June 01, 2005

i think that way

I read this memorial day post and it brought me right back to the way I've always felt when seeing a military cemetery. I believe that war is a necessary evil in this world. Sometimes you simply have to fight for what is right and people get killed in that process. You may not like it, but them's the facts.

What always sets my mind to spinning is looking at all those tombstones or white crosses and wondering, "What lies wasted here?"

How many poets, writers, inventors, creators, movers and shakers lie buried here after being cut down in war before they ever had a chance to prove what they could do? How many thinkers, builders and potentially GREAT men died as young'uns because politicians got into a piss-fight that eventually involved bullets?

I feel an infinite sadness when I see a military cemetary.

I am a student of history and I know that wars are sometimes necessary, and we need people to fight them, and fight them to WIN. Without those people feeding the grass in those cemetaries, we would not be the country we are today. It's sad, but true. The Tree of Liberty must be nourished by the blood of patriots. Those men and wimmen were patriots.

But I can't help wondering what kind of talents lie wasted there.

Comments

Seen thousands of them. Litterally. Hence the screen name.
And it changed my outlook on everything in this world.

Posted by: gravdigr on June 1, 2005 04:01 PM

The following is a quote attributed to John Stuart Mill:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight.nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

I read this many years ago and have kept it near me during some times that I don't care much about remembering. I believe that Mill was absolutly correct and the National cemetaries are monuments that prove it. Freedom is not free. However, very little that is free is worth having-or appreciated.

Posted by: GUYK on June 1, 2005 04:41 PM

What happened?

Posted by: GUYK on June 1, 2005 04:42 PM

Well said. I've seen the ones in Normandy, literally within sight of where they got cut down. It's really amazing to look at those nice beaches, where children now laugh and swim, with that in mind. We owe them so much.

Posted by: William on June 1, 2005 04:58 PM

an "infinite sadness when I see a military cemetary" - so true. The way to redeem the past is to make the world a more peaceful place for everyone. Right now 23 million soldiers serve in armies around the world. I hope all of them return safely home.

Posted by: Bonita on June 1, 2005 09:24 PM

"The tree of liberty must be nourished by the blood of patriots...but I can't help wondering what kind of talents lie wasted there."

Such is life in war, I suppose, and I, for one, as I believe you and Velociman do, choose to believe that no matter the sacrifice, be it known or unknown it matters.

My best, Pam

Posted by: Pam on June 1, 2005 10:46 PM

I totally agree with the un-realized potential of those fine men and women who gave their lives to insure freedom . What really pisses me off is how little some people value that ultimate sacrifice. It is somehow more than just a life they gave it is a new drug for cancer or a marvelous building design or perhaps a story teller that we have lost also.The true cost of freedom is incalculable.

Posted by: arathorn on June 2, 2005 08:41 AM

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June 01, 2005

i think that way