Memorial Day (sorta)

Memorial Day commemorates those U.S. soldiers who died honorably in war. Traditionally, it fell on May 30th - but for decades now, it basically falls on whatever day it's most convenient to have a three-day weekend on. I think this cheapens and degrades our memorial efforts, but it does nothing to weaken the legacy of the men and women of the U.S. military.

There have been times when the motives for United States military action have been less than pure, and (many, many) times when the casus belli for war has been suspect, but through it all, the world has seen the character of the best of America through her soldiers. True, the armed forces aren't composed of perfect people, but of human beings, and sometimes people behave in reprehensible ways. But if you asked a person on the street to look hard at the average session of Congress and the average platoon patrolling Iraq, it makes you really wonder who should be in charge of the country ("Come on, you apes - you wanna live forever?").