I like soldiers. I like ours, I like theirs.
Throughout history, soldiers have mostly been obedient kids, doing a job their elders told them to do without thought, or concern for the reasons why. They have performed their jobs honorably, to the best of their ability, asking nothing in return. I firmly believe that if the Geneva Convention required the pool of conscripts to begin with politicians then 40 to 50 year olds, the world would be a much safer place.
In Mississippi, today is Confederate Memorial Day, one of four days set aside in the southern US to commemorate those who died defending their homeland. I find the tribute fitting.
Americans died during the Civil War, far from home, in venues barely imagined. The Confederate memorial above is in Higginsville, Missouri, near Kansas City, a battlefield far from your notion of where a traditional Civil War battlefield should be. The men memorialized there fought and died, some for a cause they believed in, some because fighting was expected of them.
History is not only about the winners. Today, we honor American sacrifice. Wherever, why ever, how ever, it is important that we do so.
Toad
Great post. We should always remember our fallen. Whether right or wrong, they sacrificed it all for a cause they believed in!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my Confederate soldier great great grandfather did not have words these fine spoken over him when he died held captive in a Union prison. What a lovely tribute this is, sir. You're makin me weepy...
ReplyDelete-Flo
The need for 4 Confederate Memorial Days' speaks volumes about the difficulties faced by Mr. Davis.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting things to be learned around here.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Memorial Day was originally for only Union Soldiers. I thought it was for all soldiers and began after WWII.
All soldiers should be honored for their service. Thank you, Toad.
Memorial Day began life as Decoration Day soon after the Civil War, to honor the Union dead. The name wasn't changed until the mid 1960's.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. Wish everyone was wise enough to share your perspective. I am direct descendent of soldiers on both sides, and they lived only a few miles apart.
ReplyDeleteScott
buy diazepam diazepam how supplied - diazepam online in usa
ReplyDeleteambien without prescription ambien sleep problems - ambien drug information
ReplyDeletegeneric alprazolam xanax 2mg half life - xanax dosage epocrates
ReplyDeleteorder alprazolam order xanax online cheap - drug interactions lyrica xanax
ReplyDeletepurchase valium valium gastrointestinal side effects - veterinary valium dosage
ReplyDeletealprazolam 0.5mg xanax and alcohol more drug_interactions - using xanax for anxiety
ReplyDeleteativan online pharmacy ativan side effects numbness - emergency treatment ativan overdose
ReplyDeleteativan anxiety ativan online prescription - ativan withdrawal brain zaps
ReplyDeletebuy diazepam online diazepam 5 mg suppository - purchase of diazepam online
ReplyDeletevalium diazepam manufacturers rapid withdrawal diazepam - diazepam dosage cats
ReplyDeletegeneric ativan online ativan taper alcohol withdrawal - how to buy ativan online no prescription
ReplyDeletecheap valium online no prescription que es valium 5mg - valium to treat vertigo
ReplyDeletebuy valium online valium 5 mg for anxiety - valium 5 mg comprimidos
ReplyDeletegeneric soma online carisoprodol 350mg - buy soma online without
ReplyDeletecheap soma carisoprodol 350 mg - 90 tabs - buy soma canada
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online overnight ambien side effects memory - problems with ambien sleep medication
ReplyDeletegeneric soma online carisoprodol side effects liver - soma medication.com
ReplyDeletebuy valium online what is diazepam valium used for - many 5mg valium get high
ReplyDeletewhere to buy valium online valium street names - valium dosage high
ReplyDeletevalium generic buy valium online - valium 10mg high
ReplyDelete