Today is Veteran’s Day. Since I never feel particularly able to talk properly about the business of patriotism, the cost of freedom, and all the issues that are wrapped up in the thinking about today, I’ll just link to a well-written essay on patriotism. I love my country, too.
It’s really, really important to acknowledge that our people fighting overseas now really are fighting terrorists who would love to see America burn. I don’t think we went to war for the right reasons, and we went too quickly, but now that we’re there people who really do hate us are there too, and we do have to stop them.
As a pacifist, it’s very hard for me to believe that killing people is ever beneficial to society at large. Right now I’m just sort of saying the words, wishing that they weren’t true, but pretty sure they are. Regardless, I’m very thankful that I don’t have to do the fighting because there are people willing to defend me and the rest of my people.
I’m appreciative, and also conflicted. I hope you don’t mind.