Another Memorial Day has come and gone. My feelings towards that day, which have always been profound, have become even more so. They have certainly evolved and deepened over the years and continue to. And, in some ways, that evolution has brought me to a place of emotional conflict.
First, as is the case with most things in our overly commercialized society, the day has become literally a holiday filled with barbeques, beer, and a 3 day weekend for most. Throw in a parade with some fire engines, loud motorcycles, vintage military vehicles, a marching band or 2, some grey-haired men walking stiff-legged in old, ill-fitting uniforms, flags flying and we’ll call it a celebration. Instead, it was intended to be a solemn day when we take the time to honor those who have fallen in one of the many armed conflicts this Country has endured in its 250 year history. The loss of any human being is NEVER an ultimate cause for celebration, especially of those taken in wars not of their own doing.
The challenge for me is in finding a way to honor these people who have made the
ultimate sacrifice while at the same time not glorifying what took them in the first place, i.e. war. You see, in an effort to rightfully acknowledge the depth of what it means to fall in conflict, there is a danger of romanticizing the use of violence as a means to a just end – ANY end. For example, there are a plethora of Hollywood movies praising the efforts of the Allies to defeat the Nazis and Fascists in WWII. Of course, our victory over such an evil foe is rightfully seen as just and necessary. But we must NEVER forget the terrible toll war takes, not only on the vanquished but on the victors as well. My father and uncle, both WWII combat veterans and proud members of The Greatest Generation, frequently suffered with the symptoms of PTSD.
I also think of 2 other friends who were combat veterans not taken IN war but BY war. And that war was Vietnam. Having seen the horrors of jungle warfare thousands of miles from their homes, all for a cause that was hard even for THEM to justify, proved too much to bear. Both died by their own hands years after their service, one by suicide and the other to a drug overdose. Both were among the finest men I have ever known.
And there is no shortage of other violence being committed in just causes all over the world. Without taking sides for this article, one just need to look to the Middle East and Gaza to see the horrors of war – with both sides claiming the so-called Moral Justification for slaughtering one another!
When will it end? How can it end?
For me, it will be when we stop glorifying violence as a means to end. ANY violence. And we see it not only on a grand scale, i.e., among nations, but within individuals too. The most recent examples are the wanton murders of an insurance executive in New York City and of a young Jewish couple in Washington, D.C. Both accused murderers have professed that these killings were in response to “larger, social issues” and they were justified in their actions. Furthermore, others (many) agree that their actions were necessary in a bigger picture sense. Some have even seen them as “heroes” or “liberators”.
Really?
These people are not to be congratulated or lauded! They are cold-blooded killers
whose actions CANNOT be justified on ANY level. There can be no positive outcomes associated with such actions. There are only the deaths of innocent people. Yet even as we speak of the horrors of war, conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and too many other places around the world are raging. Some are fighting for their freedom, others their particular ideology, or religion. Whatever the case may be, each side sees their own justifications for their own causes (think Dylan’s “With God On Our Side”).
It has gotten to the point where I question whether violence is inherent in our very DNA. Is it within our nature to resort to violence to achieve our goals? I am certainly not the first one to debate this as an issue. Others more highly qualified than me have attempted to answer this question. However, I must think that despite our base nature, we are also capable of sublime thought. This is what many eastern philosophies refer to as mindfulness, i.e. a state of awareness that we are all part of a greater whole that allows us to reach an inner peace and wholeness that radiates from our very core.
But this takes effort and an unshakable belief that love, in the end, does indeed conquer all. And we must not have fear in our conviction to peace.
Resist violence in all forms. Understand that anger is a real emotion. NO human lives without it. However, acknowledge it and then place it where it belongs. I use this as my guide. It is attributed to Gandhi:
“An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of this independent writer and not the Nyack News & Views editorial staff. We welcome submissions from anybody who is interested in publishing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives about issues facing our community, both large and small. Please send to info@nyacknewsandviews.com with detailed contact information.
Photo credit: Frank LoBuono
