<\/p>\n
On Memorial Day we remember and What of the claim that many died to
\nhonor those men and women who have fought for their country and paid with their
\nlives in doing so. <\/span>There are many
\nkinds of patriotism, some worthy, some unworthy, but laying your life on the
\nline in defense of your country, your community, your family and friends, ranks high among the worthy. <\/span>Democrat, Republican, Independent, or
\nsomething else, it does not matter. The same hold for terms like liberal and
\nconservative, Pagan or Jewish or Christian or nonbeliever. <\/span>For most people those labels reflect
\nwhere they grew up, who they grew up with, and what they happened to learn far
\nmore than it reflects on their character.
\n<\/span>These distinctions are important in some contexts. They are not
\nimportant in this one. On Memorial Day all Americans with open hearts can embrace them all.<\/p>\n
\nno good end because many wars were manufactured by depraved politicians for
\ntheir own ends? <\/span>True enough all
\ntoo often, and irrelevant when on Monday we honor the motives and remember the fates of those who
\npaid with their lives for devotion to their country. <\/span>I believe we who denounced those politicians should focus on the men and women who went abroad believing it their duty to do
\nso, who did the best they knew how to defend their homeland to the best of
\ntheir understanding, and who died.
\n<\/span>If a particular war was unworthy that does not detract from their
\nsacrifice. <\/span>They would have been
\nequally devoted to duty, equally willing to risk and pay the ultimate price,
\nhad their cause been as good as they thought it was. They did the best they knew.<\/span><\/p>\n