Edwin Starr
Vet's and non-vet's
My V Day celebrated in Spain-
Veterans Day-today in the States--
An incredibly long walk to get to home for today--- I arrived after dark----
I know where I'd be and who I'd be with today if I wasn't here in Spain walking the Camino. I'd be going to Bruce in Washington, DC--on Veteran's Day.
Veteran's Day--
I remember May, 1999 standing next to a guy in Birmingham, England- next to a stage. And then all of a sudden this guy takes the stage, and with all the gusto Edwin Starr sings "WAR, what is it good for? Absolutely Nothing!!!".
Occasionally I get the "you're an American? What do you think of your President?"lines from some pilgrims.
Politics--- it's just been non-existent on the Camino--quite refreshing, no CNN, no Fox news, no 57 channels and nothing on!!!! And then a Pilgrim spoils my tranquility with a question (very rare, but twice this week).
But Veteran's Day reminded me of my time standing next to Edwin Starr-- because the guy who facilitated all that back in 1999 was a VET.
And I'm on the TommyT FREEDOM Tour---People, namely Veteran's, paid a price for the American Freedom we all are so priviledged to enjoy.
So on my walk today I thought of Veteran's I knew, and also thought of people I was glad weren't Veteran's.
I'll explain. I remember 1968, and my brother was graduating high school, and he was going to get drafted, or go to college. I was too young for the details, but my brother went to college. I was glad he wasn't a Veteran. My other brother is a Vet, although, fortunately, he never saw a war. But he could have, and so could everyone else who ever volunteered to serve in our armed forces. My father didn't pass the physical for WWII, so he wasn't a Vet. My father-in-law, who I never met as he passed away before I met Liz, was a Vet of WWII and flew B-52's and did bombing runs over Germany.
Anyway, so I thought of all this, and I thought of the friend in grade school whose brother went to Vietnam, and he was killed there. I remember the somber tones in the grade school when we found out, but I really think most American's take their freedom, and the price of it, for granted.
I was at the peak height of the Camino (about 5000 feet), the Cruz de Ferro/Puerto Irago and there were all kinds of memorials laid at the foot of this Cross. I decided I would have my own Veteran's Day service and made a cross of wood and laid it at the foot of the Cruz de Ferro, and said a prayer of thanks for our freedom, and for all those who fought/are fighting in it's name.
Politics. The only thing I'd like to say about the current war in Iraq is this; Iraq is another event which shows Edwin Starr is right. But sometimes there is no Churchill, no real world statesman that can come in and save the day---War or no war-- and wars erupt and people endlessly debate the merits on TV. And politicians check polls before making comments--etc etc etc.
I went to Pearl Harbor last Dec 7th, the 65th anniversary. I saw very old men and their Naval Cap's commemorating their "survival" and what ship they were on. I saw Tom Brokaw talk of these individuals who made up "The Greatest Generation". I see Eastern Europe thriving after a 50 year "economic war", and freedom overflowing.
I sometimes wonder what causes today's American's are willing to FIGHT for? (The American's not in uniform). And I wonder if the Greatest Generation had our current "stomach's to fight", instead of "theirs", would D-Day have been a DEBATE instead of a BATTLE? I mean, Normandy is "over there"!!!
We've been spoiled with freedom, and general peace in our land, and I pray we continue to receive that blessing.
But the world is getting smaller, and hatred, discrimination, and lack of freedom will be very visibile wherever it exists going forward.
Pope Paul VI wrote an amazing encyclical on the dignity of man and basic human rights- Dignitatus Humanae - actually released on 12/7/65. This document, now 40+ years old, tells of the church's belief for all people to have the right to religious freedom (any religion, by the way, not just the Catholic religion), and for governments to protect that right. It is a natural right of man.
I don't find war an easy topic, as trying to establish the more right or more wrong decision is always easier in hindsight. WWII was "right", Vietnam was "wrong", Iraq is???--- all I know is there are people in harms way, and there are too many people not in harms way with opinions. I remember the picture of the old woman with the blue ink mark on her finger in Bagdad after casting her vote. She knows something about freedom that I think a lot of people in America might have forgotten.
I am thankful that America truly allows one to enjoy this freedom.
I recognize, way over here in Spain, that Veteran's all across the land have made that possible.
Peace
TT
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