(no subject)
I drove into work this morning passing by my hometown's American Legion which displays what's called an Avenue of Flags. Our town's Avenue of Flags is in no way shape or form comparable to the impact of the graves at Arlington National Cemetery but it is reminiscent of it. Members of the community raise between 80 and 130 flags the Saturday before Memorial Day and they continue flying until the evening of Memorial Day when they're taken down, folded, and stored for the following year or next major national event. The flying of these flags represents members of the community who have fought and died in Wars and Conflicts in our nation's armed forces. The people who most often aid in raising these flags are Veterans, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, or Boy Scouts. I feel bad because I haven't raised a flag in the past couple of years when for the first 20 years of my life I was either at the raising or helping with it. Does this make me an ultra-conservative patriot that supports the right wing politics in every decision it makes? No. But it doesn't mean that I support what I've been seeing televised.
Here was my morning. I woke up at a quarter to six and off to work. I had checked with my boss twice to make sure that I was working on Monday a.k.a. Memorial Day. Needless to say, I arrive at work to find out that I do in fact have the day off. On my way back home I once again pass the Legion and spot several flags that were raised improperly. I park my car and, as I have done on a couple of other occasions, I walked the rows of flags climbing the poles or lowering them to re-hook the flags so they would fly in the breeze properly. I came to two conclusions while I walked the rows fixing flags. I believe in the flag, as nothing else other than a symbol. And that I was at peace there.
So after feeling comforted in the knowledge that I did something right I sat down in my computer chair to start up my mmporg, relax, and kill the better part of the day. The TV is on and I had left it on IFC last night because I enjoy seeing films that aren't within the mainstream aspect of media. The first image I am greeted by is the aspect of people carrying coffins in NYC during a protest for the re-election of President Bush. A part of me is thinking, before I find out it's in protest, that it would be an interesting act to pay homage to the fallen in a display like. But after realizing that its an act of protest I'm appalled. I then watch to hear people saying that they wish the President death and his supporters the same. I ask where does all this hatred come from? It's a ravenous permeating hatred that I can see no use for. It's one of the reasons that I've become apathetic to becoming involved in politics. After listening to people while I went through college and being exposed to the rhetoric of a fairly conservative family I see this- That both sides of the political spectrum are doing nothing other than arguing against each other.
Where I'm headed with this is simple. If you are a citizen of the United States, take today to think about those who hold different views than you, those who you hold dear, and those who came before you. Many have given their lives to allow you the ability to live yours. And remember that history is the only ruler to use to measure by. War has always been unpopular, ugly, and needed.
Later Folks...
P.S.- For the Non-U.S. Citizens, you as well should celebrate your nation on your respective holiday and reflect on it also.