Many layers of meaning attach themselves to Memorial Day and its worldwide equivalents. Soldiers, military veterans, wars -- of course. Mortality and contemplation. The meaning of life and the worth of a life. Loss. Remembrance.
In the past century, the technology of war has become increasingly sophisticated, greatly expanding in possibility through air power, advanced communications, high exposive armaments, submarines, tanks, laser-guided munitions, remotely piloted attack drones, poison gas, atomic weapons, mass electronic propaganda and mediated filtering. And, when nations coalesce together to fight "Total War" or "assymetrical war," everything is brought to bear against perceived enemies, including children, animals, woman and men together, not to mention their combined social spaces.
Given mass killing realities like the 9/11/2001 attacks, the Holocaust, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Nanking, the Armenian Genocide, indiscriminate firebombings of great cities, the Great War, and the U.S.-Vietnam War -- just to recall a handful of grisly atrocities perpetrated by human societies or tribes or groups in the past century -- it may be wise to expand the official scope and acknowldgement of Decoration Day, of Memorial Day, to include all societies touched by war and massacre, to think beyond the uniformed.
But hell, what do I know? In the spirit of John Lee Hooker, "I sing the blues every Decoration Day."
Today's Rune: The Mystery Rune.
4 comments:
I didn't sing the blues today, but I watched Patton, which is probably my favorite war movie. One of them at least.
Patton is a great movie, my only minor quibble is the anachronistic equipment! I caught Ridley Scott's new Gettysburg piece, really well done.
"to include all societies touched by war and massacre, to think beyond the uniformed."
Every year I say it, we are all veterans. We are all involved in the war for life free of the constant intrusion of them who have more nose than ass.
Mark, cheers to that !~~
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