With the passing of another Veterans Day we pause to honor all vets and their sacrifice. Our soldiers fight on in Afganistan, ten years into the longest war in the history of our country. How do we best honor them, and all our soldiers before them? We fly our flags and march in their honor. To consider their sacrifice is another way to honor them.

Have we made any progress toward the peace we marched for and fought for in the '60s. In the most recent gop debate the focus was on domestic issues. Jobs and spending were the main issues. Yet our biggest expense was only brought up once.

If we proceed without focusing on this expense do we fail to honor our veterans? How do we solve our "spending" problems? Our biggest problems of today require our abundant thoughts and feelings, and should be part of every debate. Without this we have no progress. Without progress we are wasted.

I chose not to be wasted. Well, at least not in that sense.

Check out the attached poem, first drafted by Wilfred Owen in France during WWI.

The poem is amazing Doug, where did you find it?

My feeling is that the best and ultimate way we can honor our current generation of veterans, and all the preceeding generations, is to work unceasingly to do everything in our power to make sure that we have no more generations of veterans, period. No compromises, No excuses, No minimization. As with the manner in which we toxify our planet with chemicals, produce 'modified' food supplies which are designed for profit rather than health and nurishment, and destroy eco-systems which are vital to the sustainability of our life-support (again, mostly for profit) --- we have to find a way to positively co-exist. Our population just passed the 7 Billion mark. It will double again before this century is over. The paradigm which we have existed under must be altered drastically, or, more likely completely discarded and replaced by one which will empower social and economic justice for everyone, and most of all, peace.

Ha, searching for the answers to lifes persistent questions in my own stumbling, bumbling way...

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/db/resu ... 1893-1918+

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... hlin_.html

What I find amazing is the connected threads of humanity throughout so much of what I read. See ya Kevin

What an amazing day that would be for the world to celebrate the peaceful passing of
The Last Veteran

Great song title too.

Hey. a fella can dream, can't he?

Maybe you're not the only one...

I Imagine I'm not the only one........

Someday, if we sing loud enough, and keep singing long enough, yes Goofus I'm listening.

In our life times?

Everything we do creates an effect. Through our deeds we can live forever..........

If not our lifetimes, maybe our offspring's lifetimes. It is relentless hard work. Sometimes it feels like we are backing up. The good fight is still the good fight.

Extremely well said.