Next Monday, Americans will commemorate Memorial Day. A day for remembering; to pause; to honor the men and women of our military; especially those who made - and are still making - the ultimate sacrifice:
Then Tuesday, we will return to work; return to our daily challenges; return to war. Will our country ever remember peace? I wonder if we’re trying. I wonder who remembers Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1961 farewell address warning against “the grave implications” of a "military-industrial complex." 65 years later and we’re producing more war materiel than ever. We are also bearing the highest national debt ever, increasing the federal budget for the “Department of War”.
War permeates our daily lives. We can’t escape it. Unfortunately, in my lifetime which spans back to 1961 and before, its nothing new. It’s not cheap, either:
Every time history repeats itself the price goes up.
Unknown Sage
Perhaps we could remember the 18th century Prussian army officer and military theorist, Carl von Clausewitz who couldn’t have said it better 190 years later:
War: The pursuit of political goals by other means.
Today it’s another crisis; another nuclear bomb threat; a continuation of a holy war. It’s the application of “advanced” science that Douglas Rushkoff spoke of:
Whereas the original Renaissance gave us the ability to circumnavigate the globe, out current one gives us the ability to blow it up.
Americans still have much to remember today in our ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union. Thankfully:
In every community, there is work to be done.
In every nation, there are wounds to heal.
In every heart, there is the power to do it.
Marianne Williamson
Yes Marianne, “In every heart, there is the power to do it!” I know we Americans can. I just hope we remember how.
GAP
When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.
No comments:
Post a Comment