Memorial Day Reflections
May 25, 2015
This is considered by many Americans as a “pure” holiday. Originally it was designated as a day to remember those who died in active service in our military. It is still celebrated as such in somber and fitting services across our land with music, recitations, roll calls, taps, and 21-gun salutes. With stirring patriotic speeches and a crowd with moistened eyes restating their pledge to the American flag. Throughout neighborhoods and from the stereo systems in autos, and on motorcycles especially, one will probably hear Lee Greenwood belting out his famous tribute song. “God Bless the USA,” often better known as “I’m Proud to be an American.”
It certainly is a time to think, not just about how you want your burgers cooked on the grill. But actually THINK about the fact that many hundreds of thousands of military personnel died in our country’s wars. And they did so for a very basic reason: to preserve a way of life that is singularly unique among the nations of this world. They did not die to grab land that was not ours. Most died trying to protect the land of our allies or regain land taken by violent and evil aggressors. But always they fought because ultimately our way of American thinking and living was at risk.
And what has made America unique, or as it is aptly put, American Exceptionalism, so valuable is that we would rather fight and die to preserve it and perpetuate it for coming generations than to live any other way. We value this “American Exceptionalism” by the blood of the men and women who fought and died protecting it and preserving it.
Just look at the flow of immigrants in our history. Do you se Americans leaving by the tens and hundreds of thousands to pursue the lifestyle and culture of another nation? Of course not. Yet, each year America is “invaded” by multiple tens of thousands of foreigners seeking to make this country their new home.
My former pastor told our congregation that he frequently received letters from foreigners asking him to help them get to Heaven before they died. At first, he thought they were simply making poor grammar choices in their wording. After all, how does one go to Heaven BEFORE one dies? But then, after speaking with missionaries he learned that many poor foreigners refer to America as Heaven. Wow! People think of our nation as Heaven on earth. That thought is hard to balance with the recent incidents in the news at Ferguson, MO; Baltimore, MD; and Waco, TX.
With those thoughts in mind, let me make four suggestions as topics for your own Memorial Day meditations or topics for you to discuss with friends and family.
1. Let’s start with GRATITUDE.
As the news shows heat up with the prospect of the next presidential election, there is much negative and critical talk – of the war on ISIS, the police abuses in some of our cities, the sluggish economic growth, and the need for drastic prison reforms. But let’s begin our discussion with gratitude. And gratitude is more than just an attitude; it is the active and heartfelt thankfulness for what one has or has received. The poorest of Americans is many times richer than the poor of other nations. Food, housing, and good meals are available as are good paying jobs and the opportunity to own one’s own business, become independently wealthy, own land and enjoy a most beautiful landscape by traveling. Before we lift our voice to criticize – and we will momentarily – let us lift our hearts and our words in gratitude for what we DO have.
2. American Exceptionalism is not by accident.
Our unique operation of politics and freedom based on individual rights is just that: Exceptional. We do not want to copy other nations’ models. We do not want to migrate philosophically or practically towards socialism with government becoming competitor/owner with American business. Our federal government is presently many times too large, too oppressive and too self-serving. It is the individual, not the society that has made America what others covet. And the men who died in the Revolutionary War shed their blood so we could have this great “Experiment of democracy.” It has been profoundly successful and must be preserved. And the best way to do that is to vote and to hold those in office responsible and accountable to scale back the excesses of federal controls, laws and taxation. Just because we are enjoying this nation does not mean we can’t lose what makes us unique.
3. “Ground” that was purchased by American blood once should not have to be repurchased.
Supposedly we learned in WW2 that we went to Europe AGAIN to spill more blood for their freedom from the same enemy. When the Hitler’s of this world speak their unconscionable evil, we need to listen and address it early. Not wait until a full scale war necessitates it. We didn’t listen to Hitler and hence WW2 had to be fought. We didn’t learn it in Vietnam and thus 58,000 men died, and we lost. To Iraq we went in the gulf War. Now we are seeing cities and people freed by our soldier’s blood being recaptured by ISIS.
How much blood must be shed before we will listen to the evil of ISIS, the evil of Iranian prophets, the evil of Al-Queda, et al. We continue to think that we can patiently put up with the foolish talk only to be forced eventually to go to war again in huge numbers and shed still more American blood AGAIN. Soldiers who fought and bled for Ramadi, Iraq, are asking why so many of their fellow warriors had to die only for us to “let” ISIS seize the city and force hundreds of thousands to flee for their lives. Isn’t this old record becoming a wearisome noise to those who truly value the blood of our American boys and girls?
4. Let’s not die from the inside.
Recently on the local evening news, the reporter showed a giant oak tree full of leaves that had suddenly toppled over onto an automobile. Whew! A lot of damage. No wind, no tornado, no hurricane – it just fell. The tree removal company confirmed the suspicion. The tree had rotted out inside and though it looked healthy, it was so weak that it fell from its own weight. Inner rot should be of significant concern to you and me. WE are the “inside” of this nation. How we live, what we value, our morality and integrity – that is the core of the American tree.
I don’t apologize for sounding an alarm on this pure holiday. I am a wealthy recipient of what America offers to those who have drive and ambition and a work ethic. And I don’t want to lose this golden goose. I want the youngsters of this land to enjoy what I enjoy. And so, on this Memorial Day, I not only place my hand over my heart in sober and grateful memory of those who died protecting this country. I also steel my nerves and am taking time to reassess my moral compass and to examine what I can do to honor the sacrifice of those who gave me what I treasure: American Exceptionalism.
Enjoy your burgers and games. Take time to reflect on those who “paid” for you to be able to do so.
