Some Memorial Day Perspective

I remember a time after the events of 2001
I was listening to the radio, and there
were people calling in, upset that the
troops weren't being supported.

I remember thinking at the time that I
didn't think that was the case, that it
was more that the ACTS of the troops
that were being questioned, and it was
translating for some into "the troops
aren't being supported."

BIG difference.

One can support a person but not their
actions. One can love another, but not
love what they do. One can consider
an action a failure without needing to
attribute the adjective to the person
involved.

Here is another example of a "collapsed"
way of thinking. Our lives are filled
with examples, and when thinking gets
collapsed in this way, it is often without
a positive outcome as it can set up
disappointment, expectations,
misunderstandings, among other things.

Given that it is Memorial Day, and there
are some who might take issue with what
our military as a whole does, one can
use today as a reminder to remember and
respect other fellows of mankind.

I'd like to believe that we could have
a world without the military and guns
and violence however, I am not sure how
we get there. In the meantime, though
we can honor those in the military
without necessarily honoring the parts
of the profession we may take issue with.

Some would say that we learn from the
things that happen to us. We can
appreciate day more because we have
night. When we take day and night
for granted, though, it is difficult
to see that we should have that
appreciation because it is just what
"is."

We can accept things as "is," or we
can use them to have us question things.
We can use them to have us see what
is important, to help us make the
choices that can make a difference.

And we can do it with a healthy
respect for others, and their choices.

Lots of love and respect to those
veterans who may be reading this, as
well as to those who currently serve.