Many individuals still believe war created by nation states is a viable option to settle disputes.
Many individuals still believe nation states are a necessary institution.
And many individuals keep on believing the lies of confirmed liars.
The video at the bottom was created in 2011.
Ask
ten people what Memorial Day is about and you’ll probably receive
ten different responses. Mentioned are claims of "recognizing those
who have served and fallen in defense or service to their country,"
"identifying patriots who unselfishly answered the call," and
"acknowledging the heroes of battle." A common theme encountered in
the discussion is remembrance. But, what else should be
remembered? Are there not other aspects of war that need
remembering?
Remember the architects of
perpetual conflict, the schemers and tacticians who design the
strategy, chart the acts of aggression, and lay the blueprints for
other’s destruction.
Remember the plague of nationhood that infects the innate
free spirit of men, disrupts the natural order of peaceful exchange and
fuels the slavish obedience to political orders; regardless their legality or
morality.
Remember the irresponsible who jump at the opportunity for
conflict, forgetting reason, composure, and diplomacy. Remember how
they delegate to others the
duty to lead the engagement.
Remember the propaganda
meisters
who flood the airwaves with poisonous lies to reassure a wary,
skeptical public; all carefully calculated to stultify the truth of
war’s consequences.
Remember the Masters of War
who profit from this heinous spectacle- those who gain power and
tarnished wealth. Watch them flaunt their booty paid for with the
bloody currency of children not
their own.
Remember those who consider it essential that defense of a
state’s borders requires committing pre-emptive acts
of aggression
against people on the other side
of the globe.
Remember the cheerleaders
who urge on "their" warriors with shouts of jingoistic fervor; yet
refuse or find it unnecessary to give up their comfort of
state side security.
Remember those who have witnessed, first hand, the horror of
battle and tasted the acrid flavor of war’s experience.
Remember those who discover an epiphany, a life changing
understanding that war is not the glorious adventure of Hollywood
imagery, not the youthful pastime of an entertaining video
game.
Remember those of this group who then fail to warn others of
this newfound knowledge, who fail to convince compatriots of the
needless sacrifice and stolen innocence.
Remember those on the sidelines who do not obey their
conscience to speak out against the carnage, who hold their tongues
through shyness or cowardice; who stand by silent as family,
friends, and neighbors are whisked off to their inevitable
doom.
Remember the children who witness war and its atrocities.
Remember the confusion within young minds told killing is wrong,
than struggle to comprehend the exception of war.
Remember their bewilderment when told to accept the killing
of strangers that have done them no harm.
Remember the irreconcilable conflict within the hearts of
Christians whose testament instruct "love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you" and "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him
the other also (Luke 6:27-–29)." Remember their befuddlement when
finding serving their state requires
disregarding these principles. Remember the ideological clash when
told serving their "country" preempts faithfulness to their
God.
Remember the broken bodies and shattered psyches, still with
us to remind us of war’s human cost. Remember the lost potential,
the dashed dreams, the oceans of shed tears, the newly discovered
war against desperation and hopelessness.
Yes,
remember the fallen, the dead. Visit their resting places with
solemn respect. Make note of their obscenely abundant and escalating
numbers.
Remember that each grave has a face, a story, a soul
represented by that slab of coldly etched stone or weathered
cross.
Then, remember the graves throughout the world without
adornment of a marker- a name, an individual, sentenced to a burial
of eternal anonymity. Don’t the numbers now grow exponentially? Some
were enemies, some were allies. Remember they also once walked the
earth as those you honor. Remember they also aspired to a life of
peaceful contentment, though driven by a different philosophy or
creed as a means to obtain it.
Remember how, when living, all sides were compelled by
opposing views of righteousness but now all are colleagues in
death.
Do
not only grieve for their loss but remember the lies and liars that
killed them.
Resistance is Mandatory
No rulers
No masters
NO CONSENT
