Bodytribe

War. One of the three categories of ‘play,’ according Greek ideology, and the one with the most severe of possible consequences (the other two, by the way, are frolic and competition). It is conquer or be conquered, kill or be killed. War is the creator of freedom, or the final blow against it. We can argue against the concept with validity in our passion to never see another human die as its consequence, and we can quest with nobility towards its absence. But conflict is human, and its escalation to the point of brutal violence, although not desirable or commendable, has found enough of a stronghold throughout history that denying its inevitability is beyond naive.

Today our country recognizes those who are or have been the fabric of our national conflict resolution. Political views aside, it would only be a fool who would deny that our military’s role in what we have and what we can say is large. We can hate conflict, we can argue certain campaigns, and we can work towards a better system, but we can thank our veterans for their big part in our right to argue our rights.

And to the unsung warriors, a voice should be given.  Not all wars are nationally sanctioned. There are considerable home-turf battles for rights that rarely involve the tools of warfare we’re familiar with. Our country is full of veterans of a different kind, fighting for our rights within our own country. They lack the funding, numbers and organization of national military, but the conflicts, and the outcome, are as important.

Today, maybe give them a brief nod as well, the activists who have done as much throughout history to create positive change in our country as our military veterans have to protect it. It takes both, one to create change, the other to protect it, but to deny either the badge of warrior would be a gross inaccuracy.

To all of  our veterans, peace be with your soul, no matter how treacherous the conflict. Our country is OUR country because of you.