It's Memorial Day. I'm in the restaurant business, so I worked today as I have every Memorial Day for the last 25 years. But that is neither here nor there. I'd like to thank all those who have served and those who have died. But...
I don't want to thank them for my freedoms. I don't believe that my freedoms emanate from, nor are protected by, the heroics of a soldier. I believe that my freedoms are a product of an amazing group of (mostly) men who designed and fought for this imperfect but amazing country some 240 years ago. I appreciate that some people are brave enough to go to war. I would suggest, generally speaking, that I am not. I am also not inclined to send my two sons, should the opportunity present itself in the future. In my lifetime, our armed forces have not been called upon to protect my freedoms. I'm really not sure the last time they were. In WWII, we protected the hell out of Europe and certainly we avenged the attack on Pearl Harbor. But were my rights ever in jeopardy? I think not. So thank you, to all who have served. And I'm truly saddened that anyone has been put in a position to give their life for these lousy wars we've fought in the last 60 years. Thank you. But not for my rights. I've got those thanks to a vision unrelated to an army or a soldier.