Don't forget where Hitler got his power...the blind loyalty and gullability of his nation. Had a more healthy discussion taken place back than, perhaps history would have been different.
As far as serving in war, I have no interest. Most wars are incredibly stupid. However I'm sure I would have served in WW2 if I was around. At least there was a clear enemy and a real objective back then.
Remember the debate is about Memorial Day as it is, not honoring those that served. If you died and your heart was in it for the right reason (like most soldiers), than I honor you...if your goal was just to kill the (insert obsenities) other guy, than I have more important people to remember.

I agree 100% re: serving in WWII, esp. given how many of my people were killed by the Nazis. Put simply, the Nazi regime was, quite likely, the closest thing to a pure embodiment of evil as has ever existed on this planet. I would be honored to sacrifice my life in such a cause. But for the sake of greater oil company profits, and to ensure that suburban earth rapers (thanks, Philly Turkey!) can drive their SUVs w/o a care? That's a different question.

Of course, it's likely that neither of us would have had a choice but to fight in WWII (or Korea, or Vietnam), since the draft was in effect for all those wars.

-Z

Soldiers and Marines are trained to kill the enemy, it's their job.

The point is that at least these days the soldiers and marines choose that job.
How sneaky of us as a country to have so much respect for the soldiers that entered a war and died but so little respect for those that entered the war and lived. I suspect that most current and past soldiers care less about Memorial Day and more about how they are treated when they return home. Why not honor those that died by showing some respect for those that didn't die by guaranteeing them an education and the health care they require.

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

And yes, I thanked many vets on this day. Whatever your view on politics/war/oil/drugs etc..., you owe them your thanks, you owe them your life.

Don't forget it.

__________________
Chris
Sustainable Building
From Foundation to Finish
www.thestockgroup.net

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Reagan

The point is that at least these days the soldiers and marines choose that job.
How sneaky of us as a country to have so much respect for the soldiers that entered a war and died but so little respect for those that entered the war and lived. I suspect that most current and past soldiers care less about Memorial Day and more about how they are treated when they return home. Why not honor those that died by showing some respect for those that didn't die by guaranteeing them an education and the health care they require.

My dad proudly served in WWII. The GI Bill enabled him to get a college education. Now, on this Memorial Day, we had politicians using the occasion to make speeches against giving those very same benefits to our soldiers serving in Iraq. I don't get it!

To me, on the one hand, supporting our troops means giving our current vets the same benefits that my dad got for honorably serving our country. On the other, I can't particularly get my underwear worked into knots over people (whether liberal or conservative) who used Memorial Day to earnestly reflect upon the suffering caused by wars. That doesn't seem disrespectful to me at all.

Support the troops even if you don't support the war.

It's really that simple, and I don't know how anyone could disagree with that statement.

One must remember that soldiers join the Armed Forces for a myriad of reasons, including to pay for college, to escape economically depressed areas for the opportunity to obtain vocational skills, to challenge themselves physically and mentally, or to simply serve their country. Except for the extremely small number of soldiers who rise through the ranks and actually effect policy, soldiers must do their job without regard to their personal views or even the views of the general public; they do not have that privilege of disagreeing or to say "no" to their orders, whether to deploy to a country on the other side of the globe and away from their families or to sleep on a rudimentary cot in a hot zone and kill those trying to kill them and their brothers in arms. But to tie the soldiers in with the bungled handling of the current war and, as a result, treat them with any level of disrespect is, in my opinion, highly regretful and shameful.

Memorial Day should be used by all of us as a day of honoring what the soldiers -- both living and deceased -- have given to our country and the sacrifices that they continue to make.

"support the troops even if you don't support the war" is great in theory, in practice, i struggle.

i think they should have all the equipment they need to do the job they have been assigned to do, but i do not respect what they are doing as i believe this is an immoral war. i understand that they are "just doing their job" and most of them are doing it with integrity. but i will not just "support the troops" as a blanket statement. i do not support the troops who are acting immorally and illegally. i do not support troops who use "following orders" as an excuse to participate in atrocious acts.

i just don't think it is as black and white as "support the troops".

I'm just glad they're killing muslims. This is how I honestly feel, if anyone finds it offensive, too bad.