For those who might not know, today is Memorial Day — a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in that country’s armed forces … Well, seeing as how the only way to truly honor anyone is to speak Truth, I thought I would pay homage to all the American men & women who have died in combat by offering up a dose of the same … As such, today I humbly honor those fallen with the following:

*To all those who have relatives who died in any past or current U.S. military conflict, please know that your loved ones — while certainly courageous and quite possibly nobly intended — most certainly did NOT die to “protect Americans” or “defend freedom” or “support democracy” … It may SEEM like that was the case, and the American government certainly TOLD you that was the case, and you may want to BELIEVE that was the case … and yet the case it most certainly was not. In truth of fact, your loved ones died so that the United States could maintain military & economic supremacy over the rest of the world, and your loved ones died so that the wealthy few in the United States could continue to enjoy their lives of comfort & luxury — period.

*To all those who have relatives who died in any past or current U.S. military conflict, please know that the wars in which they perished — Korea in the 50’s, Vietnam in the 60’s, Laos & Chile & Angola in the 70’s, El Salvador & Nicaragua & Grenada in the 80’s, Kuwait & Somalia & Haiti in the 90’s, and Iraq & Pakistan & Afghanistan ever since — have NOT brought the world more Peace, have NOT brought the world more stability and have NOT brought the world more justice. Indeed, JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE … Instead, their acts of aggression have begotten more aggression; their acts of violence have begotten more violence; their acts of terror have begotten more terrorism; and their wars have begotten more war.

*And finally, to all those who have relatives who died in any past or current U.S. military conflict, please know that YOU can help STOP THIS MADNESS … That you can truly honor your fallen loved ones by refusing to go to war yourself; that you can truly honor your fallen loved ones by publicly protesting for peace in your community; that you can truly honor your fallen loved ones by becoming an advocate for compassion in your neighborhood; that you can truly honor your fallen loved ones by becoming a champion of Loving Forgiveness — both at home, and abroad.

My dear friends, don’t let the patriotic indoctrinations of your childhood blind you to what is Good & Right & True … Open your eyes today to the fact that every grave in every military cemetery contains a beautiful life that was cruelly wasted — snuffed out far too soon, merely to satisfy the greed &/or the malice of those too afraid to fight for themselves.

Please awaken to these Truths, my Friends …
… and then please act accordingly.

Amen … Let it be so.

“Two countries warring against one another is like one larger country self-destructing … Two armies fighting each other is like one larger army committing suicide … Two men fighting against one another is like one once-beautiful family tearing itself apart.” ~ inspired by Henri Barbusse