Never Forget

I am puzzled by the fuss that has been raised over the Obama administration's decision to allow, after 18 years, the return of fallen soldiers at Dover to be seen by the public at large.

First of all, the decision has been left up to the families, they can choose to let the public be a part of honoring their loved one or not. It isn't mandatory and I highly doubt that anyone is going to strong arm a family into letting the media into their private moment if they don't want them there.

Second, with so little being mentioned now about the casualties of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (or ever during the eight years we have been at war unless the numbers were massive) anything that can be done to remind the American people of the sacrificing still being made is a good thing in my mind. No matter how you feel about the wars, or the military (and I will be the first to stand up and say I am not a fan of either), these men and women are doing their jobs and have died as a result. They deserve our honor, our respect and most of all our attention.

Finally, as war becomes more and more technical like a surreal video game and less the hand-to-hand combat that was common just 100 years ago, I don't think we can ever go wrong in emphasizing the high human costs associated with any armed conflict. War is NOT a game, no matter how much we try to turn it into one. People die. They are horribly and permanently maimed in body, mind and spirit. We all need to be reminded of what we ask when we send young men and women, barely adults, out in uniform. Is what we are asking them to do worth their lives? Would you give you life for it, or you child's?

If seeing a flag draped coffin come home, makes the realities of war to "real" for some, then I guess they need to start asking themselves questions like those above. Perhaps your answers will surprise you.