In Australia April 25th is ANZAC day, where my friend Love and his countrymen remember their young men who died in the futile battle of Gallipoli in World War I. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallipoli
Love posted this haunting song about that battle. Eric Bogle’s “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”
Through out history young people have marched off to war being cheered as heroes. Countless generations then learn the same lesson, there is no glory in war, just death and destruction. Every generation then promptly forget this lesson.
I am not a pacifies. When someone attacks our family and home, we should defend ourselves. War however should always be our last choice, when everything else has failed.
When our leaders pump out their chest, and call on us to sacrifice our lives, with messages of patriotism, we need to ask the critical question, “Why?”. We don’t and history repeats itself, over and over.
(Clarification – I served in Viet Nam, and know a few of the names on the Viet Nam War Memorial. When referencing the term “Wall of Shame” the shame I am referring to belongs to the politicians who wasted the lives of so many brave man and women in a war that never should have been fought.)
I remember the debate over the design of the war memorial to the American soldiers who died in Viet Nam, that now stands in my nations capital.
Many political leaders, and veterans organizations, wanted a traditional, heroic, style of architecture. What was built was a simple wall listing the names of all the men and women who died. Many Americans were outraged, calling it a “wall of shame”. They were right, it is a wall of shame. An America that sent these men and women off to die for no good reason should be ashamed.
Viet Nam Memorial
After 6 years, and 58,000 killed, the polls showed that over 50% of Americans still supported that war. It would not surprise me if a poll was taken now, most Americans would still say we were right to fight in Viet Nam.
I will join Love in honoring his lost country men. I will hope, as he will pray, that someday we will come to understand the futility, horror, that is war. I have no clue when that day will come.
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April 27, 2009 at 1:16 am
lovewillbringustogether
Just wanted to say a big Thank You for your support…
i was going to say a few things about my belief concerning the Defence of a Nation but it turned into a monologue of large proportions so i’m posting it at my blog so i don’t cost you flames or a loss of readership
All i can say now is: A country’s right to defend itself begins and ends at it’s boarders as far as i am concerned – no Aussie or American should ever have to die on foreign soil or sea.
We (our politicians/military leaders) have no right to impose by military force our beliefs onto the people of another nation – and that applies to all country’s.
That – and again – my Thanks
<B
April 27, 2009 at 5:12 pm
edfromct
I will agree that if countries did respect each other’s boundaries there would be no wars, other than “civil wars”, now there is an oxymoron.
I can think of two wars that American fought outside it’s shores where I don’t see there was an alternative. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and when Al Qaeda blow up the twin towers in NYC.
Once the Japanese, and Al Qaeda, did attack, the US Government had not choice but to pursue the war to the enemy’s territory, the South Pacific, and Afghanistan.
We do need to find a better way to resolve conflicts. I doubt this will happen until we have some form of world court that all the nations are willing to respect.
December 3, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Science Updates
I read your post.It’s very good.I enjoy to read your blog.
February 17, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Dorothy
Hi, i used this picture for my English Project but I need to know who made this piece of art. Whether it is a painting, a drawing, etc… If anyone knows who made this PLEASE could you told me by who, and hopefully a name/title for this piece! Reply as quickly as you can? It would really help.
February 17, 2010 at 8:05 pm
edfromct
Hi Dorothy. The painting of the Viet Nam wall is by Lee Teter
From the Vietnam Reflections site:
http://www.vietnamreflections.com/contents/view/reflections
“Several members of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 172 and emerging realist painter Lee Teter came to the chapter with an inspirational idea that was developed at the kitchen table. As a result of those discussions, the painting “Reflections” emerged.
Lee Teter paints with remarkable accuracy, and in this case, he depicted panels 29 and 30 East of the Vietnam Wall. Many names can be seen in their actual position on the Wall.
The images of servicemen reflected in the Wall and their comrade were created with live models using a full length glass panel in Teter’s studio.
The live models were actual Chapter 172 members Jim Williams, Dave Arnold, Jane Bass, Mike Thompson, Bill Custer and Dale Layton. Micki Banks, a veteran who lost his life in Vietnam is also depicted from a family photo. Williams, now painted in business attire, was originally sketched in fatigues but was later changed to reflect a more universal image of surviving veterans.
The “Reflections” print is an open edition with an image size of 26″ x 19″ printed in high resolution using permanent ink on archive quality acid free paper.