, believe that the war we are engaged in is wrong, that our brave men and women are dying in a fight that cannot be won with force of arms alone, honor them by working towards other solutions, and working to change the way that our land is governed.

[Superbus]

Very well posted.

[VOTER]

Bob, millions of others share your hatred for Bush.

Your headline isn't harsh just truthful.

Happy Memorial Day!

AirForceVet/Vietnam