Better Late than Never

Well, all right, it's yesterday's news. But I wasn't blogging yesterday, and I am today, so I'll just have to hope it's close enough.

Bush marks Memorial Day 'where valor sleeps'

Monday, May 29, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States honored its military dead Monday with speeches from its politicians, parades led by its heroes and outdoor celebrations featuring family and food.

President Bush made the trip across the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where he placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and said "the best way to pay respect is to value why a sacrifice was made."

"On this Memorial Day," he said, "we look out on quiet hills and rows of white headstones, and we know that we are in the presence of greatness."

Well, no, not really. In Arlington National Cemetery, they were in the presence of a great many -- far too many -- crime victims. Some of the criminals, too: I believe a number of our defunct supervisors, distinguished only by having accumulated more votes than the other guy, are buried there, too.

That there have been so many children murdered in war, on all sides, should be an occasion that we mark with pity, sorrow, and shame. It truly is a shame that the current war criminals, such as the Wee Emperor, so easily co-opt a day like yesterday (interesting that it's observed as a "Monday holiday," isn't it? O thank you, thank you, O Great AFL-CIO and AFSCME) for crude propaganda aimed at "staying the course," and thus ensuring that the victims already beneath the sod will soon be joined by more. It truly is a shame that we cannot face the truth: that we have sent so many young people to truly horrific deaths, so unnecessarily. And so, being unable to face that truth, we lie some more, and condemn still more young people to the same fate as their predecessors, to the background accompaniment of brass bands and sizzling hamburgers.

The solemnity of the day also found a home at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, where the names of four more Americans killed in the conflict were officially added.

"Whatever your politics, the lessons of Vietnam and the wall are very clear: Make sure you do everything to avoid sending our servicemen and women to foreign soil," said Vietnam veteran William Frank. "But if they are sent and when they are in harm's way, do everything, everything to support them and let them do their mission."

No, apparently the lessons of Vietnam and the wall aren't clear at all. The real lesson is: don't let them be sent to die. Call things by their right names, and don't let those who would murder for political advantage get away with it. Stop them before they start. And if, despite your efforts, they get started anyway, don't acquiesce; stop them immediately, before another child is slaughtered. Don't feed one more child into the mouth of the war-Molech -- neither "theirs" nor ours.