Veterans Day
On this day, I’m reminded of a powerful statement that John F. Kennedy once made: “War will continue to exist until that distant day when the consientious objector enjoys the same reputation that the warrior does today.”
Also, check out today’s Writer’s Almanac for Garrison Keillor’s take on Veteran’s Day.
Today is Veterans Day, honoring Americans who have served in the armed forces.
November 11 was originally called Armistice Day because it was on this day in 1918 that the First World War came to an end. After four years of brutal trench fighting, 9 million soldiers had died and 21 million were wounded. It was called “The War to End All Wars,” because it was the bloodiest war in history up to that point, and it made many people so sick of war that they hoped no war would ever break out again.
Many intellectuals and artists were disillusioned by the war. The philosopher Bertrand Russell said, “All this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his country’s pride.”
Finally, Asheville filmmaker Rebecca MacNeice offers A Mother’s Prayer, a brief vignette about Elaine Johnson of Orangeburg, South Carolina, whose son was killed in action in Iraq on November 3, 2003.
May peace be with you.
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Dear Bruce,
Thank you for sharing these powerful words and the poignant film from Rebecca MacNeice. May we find ways to honor ALL who serve — not just the warriors. All God’s children have value whether we agree or disagree with their actions. I believe that if we remembered that more often we would less often make war.
Peace.
Comment by Shonnie Lavender — November 13, 2006 @ 9:44 pm