Memorial Day

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So, Monday is (observed as) Memorial Day. There's a lot of stuff I could write here, but I want to keep it simple, so I'm putting up a brief message for the weekend.

Anyway, to everyone who has fought and/or died for this country, to everyone who has sacrificed and risked everything so I could sit here enjoying freedom of speech, and to everyone who has helped fight terrorism around the world...

THANK YOU!!!!

UPDATE
All right, I've been sitting here thinking and reading a few milblogs, and I have to say a few more things that have been on my mind. Bear with me; this is going to be another stream of consciousness post.

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you probably know that I do not have a pleasant view of humanity. I think that the human race, in general, has been f**ked from the beginning, and will never become un-f**ked at the present rate. It's just a fact of life that people suck. That's why I have said numerous times that "I have no faith in humanity." I really can't trust people, and I respect very few. It's naïve to think that you can put your faith in anyone without at least being prepared for the worst.

However, I've been thinking about the military, and all the people who serve in the armed forces in any capacity to defend our nation from any and all threats. And I've realized, for the first time, just how phenomenal it is that people will do such a thing.

Think about it. There are people who will willingly and voluntarily risk losing everything they have, everything they've ever worked for, and everything they could ever achieve, so that others can be free from tyranny and oppression. They put themselves in danger and perform one of the most difficult jobs in the history of civilization so that same civilization won't fall victim to the evil that lurks deep in the hearts of all human beings. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.* Or, in this case, his country.

It's amazing. It really is. I can't come up with many more words to describe just how I feel. And I'll say something else: I couldn't do it. I am not in the military, and unless there's a draft, I probably never will be. I know myself well enough to realize that I would never be able to handle the demands of service. I couldn't put my life on the line for others. I couldn't travel halfway around the world and fight the Islamofascist minions who want to enslave us. Heck, I probably wouldn't even survive basic training.

Of course, we have a volunteer force so people like me won't become a liability and f**k with the mission, and the knowledge that everyone who is currently serving did so of their own accord, with no coercion from any government entity, makes me respect them that much more. They choose to put themselves at risk with no expectation of reward. They do it all for their fellow man, and they know full well that they may not live to reap the benefits of their sacrifice. It's truly incredible that people like this exist.

I'll end with this: Throughout the history of our nation, the men and, more recently, women of our armed forces have helped represent the .00001% of humanity that hasn't failed at the game of life. There have been a few exceptions, but the vast, vast, vast, vast majority make me think that maybe, just maybe, there's a chance for the human race. After all, if any human is capable of the unbelievable selflessness and bravery embodied by the military, then perhaps all humans are. I doubt it, but it's possible.

Now, if you want to read what a good blogger has to say on the subject, go check out Emperor Misha. His post will make mine look like the random scribblings of a 3 year-old with a broken crayon and a piece of sandpaper.

Finally, I say again to everyone who has ever served to protect this great nation:

THANK YOU!