HERO OF WAR?

Inspired by AMC
Inspired by Rise Against


It has been a week since Memorial Day, a holiday that I have come to detest with every fiber of me being. It was a painful day growing up because we would always gather as a family out at the cemetery and remember those who had died. But mostly is was just painful because we would have to take time out of our busy schedules and lives to do this. I used to think that that all Memorial Day was, a time to remember those who had died no matter who they were or what they had done in life. It wasn't until I was about 11 or 12 that I learned that Memorial day was founded as a way of remembering those who had died in the "service of this country". In fact it was even first declared as a day to be observed by General John Logan (A general in the Grand Army of the Republic) back in 1861, and even though the southern states refused to partake in Memorial Day for a long time, they eventually began after World War 1.
But enough history, here is why I got pissed off that day. See I don't celebrate this day in anyway anymore, not even to remember my own non-military family that has passed on. So last Monday (memorial day)I was sitting in my living room watching TV, now ask anyone and they will tell you that I love movies almost to an unhealthy extent, so the first channels I check when I turn on the TV are TCM (Turner Classic Movies), BRAVO, and AMC (American Movie Classics) well on this particular day these movies show nothing but war films and even though I detest everything about war with my whole heart, I am usually up for a good war flick. But AMC was doing something in particular that caught my attention. They were having a "Heroes of War" special hosted by recent Presidential candidate and war veteran John McCain. Before and After each film, McCain would have a small segment talking about the war the the film was representing and also would mention some soldiers who would be considered "heroes" from that war.

Bottom line: THERE ARE NO HEROES IN WAR! there are killers, murders and men who, if they did their "job" any other time they would be put in prison, but because our government says its OK they have free run to kill whoever they want as long as they aren't American. But I fucking want know, since when does killing people made you a hero!?!?! I mean look around at all these men and women who come back from Iraq and have served in WWII or Vietnam or Korea or any other war America has been involved in. We treat them like they have done us as the greatest personal favor in the world. When in reality they went somewhere killed some people and then came home. Now some anti war people would say don't be mad at the soldiers, its not their fault they don't deserve the blame. But I don't agree with that, the only ones who had no choice were the ones who were drafted and even then I could promise you that I would move to the slums of Africa before allowing myself to be drafted. I just can't understand how these men would willing choose to KILL PEOPLE FOR A LIVING? There are other men who do that and we call them serial killers and put them in prisons for life. And as far as the Governments go, yes they are ultimately responsible for the declaration of wars and the if it wasn't for the corrupt men that run them and their greed for power,(in all its forms)Basically it all sucks and this world is going to hell and it is up to us to save what we can of it.

I mean maybe it's just me but I have been reading the Bible and I am still trying to find a place where Jesus preaches things like hate and disdain and killing. I seem to keep finding instances of Him preaching Love, Peace, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control (Gal. 5)(OK so it was Paul who actually gave the Fruits of the Spirit but it was all from Jesus' teaching so just go with me here)I think that this list pretty much sums up Jesus entire message to us as followers of Him. Love is everything. There is not a conflict in this world that cannot be solved without violence. There is not a problem that killing will solve. There is nothing in this world that can be made better in anyway by taking lives of people that are no more guilty of anything than you or I. AND KILLING PEOPLE DOES NOT MAKE YOU A HERO IN ANY WAY!

Please take a minute and watch this music video by Rise Against i think it puts this idea into words more perfectly than any other way I have ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpnWgCVfAxw









(this was written at 4 in the morning and my emotions always tend to get the best of me when I write on such subjects so if I am unclear on anything here please talk to me.)

PEACE.LOVE.JON