cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Servicemen die badly in distant places so that we can enjoy what the sign conveys. cn
thank you servicemen
- Thread starter Dwezelitsame
- Start date
doublejj
Well-Known Member
Charleston was in ruins.
The peninsula was nearly deserted, the fine houses empty, the streets littered with the debris of fighting and the ash of fires that had burned out weeks before. The Southern gentility was long gone, their cause lost.
An account of Memorial Day events from 1865 as reported in the Charleston Daily Courier.
In the weeks after the Civil War ended, it was, some said, "a city of the dead."
On a Monday morning that spring, nearly 10,000 former slaves marched onto the grounds of the old Washington Race Course, where wealthy Charleston planters and socialites had gathered in old times. During the final year of the war, the track had been turned into a prison camp. Hundreds of Union soldiers died there.
For two weeks in April, former slaves had worked to bury the soldiers. Now they would give them a proper funeral.
The procession began at 9 a.m. as 2,800 black school children marched by their graves, softly singing "John Brown's Body."
Soon, their voices would give way to the sermons of preachers, then prayer and — later — picnics. It was May 1, 1865, but they called it Decoration Day.
On that day, former Charleston slaves started a tradition that would come to be known as Memorial Day.
The peninsula was nearly deserted, the fine houses empty, the streets littered with the debris of fighting and the ash of fires that had burned out weeks before. The Southern gentility was long gone, their cause lost.
An account of Memorial Day events from 1865 as reported in the Charleston Daily Courier.
In the weeks after the Civil War ended, it was, some said, "a city of the dead."
On a Monday morning that spring, nearly 10,000 former slaves marched onto the grounds of the old Washington Race Course, where wealthy Charleston planters and socialites had gathered in old times. During the final year of the war, the track had been turned into a prison camp. Hundreds of Union soldiers died there.
For two weeks in April, former slaves had worked to bury the soldiers. Now they would give them a proper funeral.
The procession began at 9 a.m. as 2,800 black school children marched by their graves, softly singing "John Brown's Body."
Soon, their voices would give way to the sermons of preachers, then prayer and — later — picnics. It was May 1, 1865, but they called it Decoration Day.
On that day, former Charleston slaves started a tradition that would come to be known as Memorial Day.
guy incognito
Well-Known Member
How do you guys feel about servicemen in other armies? Armies that fight against us. Everyone is fighting for their own cause and they think they are right. Do they really believe they are right, or are they just following orders? What honor is there in simply following orders?
doublejj
Well-Known Member
That's all politics bro, soldiers serve their country, their flag, their homeland. I met an old Vietcong fighter & he was every bit a soldier as I was. He was fighting for his country. I have much respect for him as a true soldier. But if I had a better shot at him back in that rice paddy, we wouldn't have been having the conversation LOL! ......and I'm sure that was true for him. Following orders will keep you alive in combat. Not following orders in a firefight is the surest way I can think of to get killed. One of the sweetest sounds on the battlefield is your commanding officer barking "orders"!...Trust me, it's a scary feeling to be alone in a firefight....Now electing those at the top that give the orders, that's your job. Soldiers just follow 'YOUR ORDERS'!
NietzscheKeen
Well-Known Member
Lol, a couple of years back I ran into two guys that were in the Iraqi Army. It was really cool, I think I asked about a discount and they overheard me and struck up a conversation while standing in line for check out. I mentioned that I spent some time all over Iraq. The people behind me in line had these terrified looks on their faces, LMAO. We chatted for a few, had a couple of laughs. We all shook hands as we parted ways and wished each other well. The people's terrified looks turned to confusion. None of us were in uniform and it was never anything personal. I thought it was really cool to run into them.
Also, I used to work at a photo place and there was a guy that came in frequently. Everyone knew him and he was always so nice. He wanted me to help him print photos one day and he pulled out several old photos. He told me about how he was in the Vietnam army back in the day. I'm not sure if he was on our side or not...
But he told me stories and showed me all sorts of photos and I thought it was so interesting. I was thankful to have crossed paths with him.
There is a saying... I can't remember who said it though, but it goes something like "the most peaceful person is the soldier" because they are the ones that have to fight in the wars. I don't know if it is necessarily true because the military seems to recruit sociopaths a lot of the time. But it really isn't anything personal for most people. I thought I was fighting for freedom or whatever at the time.
NietzscheKeen
Well-Known Member
I think there is a difference between wars today and 50-60 years ago. Like the revolutionary war for example. If my thoughts are correct, most of the people that were soldiers in the revolutionary war were fighting for something they believed in; an ideal. Today, it's usually about money and resources. I think it is much more honorable to bargain with someone and be a likeable personality on the global stage so that others WILL want to work with you than to invade. If you think about it, international relations is much like gang warfare; one is trying to expand their turf and they use violence to do so. The military is just a bunch of pawns; a bargaining tool. Businesses love war and often push for it because their profits always go up during a well managed war; as long as the president doesn't run the country into the ground while the war is going on.
Anyway, I'm rambling again. I don't think there is a wrong and a right anymore. Usually the ones that have an ideal and want change are the same ones labeled as terrorists and rebels. Of course it also depends on who is allied with your country. I think Israel is one of the most evil countries in modern history and should be wiped off the face of the earth, but when you read the news.... Israel is always the good, patient guy that is putting up with the horrible attacks from the Palestinian side; although most of the attacks are trivial as they don't have jets, tanks, decent artillery, etc. like Israel has.
Anyway, I'm rambling again. I don't think there is a wrong and a right anymore. Usually the ones that have an ideal and want change are the same ones labeled as terrorists and rebels. Of course it also depends on who is allied with your country. I think Israel is one of the most evil countries in modern history and should be wiped off the face of the earth, but when you read the news.... Israel is always the good, patient guy that is putting up with the horrible attacks from the Palestinian side; although most of the attacks are trivial as they don't have jets, tanks, decent artillery, etc. like Israel has.