Mood: Doobie Bros. “Listen To The Music”
Memorial Day
I had debated on writing this on the day itself, but as I will be busy cooking, baking and grilling a good portion of the day, I figured if I was compelled to write it had to be the day before.
Memorial Day in the US: I have a few family members who have served and passed. One served in WWII and entered the Pacific theater at Tarawa and saw some horrific things. He entered the war in early ‘44 so did not serve through most of it, but he became a Lifer, seeing action in Korea and Vietnam. He never spoke of his time in war and what he needed to do and remained a relatively positive and happy man, though quite fond of drinking. He passed peacefully in his sleep at 80, and though he chose to be buried in a small Colorado town, his service rated a jet flyover of the Missing Man Formation and a government official in attendance. When he was asked if he could discuss this relative’s service to his country, he politely apologized and said he could not as it was all Classified.
We will never know how he fully served his country, but are confident that the service was highly regarded and of above average value.
The other relative was fortunate enough to never serve during war and passed from pancreatic cancer in his late 40s.
These people who served in our military and are no longer with us, due directly to battle or of a more ‘natural’ way deserve our thanks, in my opinion. For many centuries life has been ‘nasty, brutish and short’ and some of those words may yet still pertain, but it has ever been human nature to descend into violence, and with that old saying about power corrupting, when one has the power over a great many people and wants something they must take, we get such national ‘conflicts’ with even greater power as a dynamo. For the most part and increasingly so in this country’s history we have used our power to defend. No, certainly not always, but more often than not.
The importance of those who gave their all in defense of this and other countries cannot be understated as they have either protected our freedoms or served as a catalyst to more equal freedoms. It is my hope that, outside of getting involved in another war/conflict (and I dearly hope we haven’t already poked a bear enough to be there already), we continue to move forward with freedom and security.
Just A Common Soldier
(A Soldier Died Today)
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.
And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.
It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.
--A. Lawrence Vaincourt
Human Nature
There have been a few heinous events the last week and more that have garnered more attention than weekends in some major cities in the US. Terrible things that have just brought out the worst in many of us.
It comes down to the unfortunate truth of Human Nature, in my opinion.
Here is what I mean: in recorded history, there has not been a time when there has not been a war or conflict of some kind on this globe, all of which result in many deaths.
Witness the truth of what happens where strict laws are enacted to curb violence; mass violence and killings tend to take place where such laws exist.
We are and always have been a violent race of beings, and it is a bitter pill to accept.
I could go into so much more, mostly based upon the terrible reporting and knee-jerk reactions of the two events this last week and more, almost all of which lead to more fear, hate, and incitement to harm. But that is Human Nature.
However, I still hold out hope for us. We do much to fight against that nature every day. Art and poetry and writing and advancements in sciences and technology are all parts of our better natures (acknowledging that they can be used towards the end of violence, too), and there have been throughout known history bastions of Higher Nature.
We do really Need to spend more time in Positivity and in doing our best to spread Light and Love. We aren’t always going to agree with one another, no, but do we have to resort to our worse nature because of it? Agreed there are some things that do not deserve acceptance, such as the Axis of the 1940s. Again, Human Nature
I think the most valiant and good thing we can do is to fight against our worst nature. As with many things, we cannot rely on our central powers of governing to do so, nor can we rely on our media to do so. No, we must each, on our own, actively choose against such brutish action.
Don’t post that cowardly comment that you know you wouldn’t say to their face.
Step back and take a breath when you feel a violent action about to burst forth, physically or verbally.
If there can be not common ground in a disagreement, agree to disagree in love and compassion.
Above all, try to do your best to be more positive. It may be a pipe dream, but if we all choose to do that, push back against Human Nature, we make many lives better.
