War without end, amen.

[Redstone]

Thus it is; and thus, it seems, shall it ever be.

So what, exactly, is it that the veterans whom we honor tomorrow made their sacrifices for?

Someone want to remind me?

World War 2 vets aside, WHAT did their pain and suffering and sacrifice accomplish?

Korea? MAYBE worth it. I don't know.

Viet Nam? For nothing. I DO know.

Grenada? For nothing. And what the FUCK was that all about in the first place?

Panama? For nothing. And we'll NEVER know how many civilians we slaughtered, or why.

Beirut? For nothing. Saint Ronald Reagan, those Marines' blood is on YOUR hands.

Gulf War 1? For nothing. Oh, boy, Kuwait is free again, because of us. Wasn't THAT worth the sacrifice?

Kosovo? For something this time, I have to admit. Though the Europeans should have solved that problem without us having to get involved.

Afghanistan? I challenge anyone to find me ONE example in written history of ANY outside power being able to get Afghanistan to come to any level of civilization, without getting mired down in a quagmire and bled dry until giving up. Name me one.

And finally, The Big Show, Georgie's Wonderful Adventure? Do I need to, indeed can I say anything that we all don't already know?

Four years, people. Four fucking years, and counting.

For nothing. Remember that when you go to the parade tomorrow morning.

Redstone

[AzDar]

1. Kind of shocking to think about it, isn't it? That a tiny, evil, brain-dead,

little COWARD can usurp power and try to destroy what so many courageous, honorable Americans have valiantly fought and died for.
He and his enablers are contemptible; that is all I can really think about this Memorial Day.

[Gregorian]

2. They're serving at the pleasure of the corporations.

Paid with our taxes.

Taken by us at gunpoint, by George Bush.

*Disclaimer: may only apply to the Bush administration, and not all wars. But from my experience, and dislike for all war, I find it to be true for the most part.

[TahitiNut]

3. People in military service serve The People, through our elected government.

If we don't do our job, it's NOT their fault. It's ours. The government is subordinate to the people. The People cannot abdicate the responsibility for their own self-governance. Sometimes the cost of asserting the sovereign democratic will of the poeple is high. The longer we fail to do so, the higher the costs will be.

[Codeine]

4. Redstone

Where does that phrase "War without end, amen," originate? I heard it in a song, but I'm sure it has an older pedigree than that.

[TahitiNut]

6. It's akin to a line in the Lutheran/Catholic liturgy ... a benediction.

It's from Ephesians 3:14-21 ...

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The liturgy for Matins includes ...
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.



And, from Psalm 117 Laudate Dominum

O praise the Lord, all ye nations; *
Praise him, all ye peoples.
For his merciful kindness is ever more and more toward us; *
and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

[Redstone]

11. That is EXACTLY what it's based on.

Redstone

[Codeine]

13. WORLD without end,

that's lyric I heard. My brain latched on to something else. Thanks, Tahitihut, and thanks to Redstone as well! :hi:

[Redstone]

10. To be honest, I don't know who else might have used it in a song or wherever;

I suspect someone did, because it's too obvious for me to have been the first to use it.

Although I first used it in an essay I wrote in 1991. Maybe I made a meme, but it's much more likely that someone like Mark Twain or Ambrose Bierce aid it a LONG time ago.

Redstone

[pinto]

5. From what I can glean from vets, their sacrifices are first for each other, their comrades,

which I will honor tomorrow. Next, their sacrifices in the line of duty, are as they are sworn to do. Those that have died don't make the policies, nor do they have a voice in the decisions made a world away. It is for us to honor them, remember, and ask 'why?'.

[TahitiNut]

8. Agreed.

:patriot:

[Redstone]

12. "Asking why" is the important part. Don't forget to do that.

Redstone

[magellan]

7. An object lesson for future generations

Neglect your country and the hucksters and con men will take it and everything it stands for from you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. How true this is, unfortunately...nt