To those brave men and women who died to protect our freedoms, we owe our gratitude. To those who gave up their lives under the pretense of defending our freedoms, we owe an apology.
We're sorry to Pat Tillman and all the rest who bravely went off to fight. We don't fault them in the least. Who we do fault are those who were reckless, careless, ambivalent and cavalier about the responsibility they held in their hands.
I have no doubt that were it not for the actions of our soldiers in World Ward II the world would be a very different place right now. America would be different. We very well might be speaking German and goose stepping. Though, that war was fought on foreign soil, it was for our freedom.
However, we would not be speaking Arabic, praying to Allah and wearing shawls if we hadn't invaded Iraq or Afghanistan (although at least the latter had the merit of protecting American lives).
Some might look at this and say it degrades what the soldiers who lost lives, limbs or other, more intrinsic parts of themselves in those wars to say it wasn't for our freedom. I say it degrades what they sacrificed to sweep the false pretense under the rug with a platitude.
Let's not do this anymore. Let's not sacrifice our soldiers, seaman and airmen for politics or profiteering. I ask without qualifying what I mean because decency dictates it's not needed. Don't ask someone else to die for what you, yourself, would not die for—especially if you're one of the few hundred who make the decision.
I wish no one a "happy" Memorial Day. I wish you a reflective one, regardless of your politics. Let's reflect more, not less, the next time we ask ourselves as a nation, whether the cost is worthwhile, especially if you're not the one to pay it.