Memorial day

This has been a somewhat somber day for me for many years, maybe even a little maudlin. Today we're supposed to be honoring the sacrifices made by those who have answered the call to national service but by and large, we just take a day off work, cook lots of meat on the grill and hit the sales at the big chain stores. A pretty typical US Memorial day.

I saw a few flags out on our street, but no where near the number that fly for other events. No one reads a paper anymore, television news is useless and no one is reminding us why we have this holiday (newspapers have traditionally filled this role with memorial day weekend editorials and feature articles). I almost forgot to get the flag out and I usually make a big deal about it (I entered military service on the day after Memorial day many years ago, so I have a personal connection). Given the circumstances (even as I try to avoid politics this year) I feel a need to say something today.

If you really care about the sacrifices that have been made to get us where we are, then take some time and read the transcript of Al Gore's remarks on the Iraq crisis made this past Wednesday. If that's too much, download the speech and listen to the whole thing, not just the sound bytes shown on CNN Wednesday evening (it's so much better than that).

Gore is unlikely to ever top this speech (I'm no a fan) but he managed to hit every single issue I have with how our government is being run. He also captured the idea that we can't even manage the rights of our own citizens properly, it's little wonder that right of others are of little concern. For good measure he also followed up on General Zinni's comments about our preparedness to wage the war. No arguments about what weapons may or may not have been there, Zinni talked strictly about our military readiness and commitment (we didn't really have either).

Ultimately, to blame the national shame of Abu Ghraib on a bunch of teenagers and reservists is a disgrace. Our military men and women deserve more and our leaders have failed them.