Friday, November 11, 2011

Proud to be a U.S. Marine on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2011

On this Armistice/Veteran's Day, amidst cynicism and despair, we cling desperately to the hope there will come a time when humans no longer feel the need to kill each other - for whatever reason.

But killing for god and country remains a staple of our common lives. Thus, we offer our thanks and appreciation to those men and women who were and are willing to stand and fight the tyrants of whatever stripe who would churn the earth into a scorched and bloody planetary mess in order to achieve religious and/or political domination.

14 comments:

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

My father was a career US naval officer, and my brother and his wife work for the Veterans Administration, so I certainly join in your tribute.

I also share your sentiments about peace. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1949 and put the money into health care and education. In a very troubled region of the world, Costa Rica alone has had a record of democracy ever since.

brattcat said...

well said, lowell.

cieldequimper said...

I do offer thanks and appreciation to the men who died in 1944, in Western Europe that is. Eastern Europe is a bit more complicated, and I have a hard time with "liberation" by Russian troops: the stories my grandmother told of and that my Mum as a 4 year-old remembers are chilling.

I try to think of my 2 German great-grandfathers and my French great-grandfather who died in the trenches. 3 out of 4, what folly is that?

Humans are humans, war has always existed and probably always will, tyranny in the primal sense of the word is still widespread and is taking on new forms: financial... Who knows what rebellions and revolutions are to come?

Unknown said...

Well said, Lowell, I do undersign. I have just read an article about what's going on in Europe regarding the Euro crisis and it's pretty scary. I don't even mention the title because it's too obvious and readers from a certain country might not like it... but it's true, the 'war' has begun.

Birdman said...

Yikes!

Pat said...

Here's to more places and policies like Costa Rica.

Rob said...

A day to remember those who served.

Judy said...

Well stated!

RedPat said...

Well said and shown!

Halcyon said...

I am afraid the US will never let go of the war mentality. I would much rather see the billions of dollars we spend on war go towards productive things like education. But I doubt this will ever happen (at least not in my lifetime). Bit I do thank those who have given their lives so that we may be free. I know it's a job I couldn't do.

Jack said...

Today is a good day to remember and honor those men and women who fight so that those of us at home can have the freedoms we too often take for granted.

Randy said...

Wow!

Small City Scenes said...

HOORAH!!

nopham said...

Listened to "Welcome Brother, Welcome Home"...Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson