"It's brilliant, being depressed; you can behave as badly as you like. " -- Nick Hornby

How was everyones memorial day? Mine was ok. i spent it doing work around the house.
 i think that we have lost sight of what this holiday is all about. it is more then a day off from work and school (granted that is what Labor Day is all about) this is the day when we take the time stop and remember the men and women who have given their lives for us to live our lives free. this is the day for us to pray for their souls, for our leader who have to make the decison of when to go to war, to pray for peace.
I think that esspecially in this time of a war that is unjust, built on lies, and has created more problems then it has solved these men and women's sacrifice is even greater. I have family who have served (in the past, thankfully not in this war) in our armed forces and i see how much this day means to them. to them it is a day to honor those who came before and remember what they did to greater this nation.
So next year when you are going to the parades or grilling the burgers remember why you have this day. and say a prayer for peace and for leaders with the courage to bring about that peace. I am reminded of something i saw on a bumper sticker once, "Blind faith in Bad Leaders is not Patriotic", sure this is jusy another cliche stamped on yet another car but what it says is true. you are not doing the men and women of the armed forces justice if you do not stand up for peace. It is more couragous to use war is a very last resort (as it should be) then it is to bomb the living hell out of innocent women and children.
What i am saying may seem like is is liberal bull crap but i didn't support Clinton when he bombed an aspirin factory from thousands of miles away, I don't support Bush's War on "Terror", and i don't support taking lives when there is always a more just option.
So, to sum up this rambleing, i want to thank the men and women sacrificing for us, and i want to urge people to take a stand so that there won't be the need for them to have to make that sacrifice.

Thank you,
Mark M.

P.S. In writing this entry i felt i finally had something important to say. i would like as many people as possible to read and reply to it. please when you read this nominate it a bunch of times so that this message can get out. thanks.