Comments on: Memorial Day http://atheists.org/blog/2007/05/25/memorial_day A Blog of Atheist Thought Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:47:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: imaskeptic http://atheists.org/blog/2007/05/25/memorial_day/comment-page-1#comment-60220 imaskeptic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-60220 SEMPER FI ! SEMPER FI !

]]> By: vjack http://atheists.org/blog/2007/05/25/memorial_day/comment-page-1#comment-60221 vjack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-60221 I don't know about celebrating. I haven't been able to think about Memorial Day for awhile without thinking about Iraq. I agree that it is a good day to acknowledge our veterans, but I think it is also a good day to reflect on why we are still in Iraq and why nobody has yet been held accountable. I don’t know about celebrating. I haven’t been able to think about Memorial Day for awhile without thinking about Iraq. I agree that it is a good day to acknowledge our veterans, but I think it is also a good day to reflect on why we are still in Iraq and why nobody has yet been held accountable.

]]> By: mryder66 http://atheists.org/blog/2007/05/25/memorial_day/comment-page-1#comment-60224 mryder66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-60224 Rememberence of veterans and sacrifice seems to become more attractive as greater time passes between the present and the conflict remembered. I think wars become less dirty as history sanitizes much of the mistakes, brutality, and tragic waste of life and liberty, and leaves in relief the heroism, sacrifice and valour.<br /> <br /> In Australia and New Zealand we commemorate ANZAC day (April 25) in rememberence primarily of the colonial (at that time) troops sent to fight in the misdirected campaign in Gallipoli in 1915 where the Australian forces suffered 50% casualties and the NZ forces 90%. <br /> <br /> To my mind such tragedies and misadventures resulting in disastrous consequences are the appropriate way to remember. Remember the fallen, remember the callous disregard our leaders can have for the blood of their countrymen. Remember how easily even well intentioned leaders can feed their armed forces into the meat grinder of a war of folly.<br /> <br /> I salute those that answer the call trusting that the cause is just and the leadership has their best interests at heart. At the same time I caution those who answer to look at their histories and ask how often that call has been justified and how often it has been at the whim of dubious ideology and political jingoism.<br /> <br /> The record to this very day is mixed at best.<br /> <br /> Rememberence of veterans and sacrifice seems to become more attractive as greater time passes between the present and the conflict remembered. I think wars become less dirty as history sanitizes much of the mistakes, brutality, and tragic waste of life and liberty, and leaves in relief the heroism, sacrifice and valour.

In Australia and New Zealand we commemorate ANZAC day (April 25) in rememberence primarily of the colonial (at that time) troops sent to fight in the misdirected campaign in Gallipoli in 1915 where the Australian forces suffered 50% casualties and the NZ forces 90%.

To my mind such tragedies and misadventures resulting in disastrous consequences are the appropriate way to remember. Remember the fallen, remember the callous disregard our leaders can have for the blood of their countrymen. Remember how easily even well intentioned leaders can feed their armed forces into the meat grinder of a war of folly.

I salute those that answer the call trusting that the cause is just and the leadership has their best interests at heart. At the same time I caution those who answer to look at their histories and ask how often that call has been justified and how often it has been at the whim of dubious ideology and political jingoism.

The record to this very day is mixed at best.

]]> By: karen http://atheists.org/blog/2007/05/25/memorial_day/comment-page-1#comment-60225 karen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-60225 My daughter's and daughter-in-law's birthdays sandwich this weekend, so it's a good one for me.<br /> <br /> ______<br /> Thanks! to all you vets out there, past and present. My daughter’s and daughter-in-law’s birthdays sandwich this weekend, so it’s a good one for me.

______
Thanks! to all you vets out there, past and present.

]]> By: wisconsinatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2007/05/25/memorial_day/comment-page-1#comment-60226 wisconsinatheist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-60226 HOOAH! HOOAH!

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