Remembering

A side jaunt.

A friend of mine inspired me for this little jot.

We should take this day, and any day we think of it. To cherish, respect, (try to) empathize, love, and remember (above all else). Anytime there is a military conflict /"police action" big or small there are a majority of people who lose out. The side that "wins". The side that "loses". The outcome is generally the same. Someone probably lost an eye. Both literally and figuratively. Coming from an American background we tend to have a strong showing of military force in the world and the lovely distinction as being the only country to use a nuclear bomb in a conflict (thank goodness). Although many countries the world over have been in a multitude of conflicts throughout history and we all have had our share of losses.
So to this end I want to take today, to remember the people that served, the people that didn't, the people who died by casualty, the people who died fighting, and the many others who have been affected by the battles we have so enthusiastically fought during our time on this planet, whatever the reason. We should be happy to be alive and with all our efforts refuse to go to arms. Using it only as a last resort. I believe it shouldn't be worshiped or praised. Please do not mistake this as I am looking at service people in a negative light. On the contrary, I think the world of them and have many friends who are military. They are a brave and generally selfless lot of human beings who have put their lives on the line. That is something to cherish in the individual, not necessarily their actions because there are plenty of brave and heroic people who have done terrible things. They have seen terrible things, it is the unfortunate nature of the battle (so it would seem).
There really is no end to this (because others would argue it is inevitable and unavoidable, etc), but I ask that you only take a moment to imagine these people in a positive way. Not their actions. The people, and realize we're all in this together. People who have loss, people who have won, and people somewhere in between or not at all. This is our way as a people that we can cherish one another. Perhaps then our actions will grow and not kill.