The business of America is war.

I hate this fucking holiday.

It’s proper to honor those who died in service to the country. But with each passing year it feels less honest. For too many among us, what’s really being celebrated is war itself. We’re arguably the greatest warmongering menace in the history of the world and it has been a very, very long time since we engaged in anything remotely like an existential  conflict. Mainly today’s soldier is deployed to fight over economic interests, score-settling, religious hatred, or to try and tamp down the logical results of a foreign policy that’s spend decades creating enemies.

I’ve always felt war should be the last resort, not the first, and that waging it should make future wars less likely, not more.

Call me a dreamer…

Many countries dedicate energy to developing jobs programs for its citizens. In the US, the military is our jobs program.

As I’ve said repeatedly in recent years, the best way to honor the fallen isn’t to have a nice spring barbecue holiday. The best way is to stop creating new and improved ways of sending more people off to die for nothing. And – this is key – to hold the corrupt sociopaths responsible for it all accountable for their crimes.

Barely a month after S&R launched in 2007 I wrote the first of what would be several articles on the subject. Along the way some of colleagues have weighed in, as well. Today, instead of ranting afresh, I’d simply like to share these pieces with you and encourage you to read one or two. Perhaps maybe share them.

It would be nice if one day those of us living with conscience and a vision for a better nation could feel free to reflect on those who sacrificed for what was important without being tormented by the memory of those forced to sacrifice for nothing at all.

Memorial Day 2016

BY BRIAN ANGLISS ON MAY 30, 2016

For Memorial Day – The Promise

BY CEEJAY ON MAY 25, 2015

He was a surprise, actually, or “unplanned,” as they call such things, but in the coming years, no one ever really remembered that part. She read Doctor Spock, just to get ready, […]

How can we best honor our fallen heroes on Memorial Day?

BY @DOC ON MAY 25, 2015

Honoring those who died in service doesn’t mean forgiving those who put them in harm’s way. Today America honors its war dead, those who gave their lives in the service of freedom […]

Celebrating Memorial Day in an age of military aggression

BY @DOC ON MAY 26, 2014

The best way to honor our fallen heroes is to make sure there aren’t any more of them. Today I honor our war dead, but I’m mad as hell that our leaders, corrupt […]

Honoring the men who made Memorial Day possible

BY BONESPARKLE ON MAY 27, 2013

Today is Memorial Day, the annual holiday where we pay tribute to those who gave their lives in service to their country. As always, not enough attention is focused on the men […]

A Memorial Day tribute

BY BRIAN ANGLISS ON MAY 31, 2010

Today is the day we honor the men and women who died in our nation’s wars. I’d like to honor three very different World War II vets today by telling you my […]