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| Walt Nygard at Peace Pole dedication |
Comments by VFP Chapter 21 Vice President Walt Nygard, US Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam war, at dedication of the Puffin Peace Pole at Puffin Cultural Center, Teaneck, NJ on 11/9/11.
Friday is Armistice Day. Originally meant to honor American soldiers killed in World War I, it was a celebration - of sorts - of the peace that had arrived at the end of the War to End All Wars. Since then, Veterans Day has become a day to honor succeeding generations of American veterans, as the idea of lasting peace was never seriously pursued by the governments of the world or their various owners.
Friday is Armistice Day. Originally meant to honor American soldiers killed in World War I, it was a celebration - of sorts - of the peace that had arrived at the end of the War to End All Wars. Since then, Veterans Day has become a day to honor succeeding generations of American veterans, as the idea of lasting peace was never seriously pursued by the governments of the world or their various owners.
The day itself all too often becomes a spectacle of militarism and bogus patriotism. Spewed by politicians and businessmen who've never heard a shot fired in anger, patriotism - like Armistice Day itself - is now held hostage by those untroubled by the idea of endless war.
Their words mean nothing. History will record who the patriots were. Our bloody Twentieth Century has now passed away. We are at a time and place of change and so that when our history is written, the stories of Joe Hill and Gene Debs and Woody Guthrie will be as one with those of Alvin York and Audie Murphy and John Basilone.
The struggle for peace is surely fighting for one's country. Peace is patriotic. Keep up the fight!
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1 comment:
545,,,, is house of rep. 435..senate 100....president 1....9 supreme court....the 545,,, make all the laws. ....how in the hell does it take rocket science to get them all out, and start a public funded, 90 day election process?????
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