So, when I was in school, I was in band (see, told you I was cool!). In my school system, being in band also meant being in marching band (which is fine as I loved it) which meant lots and lots of parades. The Fourth of July parade was always too hot and too long, but Memorial Day was worse because it ended at the cemetery where we were expected to stay quiet during the speeches and play a few patriotic ditties on cue. Having already completed the important work, marching in the parade, I didn’t see why we were always forced to sit around and listen to the old geezers giving their speeches…
…it is perhaps not uncommon that the price and value of freedom is lost on the very young. Happily we all grow up. Most of us get to grow up without any need to serve in the military because there are those willing to step forward and do so in our places, and I don’t think we can ever say thank you enough.
Now, I’m not talking about supporting this war or that war, I’m talking about the soldiers. Soldiers don’t make the wars, they just have to fight them and, sometimes, die in them. Politicians make the wars, and it’s our job to elect those who believe in the ideals we most value: freedom, justice and Mom’s apple pie. It’s our job to stand up to the politicians when their choices take America away from these ideals, and stand up we must as it’s the only way we can begin to pay back the debt we owe our soldiers.
Thursday – a return to silliness!
I agree completely with the sentiment expressed in this strip/your words above. I try to do my part to ensure my kids know this country’s rich (as well as sometimes negative) history and the current contributions from those who help us enjoy our freedoms. I salute your break from the “silliness” for Memorial Day, and the excellent tribute to its true meaning being more than “a 3-day weekend” (though I’m certainly not complaining about that!). See you “guys” Thursday!
Thanks. I never know how these sort of things will go over as people arrive expecting a joke, but sometimes you need to be a little serious! (Thursday’s strip should be up in about 15 minutes, by the way…)