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Veterans Day Reflections

Published by jalbertini on November 12th, 2014 in Hawaii Independence, Military, Public Events, Radiation, Social Justice, Take Action!, Vigil leaflets.

Glorify

Peace Not

War:

Armistice Day vs. Veterans Day

war over
Let bells toll everywhere!

      In 1919, a year following the end of World War I, the “War to End All War,” Armistice Day was established on Nov. 11th as a celebration of peace and a time to remember the waste of war. In 1954 the U.S. Congress transformed Armistice Day into Veterans Day and transformed a day to celebrate peace into a day to glorify war and the celebration of those who participate in wars as “heroes.” What lesson does that teach our children — to dream of becoming peacemakers? No, to become a “hero” one goes off to kill or be killed in a future war.

      Let’s be clear. Wars are about empire, that serve the interest of a few at the expense of the many. Talk of “freedom and democracy” is window dressing to disguise the grab for resources by corporate profiteers. Veterans Day, like Armed Forces Day, has less to do about honoring the sacrifices of troops than it does about recruiting the next generation of soldiers to be used as cannon fodder in future wars of empire.

      Author and historian, William Blum, in a book “Killing Hope,” presents the facts of more than 55 foreign interventions by the U.S. military/CIA since WWII. Today, the U.S. empire maintains hundreds of military bases around the world, spends hundreds of billions of dollars on its military might, more than most of the other industrial nations combined, maintains an elaborate secret intelligence network that spies on everyone, and a masterful propaganda machine with a compliant media, to fuel fear and hatred in order to keep the U.S. military/industrial complex business booming. But at what human, financial, social, and spiritual cost?

Who has the Courage to Say – No More War!

Thank you for your service in refusing to Kill!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email:ja@malu-aina.org  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Nov. 14, 2014 – 686th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

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