Memorial Day

Today we remember the lives lost in defending our nation and way of life. All lives lost in an act of war are remembered this day. People asserting the right of our nation to exist and live its promise to its people. Life. Liberty. Pursuit of happiness. Equality. Equity. In all of our diversity. In all of our inclusion in society and one another. It has become our birthright. Our American identity.

And yet in 2025, on this day, we are witnessing the loss of many of those things from within our own social order. The poor get poorer and more disrespected. The sick and elderly become more set aside and ignored, uncared for. People of color and nationalities not our own, are discriminated against and targeted. People in uniforms arrest people on the street and spirit them away to detention and a flight to a foreign land. People with correct papers, identities and lives of American purpose, are dumped outside our borders and separated from their families. 

The legislature – House of Representatives – meets at 1 am to discuss a bill that will cut programs for the poor, the sick, the elderly and the legal immigrants to our land. Money saved from these destroyed programs will fund tax cuts to the wealthy, who will continue to amass fortunes with which they buy government control and favor. 

In short, this Memorial Day, we remember those who died serving their country and for all the good reasons that are despised and junked today. 

The courts are stumbling and acting slowly to challenges. The legislature is ruling court orders unenforceable. The executive branch grabs power not only from the court system, but from Congress. It makes laws. It makes policy as law. It implements what it wants to do. It ignores the duties it does not want to do.

The people of America no longer count. They have no power. Voter restrictions make it illegal for millions to cast votes. Programs paid for by taxpayers like social security, Medicare and Medicaid are reduced or eliminated to many beneficiaries. Their taxes and premiums are ignored. 

Education funded by society is denied to those who can least afford it. Only upper classes are left to attend universities. Research at those universities is underfunded and canceled due to political views held different from those in charge of government.

Does any of this sound like the America our military died fighting for?

No. I don’t think so either. Tragic. Horrible. Shameful.

And we are letting it happen. But then, who will be left to remember our lives and struggles?

May 26, 2025


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