By Alberto Pupo

So once again another Memorial Day is coming. Another empty vapid perfunctory salute to men and women who went off to die for no reason other than to enrich others. This Memorial Day I think what we need to start thinking about as people is ways to stop war rather than expand it. The military Industrial Complex , The Beast that Ike saw go on a rampage before eyes continues to claim the life of so many. The problem with War in America is that it is revered like a God . However sadly enough only a small percentage of individuals get sent to do the dirty work. Only a small percent are sacrificed. They in turn cause a domino effect which kills other innocents abroad. This Memorial Day if one wants to truly respect and honor those who have served and fallen, one must realize that the only way to do justice is by ending wars.

Afghanistan continues to roll for over a decade. Clearly;y this has become the longest War that the United States has ever fought. A nebulous conflict with no rhyme or reason other than to keep the body count up and the Military Machine nice and happy. What is the true reason for this conflict? AL Queda? Bin Ladin and his Merry Men who all happen to be gone from the planet. There is really no logical explanation for remaining in this conflict, which is nothing more than a civil war amongst different tribal cultures. We as a Nation continue to chase a Boogey Man in the Mountains who the Military Apparatus has pounded into our minds is constantly plotting death and devastation. As the war continues things get even more perverse. Soldiers beginning to crumble under the prolong psychological trials of war eventually killing civilians. In tribute to science fiction films drones are now flying death missions wiping out lives and infrastructure. Mechanized death from above is not discriminating and is taking lives left and right. The conflict needs to end immediately, there is no more enemy left to fight there is no need to be there.

War however is a passion for most Americans. The Warrior Culture is held to a high ideal and Ares is worshiped by the masses. In a country that loves it Gi Joe days like Memorial Day honor those who fight valiantly. However the sad truth is that war is not to be romanticized. The young men and women who go to serve usually do it to escape a bad domestic situation. The promise of travel and a college career becomes a clarion call to multitude of minority individuals who join to fight for America. To keep the morale those at home who have not seen a day of action constantly goad them on to stay the course. We applaud them, cheer them on, but its all done from a safe distance from the comforts of home. We send these young men and women to become Christ Like sacrificial lambs simply so Corporations can continue to make a fat profit. Many people love to support war especially when they do not have to be embroiled in it. America’s war hero paradigm is something that is particularly troubling and is something that needs to be checked. Besides the soldiers going out to die this Memorial day we must also think about all the innocent civilians caught in the middle of a conflict. Once again Americans do not understand that sort of suffering as we have never had a war fought in our own backyard.

This Memorial Day instead of merely going through the motions in honoring the fallen, think about ways such tragedy can be prevented. Work to change the war mentality so that the Nation can learn to embrace peace. Now to put things into perspective try one more exercise. Close your eyes and imagine yourself standing in the rubble of what used to be your home, the bodies of your family members lie scattered all over the place, the stench of death is overpowering to a nauseating point before your eyes there is a fire fight and more individuals are cut down to pieces all in front of you, let this image sear into your mind and then when you open your eyes tell me that you are still in favor of War.