Friday, May 22, 2009

P4E.107 Memorial

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and it's a sad societal comment that we must be reminded what it is we're memorializing. The news leading up to Memorial Day has been saturated with Gitmo, Guantanomo what did she know and when did she know it? Enhanced interrogation techniques, high value military detainees and Dick Cheney.

What is worth fighting for? What is worth dying for? What is war good for? Do we know what our values are? Should we wage war to gain peace?

The noble war is waged to gain freedom from tyrrany, oppression, taxation without representation. The ignoble war is an offensive war. The ignoble war is waged to gain power, land, wealth, resources, slaves, dominion, a woman. The ignoble war forces religion, culture, laws, political constructs, language, borders on an unwilling people. The noble war is a defensive war. Defending life, property, culture, borders, a way of life. War is subjective. War is hell.

We memorialize those who fought and died defending our Country, peace, justice and the American Way. Democracy. The Constitution. Our rights. God rest their souls.

In a way, I think that it is right that we should agonize over all of it. We should question all of it. We avoid arrogance when we ask ourselves questions. But, when we distill issues down to their essence and we find an incontrovertable truth, we must courageously and undeniably stand by it.

For myself, I'd rather stick to spiritual than political issues. I feel more comfortable letting others slog through the muck and mire of american and world politics.

In the spirit of asking ourselves questions:



"You may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
You may find yourself in another part of the world
You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
You may find yourself in a beautiful house,
with a beautiful wife
You may ask yourself;
Well...How did I get here?

Letting the days go by
let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by
water flowing underground
Into the blue again
after the money's gone

Once in a lifetime
water flowing underground

You may ask yourself
How do I work this?
You may ask yourself
Where is that large automobile?
You may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
You may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!

Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...

Water dissolving...and water removing
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Remove the water Carry the water
Remove the water from the bottom of the ocean

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water

You may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
You may ask yourself
Where does that highway go to?
You may ask yourself
Am I right?...Am I wrong?
You may say to yourself
MY GOD!...WHAT HAVE I DONE?" Talking Heads

Can we ever be sure? Peace, Kim