Credit: Creative Commons/Peter Hughes.
On Memorial Day, as we pause in remembrance of those who have died in service in the U.S. military, I hope we also remember as well the diplomats and the mediators, those working in conflict resolution, the activists dedicated to preventing wars and to bringing existing wars to diplomatic resolution once they have begun, the individuals of conscience who refuse to give over their minds, their souls, and their bodies to armed conflict, the practitioners of non-violent resistance in the face of tyranny and oppression, the anti-war activists who strive to educate their peers, their citizenry, and, yes, their government to the perils of unjustified and unjust armed conflict and incursions into lands not their own in advance of appropriate attempts at diplomatic means of resolving conflict.
Individuals and groups who stand up and put their lives on the line to defend the country from very real threats to our national security, as do those in our nation’s military, are true patriots. But true patriots are also those who speak out, stand up, and challenge our governmental leaders, those who put their lives on the line by actively advocating for justice, freedom, and liberty through peaceful means.
Looking over the history of humanity, it is apparent that tyranny, at times, could only be countered through the raising of arms. On numerous occasions, however, diplomacy has been successful, and at other times, it should have been used more extensively before rushing to war.
I find it unacceptable when one’s patriotism and one’s love of country is called into question when one advocates for peaceful means of conflict resolution, for it is also an act of patriotism to work to keep our brave and courageous troops out of harm’s way, and to work to create conditions and understanding that ultimately make war less likely.
On Memorial Day, let us expand our definition of “patriot” while we remember and honor all of those serving our country.
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Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld is author of Warren’s Words: Smart Commentary on Social Justice (Purple Press); co-author of Looking at Gay and Lesbian Life (Beacon Press); editor of Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price (Beacon Press), and co-editor of Readings for Diversity and Social Justice (Routledge) and Investigating Christian Privilege and Religious Oppression in the United States (Sense).
This is a time to remember all those Americans who gave up their lives in battle. No one is calling ones patriotism for objecting to war.
I met Milton and Ruby only a few times, and it was many years ago. I had not heard of his passing. I have been going tghruoh my own difficult times, but his warmth and smile and the few soft and encouraging words he spoke to me so many years ago stuck with me, and that’s how I ended up finding this website. Months ago I was clearing tghruoh some old pictures, getting ready to move on to the next chapter of my life. Listening to Jazz Music and I came across pictures of Donna and the Murrill children. It put a smile on my face, as I wiped away my tears. Those tears have returned to me now, finding out very much by accident of his passing. To Ruby and the rest of the family, please know that it is very much in part my memories of you and Milton that have helped me get tghruoh these times and keep a smile on my face and not let my experiences drag me into despair. My thoughts are with you all, you touched my life.I thank you for that, and for all the wonderful music.
Mark, thanks for this post and its links to other atircles. Marla Ruzicka was someone who was devoted to helping the unknown, voiceless victims of the Iraq War. She did this not to advance positions or score points for one side or the other, but to help the innocent victims of this war. She was truely the finest kind of human. I pray that her and her assistant’s deaths are not in vain and that her organization CIVIC survives and grows in their memories.
It is also a time to remember all those who died needlessly in battle, thinking they were ” defending our country” when our country was never threatened. E.g., the Iraqi War.
Memoria Day is day that dedicated to remember all those who dies in service of the country in ALL conflicts.
sarah, i have loved so many of your posts, but this one is my very favorite. bkiathtareng. really. i am so impressed, and also left with a feeling of peace and hope. the grasses are AMAZING. i want these in frames. and the boy running through them like scenes from a movie. lovely.
How Dean White can we bring about a nation-wide understanding of the important point you are making and turn Memorial Day celebrations into widespread support of changing the nature and meaning of Memorial of those celebrations?
Dr. Blumenfeld,
Thank you for reminding us to lift up those who have worked for peace. Many have given their lives in the cause of peace. Marla Ruzicka is one of those people. We got to know her in Afghanistan where she worked to collect the stories of innocent people who were injured or killed, in the hopes of getting the US government to help survivors. It worked. Patrick Leahy was so moved by the stories that Marla collected that he pushed legislation through Congress that has helped many people in the last 14 years. Marla was killed in Iraq on the infamous highway heading into and out of Baghdad’s airport.
Back in 2001 I was honored to be asked to be a confirmation partner for a young man I had known since he was a small child. My husband Derrick was confirmation partner for another youth in the same class. As part of our journey as a group each adult and youth worked on a statement of faith. The influence of September 11th lay heavily on all of our hearts. In my statement of faith I said that I had been a soldier and now I felt called to put my life on the line in the cause of peace, not with arms, but with my body, standing between combatants if I had to. A few weeks after sharing our statements of faith I was called and asked to be on an interfaith peace delegation to Afghanistan. Funny what happens when you put something on paper. We met Marla during that trip. She was a nonviolent force of nature.
http://civiliansinconflict.org/who-we-are/our-founder-marla-ruzicka
Being old and being alone is a scary thought. (I’m on my third mrariage so I’ve thought about it a lot.) In my humble opinion, those of us Baby Boomers who are not married, should see some reruns of The Odd Couple or Golden Girls and look for roommates.
Thank you for such a fantastic web site. On what other blog could ayonne get this kind of information written in such an insightful way? I have a presentation that I am just now working on, and I have been looking for such info.
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do
think that you should write more about this subject, it might not
be a taboo matter but typically people do not talk about such issues.
To the next! Many thanks!!