Memorial Day Message

Memorial Day is upon us. Cookouts, gatherings amongst families and friends, trips to the beach all mark the beginning of the summer season. Such festivities are important traditions in our lives as Americans, bonding us to our loved ones in a day away from all the business and hurriedness of our lives.

Too infrequently though, do we honor Memorial Day as time of reflection and remembrance. So many men and women have paid the ultimate price for our freedom today. And while many progressive Christians may be against violence entirely or are able to support just wars, we all must honor those who went out on the battlefield to fight for something bigger themselves, knowing that the next generation would benefit from their sacrifice.

Our nation now fails to comprehend common sacrifice. Few of us have been asked to sacrifice anything as a result of the war in Iraq. The burden rests on the shoulders of a few: the men and women sent into battle and their families praying for their well-being at home. Why haven't we been asked to sacrifice when our nation is at war? Would more of us be active in denouncing the war if we all were made to actively support it though our common efforts as a nation?

I believe that there are such things as just wars. I believe that the our cause to fight the evils of fascism and totalitarianism in World War II was noble. Our grandparents and parents who lived through the Depression and fought WWII knew about common sacrifice as a nation, knew about binding together as families to survive in the economic hardships of the Depression.

Many of the wars since have deeply divided our nation: Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, Iraq. Many of the baby boomers fought in Vietnam. Other fought against it. I make no judgment on those on either side, both sides acted nobly, until the veterans were disparaged when they returned. They weren't honored. The immaturity of the anti-war movement not being able to separate their opposition to the policy from the the poor kid from Detroit who couldn't avoid the war in going to college or the patriotic kid from Iowa who just wanted to serve his country. In many ways, it was shameful.

I know only a handful of people in my generation that have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. The anti-war movement has matured a great deal. Folks who are against the war can separate the policies set by Bush and his administration with the men and women who are sent to carry out the orders. Many of the soldiers who served are now split in their support of the war, but the tenor on both sides has greatly improved since Vietnam.

My generation has also seen the failures and harm done by American intervention. Too infrequently the stories aren't told. Whether covertly selling arms to our enemies the Iranians, our violence-riddled interventions in Latin America, and our unjust war in Iraq. We have seen failures to use our military to stop genocide in Bosnia, Rwanda and now Darfur. And we have seen rare examples of diplomacy working to resolve situations around the globe. I worry about our collective ability to form a cohesive foreign policy that provides for a strong defense, builds stronger relationships with allies and friends around the globe, while finding ways to solve conflict without violence. I worry, but I am also hopeful for it is work that must be done if our nation is to survive.

On this Memorial Day. its our duty as Christians to pray for those who face danger in the line of fire. Its also our duty to pray and indeed love our enemies. This is so much more difficult thing to do, especially in time of war and terrorism. God calls us to this higher level of human understanding. God calls our nation to be peaceful. God calls us to honor those who lay down their lives for us. Will we heed the call this day?