I picked up some books from the library yesterday, and while was there, I noticed that someone had spruced up the monuments with fresh flags and flowers.
And I wondered what they (the sprucer-uppers and also the original erectors of the monument) wanted me to feel when looking upon this monument to combat veterans. Patriotism? Pride? Gratitude?
Grateful I am, but not proud. Not proud to live in a society that glorifies war. Not proud to be a member of the only species on earth that goes to war with itself.
I see this monument and I think about all the young soldiers, scared, wounded, dying in pain, all their dreams lost, all their talents wasted, all their families crying.
Was that what I was supposed to feel? Frankly, I’d rather the monument builders and minders spent their efforts on trying to prevent future wars, or end current ones.
To learn from our mistakes—that would be a real tribute to our war dead.