Corrupting the memory of lost lives

Memorial Day is the day we remember those who died in uniform. I'm not going the "died serving our country" route because I can't think of any of our wars of aggression and/or occupation after World War II that were for the benefit of the American people. My dad's uncle died a needless death in a war halfway around the world that had no purpose. Thousands of young men have been sent to their deaths over the years because of politicians sitting in Washington.

Memorial Day isn't about glorifying the death and destruction machine. It isn't about waving flags and thanking soldiers for occupying other countries.

Yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina, the NASCAR boys raced in a circle for 600 miles late into the night while organizers drew up a huge pro-war party. What can you say when their idea of remembering the dead is to cart out Oliver North?

Baseball is getting in on the pro-war propaganda, too. Teams today will be wearing uniforms with digital camouflage as a way of honoring the troops. First, Memorial Day isn't about "honoring the troops." Second, did anyone bother to ask the foreign players what they thought of dressing up to celebrate the American warmaking machine? The players from Central America are all from countries where untold thousands of people were murdered by repressive right-wing dictatorships funded and trained by the United States.

And then there are the churches, one of which (in my neighborhood) decided to honor the military during a service yesterday. I'm just guessing that no one cared about that little commandment that says it's a sin to kill another person. Considering the way in which religion is used to brainwash the masses and to dissuade folks from challenging the ruling classes, I can't say that I'm surprised.

As for me? I'll have my American flag flying outside in remembrance of those young lives snuffed out by an older generation that couldn't find a better way to work out their differences with one another.