05/26/2008

You've probably heard this poem. It's authorship seems a bit fuzzy (Edward O'Brien vs. Charles Province). Nonetheless, for this Memorial Day, I post it here. I find the last section especially poignant.

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It is the Soldier, not the reporter
who has given us freedom of press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
who gives us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
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The ultimate sacrifice: Giving your life to protect anthers right to reject the very ideal you stand for. (Reminds me a lot of Jesus.)

It seems rather odd to me that after taking this all in the general response is to fire up the barbecue.