Remember Veterans’ Day

Deborah Venable

11/10/02

As we teeter on the brink of God knows what – U.N. sanctioned police action, unilateral defensive offensive assault, first act of World War III – depending on what you believe and who you listen to, one fact remains the same no matter what. Those on the front lines of foreign shores will be members of the United States Military and supporting covert operations services, and on the domestic front lines, we the people. The people who call all the shots do not do it from the front lines, nor do they assume as much personal risk as those who carry out the orders or we who may choose to support them or not. We make our choices to a large degree in ignorance of what it takes to carry out those marching orders. One other fact remains, even though many on the domestic front lines and in the top ranks of power forget or refuse to acknowledge it – we are all safer because of those special individuals willing to go to those foreign front lines and carry out the orders.

From the former president of the United States who “loathed the military” but gave those orders anyway, to the peace preaching college professors who have no idea how real peace is purchased, to the weakest of human spirits that are not willing to sacrifice on any level for ideals, we find little respect for the discipline necessary to hold the front lines in the face of hostilities. Much weakened callous ignorance exists within the power sectors, both here and abroad, which must be tempered and strengthened by those of us on the domestic front lines who understand and are grateful to those who do their country’s bidding on foreign shores. We are the fire that forges sound decisions in the furnace of power. It is we who either support or abandon the efforts of the brave souls we send to war even as we sanction or condemn the orders as they are given.

It is natural for a society existing under totalitarian rule of any philosophy to fear and loathe the members of those governments’ military, which may at any time be directed against their own citizens. For America, with her Constitution founded in liberty, the citizens need not have hatred or disrespect for her own warriors – not if they respect and uphold the founding principles of our country, and not if the furnace of power is constantly reminded that it works for us. If the day ever comes in America when our military men and women do not deserve our utmost respect and gratitude, that day will mark the end of freedom for the world. On that day, we will bury our dead Constitution beside all our dead heroes, and will accept whatever the evil world powers want to dish out to us. Some of us will go quietly to our prisons in the chains of our ignorance and the disgrace of our false philosophies of peace without honor while others accept the sword of ungodly evil through our hearts as we choose to die free instead. This will all happen only on the day that we should rightfully fear and loathe our own military.

On this November 11^th shall we all breathe new life into our Constitution, dare our enemies to destroy our children’s birthright, take our place on the domestic front lines, and salute the courage and sacrifice of those who have always stood their duty in harm’s way so that we may be safer and continue to live in the country of man’s last best hope for freedom and peace on earth?

Remember Veterans’ Day - Here is my salute!

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