Look, here’s the thing… no one is pro-war… Well… no one except Dick Cheney and the companies who make billions off weaponry.
Not one of us like to see soldiers killed or wounded, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Being pro-military does NOT make you pro-war. It means you support the men and women of the armed forces for protecting us and this great nation of ours. They more than deserve our respect and honor, and this MUST mean while they are in action, and AFTER they come home. Too many are forgotten about and left to their own demons and this is wrong. We put them there and we simply must take care of them when they return. They do a job most of us cower from.
2) We MUST acknowledge that there is a very real enemy out there… Not something imagined and made up for the sake of a rallying cry or an excuse to send troops into action in order to deflect the other issues debilitating the country… Hatred and bigotry and ignorance are running rampant, and allowing young men and women to strap themselves with belts and underwear made of explosives for the sole purpose of killing us. Fanaticism is real. It must be dealt with swiftly… and if you think it is a problem “over there” you are wrong. It starts over there, it is trained over there, for the sole purpose of bringing it over HERE… and adding terror and fear to our daily repertoire. If you want to understand what daily fear is… check out Israel, who thwarts at least one attack daily… DAILY!
This country is knocking itself down on its own… We are becoming obese and a lot less educated. Our life expectancy is decreasing instead of increasing. We are destroying the environment and its natural resources. This also must stop. Seriously. We need to rediscover what makes this country so great… We need to come together as a people and realize that IS our responsibility to take care of each other… It is our responsibility to heal the world… NOT RULE IT… HEAL IT!
Freedom is an amazing thing. It must be respected and honored and cherished. So on this Memorial Day let us remember that… Let us remember those who have come before us and served and worked so hard to make this a true United States of America.
For all of them and all of you…
Elvis Presley - The Essential Elvis Presley
I wanted to come up with something quintessentially American… It was a challenge… Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash immediately jumped to mind… and then Elvis Presley.
They all have elements of Americana… in their music and in their lives. Triumphs and tragedies… the American dream, and the American nightmare. Riches and vices… happiness and heartbreak. There are many artists that signify what this country is about… many bands associated with this country…
I thought of Bruce and the iconic album cover for Born In The USA… but I already did that album… and Elvis just felt right.
So here is a lovely 40-song, 2-disc collection that says it all. For a man who served in the Army and a man who gave us so much… For a man who had so much and lost so much…
Enjoy your Memorial Day, but take a moment to remember how and why we got here. Don’t live in the Heartbreak Hotel… but every once in a while peek your head in and let it humble you and give you strength and above all… lots of love!
