Thoughts on this 2008 Memorial Day

It is not the result of service of thousands of American soldiers that determines their honor and success but rather the act of service itself. I refuse to allow political figures, vying for your vote, to program me into thinking that anything but success in Iraq would be a disgrace to the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers. There is no true winners in war; too many lives are lost and families shattered for there to be true winners. We hope, however, that because of their sacrifice the world is a better and safer place. These men and women are honorable to a significant level. Their decision to serve is all that is needed to acquire my respect and to carry on with honor. These men and women chose on their own free will to serve, a luxury known to young Americans for only the past 3 decades. I may not have served myself, but I hope that my hard work and determination to advance myself in this wonderful country identifies my gratitude to these fallen soldiers. May we all be encouraged by their sacrifice to strive for acceptance, kindness, hard work, diversity, and peace, for those are the things they fight and die for.