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happy memorial day, 2013

is this really how we want to honor those who gave their lives?


happy memorial day!  it is a day to remember those who gave their lives in commitment and dedication to a set of ideals that included, at least, that people deserve to be free.  that sounds good on a bumper sticker with stars and stripes on it, but reality can be a bit more murky.  i mean, freedom is awesome, don't get me wrong.  but those who are most vociferously praising the sacrifices of soldiers whose lives have been so sadly stolen away too early are often the same ones who will be bemoaning what this nation has done with its freedom. 

think about it, at least for today, of all days. 

if you are proud of your freedom, and if you are thankful for those who have paid dearly for it, please consider how you are using it.  we don't honor the purchasers of our freedom with a yearly shopping spree and grillfest; that is merely making ourselves feel better, as if taking a day off from work to sleep in and eat hot dogs is an honorable tribute.  no, we honor our predecessors in freedom by using our freedom with integrity and finding ways to give our children's children as potent a gift as we've been given. 

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