The Day After Memorial Day: At Least Be Thankful You Have The Right To Spend It Saying "Fuck Bush"

Speaking only for me and not anyone else here at this blog regarding Memorial Day..... I was particularly surprised to find the liberal blogosphere full of such venom and politics yesterday. It just surprised me, is all.

Ironically, many liberals exercise the very rights to free speech and dissent that many people have fought for throughout our history. We should perhaps know to have some gratitude once in a while... or am I just crazy?

I mean, I suppose I understand it and I wholeheartedly support the right of people to express whatever feelings they may have- but I wonder about the ways people view the "memorial" process. For me, it was a sad day of reflection and I know many in my family saw it that way as well. I don't think I am condoning Bush or the invasion of Iraq to say that a day in memoriam is appropriate. Some grieved a variety of events, people, disasters...people, both known and unknown.

I reflected on the Fuck-Bush posts, the protests planned, even read the posts by people who felt that they should not respect people willing to carry out "death orders" based on lies. "Why should we honor people that follow this man, and kill for him too?" Some asked. Well in some places you would be shot for saying such things. Let's start there.

There are many people who have been killed for many reasons and have killed for many reasons. Some gave their lives even when they themselves did not agree but told society that it was for their use, in their defense, no questions asked. Unconditional obedience is something we on the left view as absurd, though. But can we say that it does not take a certain person to be willing to do it? I am not that person. But I have my freedom to criticize those choices, in another place or time, I might not have a choice about giving my life. In another society, the decision to die for something might not even be in our hands. Can we not see that? That here, people are not jailed or shot for their refusal to be in the military?

I must be misunderstanding the point of this version of Memorial Day. Anyone who knows me knows that I view free speech as one of the highest societal ideals-of paramount importance. I mean not to begrudge the spectrum of opinions. But I also do not understand why we must make it about Bush, Bush, and more Bush. Its always Bush to the exclusion of all else! Nonstop Bush, 24 hours a day! As though Bush arrived in a vacuum with no population or Senate or house or history! As though no policy, practice, or circumstances predated him. As though no cause was ever moral simply because Bush lacks morality. As though Bush can taint every sacrifice ever made just by his existence.

There have been many wars, many causes, many lives lost on many sides. Bush is not the only person to lie for aggression's sake and this is certainly not the only unjust war that ever happened.

But Memorial Day asks us to consider all of the fallen, and the idea of sacrifice. Do you all think you would be allowed to write "Fuck Bush the Cocksucker" if nobody ever took a bullet for your freedom?

Do you think these things can be said elsewhere? Here's a new idea: spend Memorial Day reflecting on how many of your blog posts you would be allowed to write if you lived in China. Your very right to say "Fuck Bush" is a right that has been upheld by many over the years, from activists to soldiers to everyday Americans around you. I can't help but have some gratitude for that. Saying "Fuck Bush" can be quite beautiful looked at that way.

Do you think that no person or cause is worthy of taking some time out to grieve in solidarity with spouses, mothers, fathers, children, grandchildren? Can we grieve alongside those who think and feel differently? Can we comfort a mother whose son is dead- even if we disagree with politics? Can we not see that her son or daughter had value irrespective?

Now I am not a revisionist, or an apologist. I know full well that societies have many crimes in their history and ours is no exception. I am NOT TALKING ABOUT HONORING THESE CRIMES. I am talking about honoring people who stand on the ready to defend us.

You know people have a funny way of driving SUV's, forgetting to vote, shopping at Walmart, and screaming at the gas pump.But they have little sense about how their actions translate into how we conduct ourselves as a nation. People ignore cuts to VA hospitals, health threats to soldiers, equipment shortages... and place little pressure on their elected officials to do right by them. Yet on Memorial Day, the screeching is deafening. "Look at the smug President!" "Its his fault that people are dying." Perhaps thats true. But he has come to overshadow all dialogue to such an extent that people have forgotten their sense of respect and humanity. And indeed, THEIR OWN role in the making and madness of King George.

What does it mean to memorialize? When I think of someone I loved dearly who was killed- somebody whose loss I consider every day as does his family- I'm sorry but I cannot bring myself to spend Memorial Day on much of the same bullshit that occupies the other 364 days. Or spend the day judging why he didn't run away or why he joined in the first place. I do not spend the day wondering why he died, why we lost him, I spend the day knowing that this was his choice. That he believed strongly in what he was doing in a way I have never seen in another human being- Republican or Democrat.

We talk about peace, some of us every day. But would I put my body on the line, would I die for it? Would I die for anything? Would I stand in defiance for what I believe in- would I get mangled by a bulldozer in Gaza or get slaughtered trying to get food away from warlords? Could I ever do what he did, and what thousands have done?

I chose not to have my sun rise and set around George W. Bush yesterday. I chose to simply acknowledge the fallen, all of the fallen, without judgement and without qualification. And consider that while we have much to compalin about, we have many things that other people cannot even read about because they are not even allowed to learn, think, study, discuss, share ideas, think critically, express defiance or dissent.