As we mourn our past and present dead and damaged ServicePeople this Memorial Day, with the playings of taps, the hearful, sincere waxings of political speeches about our fallen heroes--let us always remember with honor their true sacrifices at the orders of those who send them into "harms way".  Let's remember, regardless of nationality, religion, race, age, gender or any other label some of us are so fond of--remember that "War is hell." (was it MacArthur?) and that war itself is terror.

Through centuries war has plagued humankind, professional warriors and day-to-day civilians alike...so today i also ask that we remember equally the innocent masses of civilians dead and damaged in every measured century of human time and over every foot-trodden corner of this planet.  Recall the early tribal blood-feuds, genocidal invasions, religious annihilations, civil wars, despotic executions and democides throughout recorded history. Remember New York, Kabul, Bagdad, Dresden, Tokyo, Saigon, Panama, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and all the endless places and nameless faces so numerous now unforgotten.

                       onto part 2 for 5/30/05