"A Memorial to the Fallen..."

"At home,

a nation's heart is exhausted

by the conscription of its sons and daughters.

The pockets of the people are emptied by

the levying of taxes,

and the resources of the land are depleted

by

sending them

elsewhere for fighting."

 --- Sun Tzu

 

 

Not far from where I live, just a few weeks ago, a "War Memorial to Fallen Soldiers" was dedicated. Politicians were present and gave eloquent speeches about patriotism, sacrifice, liberty, and the American ideal. ("True words are not eloquent. Eloquent words are not true.")

 

How could anyone think disparagingly of such a enterprise?

 

I for one, can tell you how. Men and women "fell." That's a politically correct and impersonal way of saying "living, breathing, loving human beings were killed." Young idealistic sons and daughters, mothers and fathers were killed. They were killed, not only at the hands of those who pulled a trigger or detonated a device, but also by those who sent them into harm's way in the first place --- people who, this afternoon, may be on the golf course.

 

In my opinion, a memorial for those who died needlessly is little consolation for the families who are now without daughters, sons, mothers, and fathers. From now on, there will be a hole in a family that was once filled by a living soul.

 

Politicians dedicate memorials to the fallen to salve families who are left with gaping wounds, to make people feel better about something they should not feel good about in the first place, to make noble something that is not noble.  

 

War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Unless you consider the above observations from Sun Tzu (and of course the dedication of memorials to the fallen) to be worthwhile enterprises.