Comments on: Memorial Day Thoughts http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/index.php/2009/05/23/memorial-day-thoughts/ Ruminations on life, art, politics, and whatever else catches my fancy. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:09:41 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: colleen http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/index.php/2009/05/23/memorial-day-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1496 colleen Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:48:13 +0000 http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/?p=1194#comment-1496 As a vet what you say carries even more weight. It is such a trick to grieve our vets and honor them at the same time without honoring war itself. Interestingly, the more we explore the stories of WWII vets in this area, the more we're learning that most of them did not want to go and some did just what you did. I respected them more upon hearing that. It seemed more normal and human as compared to gung-ho patriotism. As a vet what you say carries even more weight. It is such a trick to grieve our vets and honor them at the same time without honoring war itself. Interestingly, the more we explore the stories of WWII vets in this area, the more we’re learning that most of them did not want to go and some did just what you did. I respected them more upon hearing that. It seemed more normal and human as compared to gung-ho patriotism.

]]> By: Jeff http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/index.php/2009/05/23/memorial-day-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1494 Jeff Mon, 25 May 2009 20:53:15 +0000 http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/?p=1194#comment-1494 Debi, I didn't know of this book. I did some poking around on the 'net and read a couple of reviews. I don't particularly care to read the book - I certainly know how the military works as far as brainwashing goes. But you have to understand that military training has to be that way, because killing fellow human beings is not an act that 98% of the population willingly does. To kill, the other has to be demonized and military training does a very good job of that. Sometimes, violence is necessary, but I would say that is pretty rare. What needs to be asked is why is violence always seen as the answer in the "land of the free and the home of the brave"? I object to the glorification of violence and war that Memorial Day stands for. I haven't done any research on Decoration Day (as the day was originally known), but I wonder if the glorification of war was always part of the "celebration" of the day. I wish for the day when people stop and reflect on the nature and need for state-sponsored violence on Memorial Day. That would make it worthwhile to have such a holy-day. Debi, I didn’t know of this book. I did some poking around on the ‘net and read a couple of reviews. I don’t particularly care to read the book – I certainly know how the military works as far as brainwashing goes. But you have to understand that military training has to be that way, because killing fellow human beings is not an act that 98% of the population willingly does. To kill, the other has to be demonized and military training does a very good job of that. Sometimes, violence is necessary, but I would say that is pretty rare. What needs to be asked is why is violence always seen as the answer in the “land of the free and the home of the brave”? I object to the glorification of violence and war that Memorial Day stands for. I haven’t done any research on Decoration Day (as the day was originally known), but I wonder if the glorification of war was always part of the “celebration” of the day. I wish for the day when people stop and reflect on the nature and need for state-sponsored violence on Memorial Day. That would make it worthwhile to have such a holy-day.

]]> By: Debi Kelly Van Cleave http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/index.php/2009/05/23/memorial-day-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1493 Debi Kelly Van Cleave Mon, 25 May 2009 04:05:53 +0000 http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/?p=1194#comment-1493 Jeff, when you're done taking your break, because it's going to make you feel burnt out again, you should read "The Deserter's Tale," by Joshua Key. It's a true story of this poor kid from Oklahoma who joined the army and went to Iraq because it was the only way he could support his family and because that's what he was brainwashed to do. He saw and participated in terrible things going on over there (assaults, rapes and murders of innocent civilians, families just like yours and mine). Eventually his conscience kicked in and he deserted. He's still on the run with his wife and kids as far as I know. I didn't want to read this book. I'm a girl--I'm not interested in war stuff. But I picked it up to be polite and even though the writing is not sophisticated, the story was intense and I couldn't put it down. I read it in three days. I'll send it to you if you want. www.GreenerPastures--ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com Jeff, when you’re done taking your break, because it’s going to make you feel burnt out again, you should read “The Deserter’s Tale,” by Joshua Key. It’s a true story of this poor kid from Oklahoma who joined the army and went to Iraq because it was the only way he could support his family and because that’s what he was brainwashed to do. He saw and participated in terrible things going on over there (assaults, rapes and murders of innocent civilians, families just like yours and mine). Eventually his conscience kicked in and he deserted. He’s still on the run with his wife and kids as far as I know.

I didn’t want to read this book. I’m a girl–I’m not interested in war stuff. But I picked it up to be polite and even though the writing is not sophisticated, the story was intense and I couldn’t put it down. I read it in three days. I’ll send it to you if you want.

http://www.GreenerPastures–ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com

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