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National Alzheimer's

Memorial Day is the day of "memory" for our nation. It actually started after the Civil War, in 1866 as Decoration Day with Americans going to cemeteries to decorate the graves of soldiers in honor of their sacrifice. It eventually became Memorial Day, a day of remembrance. Dennis Prager was talking today and mentioned the idea that our memory is what makes us who we are. If we ever lost our memory we would lose our identity, very much like a victim of Alzheimer's, who forgets not only who he is but also who everyone else in his life is.

On a national level, when we lose our memory, we also lose our identity. There are many famous quotes about those who fail to learn from history (our memory) are doomed to repeat it, etc. Well, connecting this with one of my other favorite quotes about remembering, I found Prager's comments quite profound.

One of the interesting components of our history, our national memory, that I have learned lately, especially as it relates to war, is that we WON the Vietnam war. Seriously, check out your history. The problem was the "won, now run" policy that our decision-makers implemented prevented Vietnam from stabilizing the peace and getting up on its feet. Thus, "in early 1975 the communists launched a massive attack. President Gerald Ford asked for $1 billion in supplemental funds to help the South Vietnamese, and Congress refused. They had already pulled the plug on the U.S.-supported government of Lon Nol in Cambodia. Ford had no choice but to order the evacuation of remaining U.S. personnel."

Now, this is important to our national identity because people are claiming Iraq is the new Vietnam. The parallels are striking. But have we learned the lessons? If we win the peace, but leave as soon as it looks certain, without staying long enough to secure it, will Iraq become the new Vietnam for certain?

Obama claims that if we have not been able to stabilize Iraq in 7 years, we won't be able to do it in 14, 21, or 54 years. Really?! Well, how does he explain Korea? It's not that we failed in the Korean conflict, ultimately, as much as our presence there helps maintain the peace we secured. This precisely is John McCain's point about being in Iraq for 50 or 100 years, if necessary.

It's a shame to see one so young suffer from such a horrible disease - Alzheimer's. I pray on this day of memory, we as a nation, will not fall victim to it as well.

Thank you to all who have served and are serving.
Labels: Military, Remember

2 comments:

cole said...

Have not heard todays Dennis Prager show "yet". but part of the normal human condition is that our minds are designed to forget things. As people get older they forget but still evolve and retain their identiy.
Thought provoking blog....

7:59 PM [image]
John said...

You're right that a certain amount of memory is normal to lose. However, there are key parts that are dangerous if lost. Forgetting where one puts the car keys is one thing. Forgetting who your wife is is completely another. Forgetting to turn the stove off, yet another.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Please continue to let me know what you think.

12:01 AM [image]

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