Bill Moyers has a wonderful Memorial Day writeup on Alternet.
I am terribly saddened whenever I see righteous nationalism substituting itself for patriotism. It seems that democracy's greatest strength is also its vital weakness, and we see so many themes today reflecting that. Because we are free to speak, and free to trade, and free to own and free to war, we must be exceptionally aware of our actions and the ramifications of our decisions.
On Independence Day and on Memorial Day I think about all the horrors of hell that people have slaved through to bring us our nation and our prosperity. There is so, so much that we have to be grateful for, that we must spend our lives in remembrance... and yet, ignorance still reigns and our greatest enemies still come from within.
It's very depressing to think that those in power think ignorance can truly be strength; that by misleading the people and manufacturing consent, the nation can be steered, like a giant machine, into implementing whatever policies are the fad of the day. These very same people seem to understand that the strength of capitalism lies in the chaotic, dynamic balance of the free market; why can't they understand that the strength of democracy lies in a dynamic, informed citizenry?
Posted by Peter at May 27, 2003 11:37 AM