Perhaps it's because I've been following MoonDanzer's blog (purely as a way of re-assuring myself that the entire American population isn't slavishly following Bush in his awful obsession with war) recently, but my mind has (of late) sometimes turned to the subject of war.
Tony Blair's departure last week also gave me more pause for thought, as he is forever associated in my mind with the decision to deploy troops in Iraq. As a child, I was brought up to believe in the idea of the 'just' war. No war was more just, we were told, than the one against fascism. That was a moment in history when our cousins across the water stood (eventually) squarely behind, beside and in-front of us to defeat the most evil force mankind had hitherto ever seen.
When I think of the heroic sacrifices made by millions of American families to help keep Europe and Asia free of fascism, one image inevitably comes to mind - that of the US troops raising the Stars and Stripes atop Iwo Jima. It's apparently the most printed picture of all time, so it's little wonder that it's ingrained in my mind.
Just a few weeks ago, I saw a group of tourists trying to erect a parasol. As they struggled, gamefully and not entirely unsuccessfully, I couldn't resist taking a snapshot of their attempts.
The contrast between the tired and heroic soldiers, and the family out on a nice day trip in Cheshire, couldn't be more marked. Sometimes, we can easily forget how our cosy, middle-class lives have been shaped by the sacrifices of those who have gone before. Those sacrifices are still being made, even if the wars they are made in are not always as just and right as we are sometimes led by our political masters to believe. It's a particular pleasure that there are blogs such as MoonDanzer's that remind us of this.
3 comments:
Simple, direct, strong style.
The best journalism.
Thank you so much for mentioning our American Soldiers. We as Americans have suffered greatly under the delusion of our current President. America has helped so very, very many countries. I do not think that we have ever once turned away from a plea for help from any of our allies. And, now due to 1 man's deluded vision of himself we have lost our treasured dignaty as a country that stood for Democracy and charity. Please let it be known that Bush has the lowest popularity ratings ever in our country's history as a president. The last poll revealed that only 24% of Americans approve of him. And, due to him and his ever twisted thinking we have lost thousands of our troops. We have now exceeded 3500 in deaths and I do believe it is 25,000 wounded and/or maimed for life. Not to mention that he has used his power to completely destroy a country that had nothing to do with the attack of 911. As Americans we are ashamed of him. He is in fact a Tyrant in every sense of the word. He doesn't even respect the Constitution of the very country he leads...he is simply a disgrace. I do so hope you enjoy your vacation.
An inspired, if not wholly sad comparison dear Bill...
Lest we forget the sacrifices our forefathers have made so that we may so feebly erect our parasols on a summer's day...
You are brilliant.
xx
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