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Monday, May 29, 2006

Memorial Day — Defenders and Liberators

This is Memorial Day. I thought I would offer several items throughout the day, but as the sun is quickly descending on this very day in Baghdad, it is only proper to address first what has been weighing relentlessly on everyone: the politicizing of the War on Terror, the insolent drumbeat of the anti-Americanists, the love of the bad in this war and the ignorance of the good, and how it all hallows the enormous, just pride all Americans should feel for their Armed Forces—who in all of their storied history are almost without exception liberators, and not occupiers.

Zell Miller, the Democratic Senator from Georgia, left his party’s box to address the Republican National Convention in New York City two years ago. There George W. Bush was re-nominated, and there Senator Miller made himself immortal with an address that undid his party and filled Madison Square Garden with mist. Miller disagrees with the Republicans on tax policy. In fact, he has opposing views on a full slate of regular election issues. His point, though, was that a party fallen to a radical minority, which sees impropriety in America advancing her own interests, is a party not worth clinging to. W? Still the president. And Miller isn’t the most popular man in his party. But I imagine that, because he took this stand, he may be learned about some day. By kids who have the American-preserved privilege of growing up loving the image of the soldier, not fearing it.

A man called Frank Wise took Miller’s words and a piece of music by Hans Zimmer and made them into a short video, which is below.

Here’s to making 2006 a clean fight.

Posted on May 29, 2006 07:25 AM. Permalink