Since 1868 Memorial Day has commemorated the men and women who died while in the military service of the United States of America.  Today we honor the sacrifices of those men and women who faithfully served this country through war-time and peace. 

Beyond honoring their memory and service, today is a day to reflect upon the ideals and principles for which these Americans fought.  For 235 years soldiers have willingly enlisted, served and died for their nation.  They have done so for many reasons including:

     •  Service to the country they loved
     •  Defense of the U.S. Constitution
     •  Protection of the individual rights and freedoms of their families and American citizens
     •  Preservation of unfettered economic opportunity
     •  Resistance to oppression

A Perspective on Memorial Day 2009

I am not a soldier and do not pretend to be worthy of articulating the beliefs of those who we Memorialize today.  But from a historical perspective, it appears that the public policy actions undertaken in response to our economic crisis overtly defy the values upon which this country was founded and for which so many fine Americans have fought and sacrificed.

Soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War and Korean War were resisting the forceful proliferation of Communism.  I do not believe that these men were fighting for Government Provided Universal Healthcare, the Nationalization of the Auto, Banking, Mortgage and Student Lending industries or so the U.S. could “abandon free-market principles to save the free-market system”.

World War II was fought partly to resist the fascist forces of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party.  I doubt many victims of this conflict would embrace the country’s crawl towards Socialism, celebrate efforts to “spread the wealth around” or appreciate the influence that Worker’s Unions have gained within our political system. 
 
During World War II we fought the Japanese Empire which had launched a surprise attack on Pearl Habor.  Forced into a fight, we fought to win.  We were willing to intern more than 100,000 Japanese Americans and drop two nuclear weapons on Japanese civilians to end the conflict.  Today many politicians treat the War on Terror, highlighted by the attacks on 9/11, as a law-enforcement exercise, resist the use of military tribunals and enhanced interrogation efforts, and craft public policy so as not to offend terrorists out of concern that such offense will be used as a tool for recruitment. 

American Revolutionaries fought against an oppressive Government and “taxation without representation”.  I am confident they would not have fought for a Federal bail-out of California’s irresponsible deficit.

Immigrants who willingly came to this land, while not soldiers in the service of the United States, traveled here for freedom, opportunity, to escape persecution and to build a better future for their families.  Today the Government is consciously restricting economic freedoms and opportunities.  We are financially enslaving ourselves and our children through the accumulation of debt and unfunded liabilities.  Politicians are persecuting Americans because they have been successful, punishing individuals who play by the rules and rewarding bad behavior. 

Memorial Day seems like a particularly relevant time to thoughtfully question political actions which undermine the freedoms and opportunities for which soldiers and Americans have sacrificed.