Thoughts on Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, it is important to note a few things.  The first is that this is a holiday for the soldiers who fought for our country and, as Lincoln described, “gave that last full measure of devotion.”  They died for our country.  As a military veteran, I am fortunate not to be a member of this honored class of individual.  My holiday is Veterans Day, which I am quick to point out whenever anyone offers me thanks for my service on this most hallowed of days.

Those of us that celebrate Veterans Day, as opposed to Memorial Day, have a unique perspective on Memorial Day….”There, but by the grace of God, go I.”  It matters little whether you were a combat veteran that served on a front line somewhere, or whether you were what military personnel refer to a “REMF” (Rear Echelon Mother F**ker).  You know that there are those that died and you were not one of them, whether by virtue of luck, skill, training or Devine intervention, you survived combat or you were assigned somewhere that you were not at great risk of being killed.  While the feeling is probably more poignant for the combat veteran, those that served in support roles still have the feeling.

The feeling is a sort of relieved guilt.  We feel, at the same time, “Thank God it was him instead of me” and “Why him and not me?”  Those of us that issued orders to soldiers that died in the line of duty based on those orders will carry a special guilt the rest of our lives and will always, in the deep dark recesses of out minds, wonder if we had done it just a bit differently, would they be alive?

The second thing that is important to note is a more political way of thinking.  While I am loathe to politicize a holiday that honors our military dead, I can think of no greater an impact a political decision has on anyone than to potentially cause their death.  When a politician, be it the President or the Congress of the United States, makes a decision to go to war, engage in some sort of unilateral military intervention or become part of a coalition that undertakes military action, there is a likelihood someone is going to die as a result of that decision.  I can think of no more awesome responsibility and no more direct impact.  The eminent military scholar Karl von Clausewitz said, “War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.”  Thus, it seems appropriate to discuss these decisions in a political context.

All the above being said, it is entirely possible to discuss, argue and disagree about a war and not dishonor the troops who fight it.  The political Right does an exceedingly good job of wrapping themselves in the flag and screams at the top of their lungs “SUPPORT OUR TROOPS” every time someone disagrees with the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They point the finger and scream blasphemer at anyone that dare asks the question, “Should we be fighting these wars.  They do so for the purpose of limiting debate and the robust discussion in which we should engage before, after, and yes, even during those wars.  This is a profoundly political use of our troops.

Again, as a man that has served, I can tell you that I want the politicians of this country debating, on a regular basis, whether to send me into combat.  I want them to be in some sort of agreement that I need to be fighting and that the purpose for my sacrifice is worthy.  I know there will be disagreement, but if the topic is always open for debate, then there is less likelihood that I, and those that have followed, will be sacrificed needlessly.  However, I resent the fact that support for our troops is being used by politicians to stymie that debate and being used to prevent that robust discussion that allows for careful consideration of the sacrifices young men make for their country.

Allow me to use liberally the words of a great man, Abraham Lincoln, as they are still perfectly appropriate today.  On this Memorial Day, in the name of all that have given the last full measure of devotion, let us commit to a rich, full, robust, open and honest debate, every chance we get, that allows us to consider carefully why precious lives are being sacrificed, and that that sacrifice is not in vain.  Let government of the people, by the people, for the people, not perish from the Earth.