Post Holiday Thoughts

I was on vacation for Memorial Day and during such holidays you never want to add too much commentary. It's kind of like Michael Moore and the Oscars. Yes, we may agree with what he said, but it wasn't the right time, place, or probably messenger. I'm not sure I am either, but I'll give it a try and do it bullet style like I used to do in college when I didn't have enough to write about.

• I read a piece that talked about the celebrating outside the White House following Bin Laden's assassination. The author triggered it for me. We have to do a better job of educating our youth about war and what it is really like. I always focused on this during my history classes (not as a draft dodging peacenik but in a way that showed what they go through). The opening scence of Saving Private Ryan should be required viewing. It's horrifying, but that's what it is all about.
• Say thank you and put up a flag, but let's show our thanks. Whether you believe in any particular war, we should all agree on a few things. Our soldiers need the best supplies, support, and medical care we can provide. Some of the stories you hear coming back are horrific. As Al Pacino's character said in Scent of a Woman, "there is nothing worse than an amputated soul. There is no replacement or prosthetic for that." War makes people do things they would never do in polite society. That has an effect on people. All of this requires our support politically and financially. Anyone that wants to cutback on medical care or psychological care needs to be branded as unAmerican. Period.
• This is where things get controversial. We are a free country and we will differ, but anyone serious can't deny that many of the battles we have fought in recent years have had questionable connections to making Americans any safer. It is often said that people sacrifice to protect our freedoms. As important as our economic well-being is, no one should shed their blood to make it better.