To our American military: Thank you!
Thank you for fighting to create our nation:
The surrender of Cornwallis
Thank you for ending slavery:
Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg address to consecrate the cemetery there.
Thank you for trying to stop the threat of German imperialism the first time it happened:
American soldiers celebrating Armistice Day, November 11, 1918. Photograph by U.S. Army Signal Corp.
Thank you for fighting off Japanese imperialism:
Iwo Jima, as if you needed to be told.
Thank you for defeating the scourge of Nazism:
Generals Patton & Bradley with American troops after having liberated Buchenwald
Thank you for trying to save the people of East Asia from Communism:
Korean War memorial
And thank you so much for your unstinting efforts in the War against Jihadist Terrorism:
Filed under: Military
Thank you for this inspiring tableau of American liberation, first fighting for our own, and then bringing liberty to others throughout our brief history. How proud I am to be an American.
What an elegant way to express the progression of American Wars, Marguerite. Thank you.
American revolution: Tarring and feathering.
Civil War: Destruction of more tribes and seizure of more land during any comparable period of American history.
World War 1: Millions of people died before Americans entered the war in 1917.
World War 11: Millions of people died before Americans entered the war in 1941.
Korean War: Commanders ordered forces under their control to target and kill Korean refugees caught on the battlefield.
Vietnam War: My Lai massacre was not unique.
Iraq War: Demolishing of an entire nation.
ps I’m not saying that it shouldn’t have or should have been done this way but I am saying.
ps Just reminder that in the word progression is the word progress which is defined as development or cumulative improvement as of an individual or a civilization.
Progression is also simply a move forward in time – as in one foot ahead of the other, with no positive connotation.
However, to say or think that America has not encouraged and aided and sacrificed for positive progress for ourselves and others in our brief history is to be totally ignorant of or blind to historical fact. On Memorial Day we can reflect on the many positive and not the few negative outcomes of American influence. Sort of like It’s a Wonderful Life, where we get a glimpse of what the town would have been like if there were no George Baily, think of the world without an America – medical progress alone comes to mind. The glass is more than half full.
Swampacreage misses the point, those listed “atrocities” were the actions of a few. In a larger sense however, those honored dead that we celebrate today are representative of the ideals of America. Even a dispicable person who sacrifices his life for a greater good is a hero. And today, we honor heroes.
Very nicely said Bookworm. Happy Memorial Day!
swamp – on ignore
Thanks for this wonderful and effective tribute! I’ve linked to it. Happy Memorial Day to you & yours. We are a fortunate country.
Happy Memorial Day as well !
swamp’s a quagmire. Swimming in quicksand is not recommended.
Thank-you Y but Y the compliment Y, for recognizing my swampy,quagmire,quicksand trapping powers?
Ya gotta stop jumping in head first all the time ! Ya think ya would of learned by now !!