Memorial Day is supposed to be a somber remembrance of all those brave men and women who have given their lives in the service of their country. As a Veteran, this holds some special significance for me as I can count several friends amongst that sad and all too large number. On this special day though, I would like to pause and take a moment to recognize another group who have given that same sacrifice...a group that saddens and pains me to think about. I am speaking of the civilian casualties of our misguided imperialist adventures in Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, and all of the other "not quite wars" we are currently waging against predominantly poor and brown people all over the World.
I am a patriot! I joined this nation's Air Force in 1997 because I wanted to serve my country with honor and distinction and I believe that I did so in my almost 5 years in the service. As a patriot though, I find it abhorrent that we have allowed the powers that be, including our military and civilian military leadership to dehumanize our "enemies" to the point where we don't even care enough about the casualties we create amongst them to count them. Millions killed or displaced in Iraq, horrific conditions with no power or potable water, and a live-fire training ground for radicals both Islamic and Western in nature (Blackwater for example)....these things just don't matter in the lexicon of our media or our Government.
As a veteran, I believe that it is imperative to honor our fallen. My brethren who gave the ultimate sacrifice did so with honor and distinction and they deserve a special day to regale them for their service and, in some cases, heroism. As you are thinking of them though, don't forget that there are many other men, women, and children who have given that same ultimate sacrifice not to serve their country or to bring honor to themselves or their comrades but simply because they were in the path of a failing imperialist bludgeon. They were foolish enough to attend a wedding, or a family gathering, or just trying to get on with their lives in our war zone. We must remember all of the fallen of our military engagements...not just our own.