This was meant to honor Americans who died in service to their country. Especially those who helped to liberate Europe during WWII. The picture is suppose to be tongue and cheek. There are few Europeans and amazingly few Americans who realize the impact this country has had for the good of those living in Europe today.
I don’t know what this means”tongue in cheek” …one supposes that we have learned from the horrors; in Limburg, a province of The Netherlands there is also a cemetary with the white crosses/graves of American soldiers and in my village we have a cemetary for the Polish and the Allies, most British..It’s heartbreaking..My comment is more a plea really…to once again stop agitating other nations ( including the Americans ! who are terrored or sure ) and aim for peace..anyway, yes we have discussed this often before. We must never forget and always take moments in time to give notice to what has happened and is still happening. Did you see the video in one of my latest posts ( I think 4 or 5 may ) what happened at the national memorial service in Amsterdam, when the Queen was attending and several veterans…Anyway, I was once again pleading for “make peace not war” ….what do I know…litle housewife on the swamp….( joke ).
Be well my friend, sorry for not knowing the saying, I’m sure there is a Dutch equivalent to it.
Is this one of your sons bye the way…such a handsome man…..wish I had more daughters…
Lieve groeten
Godeliva
ps….I suddenly understood the “you’re welcome” in another context just now than when I read it this morning. Please believe me: although we may be politically worlds apart now and often these past ten years: we will never forget the sacrifices and always be grateful and deeply impressed and moved by the Americans.
Amen! I do think most Americans and Europeans would express gratitude for their service as well, Godeliva!
Critic of political sincerity as I am, what the rank and file of a democractic or a fascist country have to endure for the egotism or mistakes of their politicians, is not their fault. America is no worse than say Britain on this. I was in the army and although soldiers get carried away in the heat of conflict, most would prefer not to. It is not the specific conflict that matters for the honour of a soldier but the manner in which he carries out his duties. Never mind what the politicians and the generals spout for their own means, a common man in the thin red line (I love history) just does his duty as best he can as a civilised man.
I have seen mercenaries at work and a real soldier despises their bravado and gung ho bull shit. A real soldier would prefer to practice for war but never have to go to war. He is a defender not an aggressor.
Whether you were landing on Normandy beaches or shooting at them from the cliff tops, there is no difference. A soldier is stuck in a postion that he tries to be honourable about. One has to be in conflict and try to act decently despite everything going on to understand that.
I believe even the “common” soldier serving with the Allied Forces understood there was no moral equivalence between the Allied and the Axis forces.
We can’t assume they had no ability to make a moral distinction between the two. Even among the European civilian population, there were those who knew the crimes that were being committed by the National Socialist German Worker’s Party and they stood against it. The underground resistance in France and The Netherlands removed the guiltlessness from those who embraced country over conscience.
have a great weekend friend~ and thanks to Jeff for his great service to our country.
@Hutch5 - The common allied soldier certainly did see a difference between the Wermacht and the Waffen SS. The common German soldier had no choice and tried to act reasonably. German lads were called up and would be shot if they refused to go. British forces shot German prisoners in North Africa but let the Italians go by themselves to the back lines to give up. They shot the Germans because they could not take prisoners in a desert situation when moving forward. That was the reason given by someone I know who did it. Unlawful killing was carried out by both sides, that is what I am saying. Americans killed a whole village in My Lai. Why were they not shot as murderers? Soldiers obey orders in confusing times. That puts the Wemarcht on the same level as the allies. The SS of course were something else entirely. More suited to your Blackwater merenaries, but that is another story.
Apart from special examples like the Nazis storm troopers, war crimes are committed by the defeated. The winners only do what is necessary. The question has been asked, where were all the good germans? One answer is that they were beig killed by allied bombs. Hamburg was flattened eg and it was full of socialists who hated Hitler. He kept away from the place. Nagasaki was the home of a vast Christian population. The main group sympathetic to the allies was bombed into dust.
War crimes are everywhere in our own ranks and if we do not root it out immediatley, we are no different from the SS exept in scale.
Have a good weegend, as they say in that other colony, Oz.
Should we ever come up with a way to cure the curse of innocents dying as the result of another person’s transgression, we’ll be able to oversee a war like a surgeon conducts an operation. Cutting out the malignancy while leaving the healthy flesh.
Thanks to the ingenuity of Capitalism, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have succeeded in improving modern warfare. The creation of the Precision guided missile has brought us closer to that ultimate outcome.
When I referred to those who chose conscience over country, I was speaking about those who took an active role against the NAZI Party. Those who invested money effort and risk to personal safety to help the Jews or the French and Dutch who worked with the resistance. I’ve no doubt there were those who disagreed with Hitler but kept silent. Privately held principles that don’t prod a person to action turn men and women into targets and cowardly ones at that. If one dies while trying to achieve the results of those privately held principles, then he’s in the fight……. And in the right fight for that matter.
@bakersdozen2 - One can die for one’s principles but that does not mean the fight is right, as history shows.
Love the picture and the saying. Happy Memorial Day!
Self-promotion (or by extension national advancement for the sake of domination) is difficult to disguise as a moral principle.
@bakersdozen2 - I would think it would be domination for the sake of natonal advanement. Anyway, the last of the great European empires would know all about that.
The end result of National advancement being the domination of countries/individuals. In Hitler’s case world Domination (?) The beginning of a Third Reich….
@bakersdozen2 - Domination is the means. Advancement is the end
You’re using the word advancement by itself to connote a positive meaning. I’m using the term “National advancement” as one would say “self-promotion”. The context being a furtherance with the tarnish of self-obsessed motives. At any rate, I don’t believe domination results in advancement for anyone…. not even for the one doing the dominating.
heh, snarkiness
It’s important to take time to remember those that have served our country. Thanks for reminding us.
thank you for sharing……..
Bakers.. (hi).. it is heavy thinking about all the Americans who took their last breaths fighting in wars.. It affects me most, when I think about the guys who fought in the Revolutionary & Civil wars, bcuz they often hadn’t seen or heard from family (bcuz of a lack of communication technology, etc) for months, & their families wouldn’t know of their fate for months either.. I’ve been to Gettysburg a couple times, and every trip, I think about all the lives left behind there, lives that weren’t mourned or recognized for months, it’s heart-breaking. peace
so grateful. so thankful for those who have served. My grandfather being one of them, whom I never met. Freedom is worth fighting for – and it’s only when people no longer have it, that sometimes then do they realize it’s worth.
have you ever seen how they train the guys who guard the tomb? it’s INTENSE.
such a moving video. so thankful for these brave patriots.
…and the families who gave them to us.
May those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of liberty never be forgotten.
@Patrick_Henry - Gettysburg is indeed incredible. Brought the family out there last year. I’m not sure which excited me more, the new History Channel program on Gettysburg that will air on Memorial Day, or that my kids are excited to see it. This year, Lexington and Concord!
@grim_truth - That does look interesting. I thought I had seen that it was produced by Ridley Scott. One of my favorite directors. If that’s the case, it should be very well done!
And many prayers to those are still serving, and many thanks to those who served and didn’t die.
Comments (34)
Memorial day is a good thing.
@ABAHM -
It surely is
May those who gave their lives for freedom and liberty rest in peace.
STOP returning our sons’ and daughters’ return in bodybacks !
Godeliva van Ariadone
@Ariadone -
This was meant to honor Americans who died in service to their country. Especially those who helped to liberate Europe during WWII.
The picture is suppose to be tongue and cheek. There are few Europeans and amazingly few Americans who realize the impact this country has had for the good of those living in Europe today.
@bakersdozen2 -
Whoops… I mean tongue in cheek!
I don’t know what this means”tongue in cheek” …one supposes that we have learned from the horrors; in Limburg, a province of The Netherlands there is also a cemetary with the white crosses/graves of American soldiers and in my village we have a cemetary for the Polish and the Allies, most British..It’s heartbreaking..My comment is more a plea really…to once again stop agitating other nations ( including the Americans ! who are terrored or sure ) and aim for peace..anyway, yes we have discussed this often before. We must never forget and always take moments in time to give notice to what has happened and is still happening. Did you see the video in one of my latest posts ( I think 4 or 5 may ) what happened at the national memorial service in Amsterdam, when the Queen was attending and several veterans…Anyway, I was once again pleading for “make peace not war” ….what do I know…litle housewife on the swamp….( joke ).
Be well my friend, sorry for not knowing the saying, I’m sure there is a Dutch equivalent to it.
Is this one of your sons bye the way…such a handsome man…..wish I had more daughters…
Lieve groeten
Godeliva
ps….I suddenly understood the “you’re welcome” in another context just now than when I read it this morning. Please believe me: although we may be politically worlds apart now and often these past ten years: we will never forget the sacrifices and always be grateful and deeply impressed and moved by the Americans.
Thank you !
Lieve groeten
Godeliva
@Ariadone -
Amen! I do think most Americans and Europeans would express gratitude for their service as well, Godeliva!
Critic of political sincerity as I am, what the rank and file of a democractic or a fascist country have to endure for the egotism or mistakes of their politicians, is not their fault. America is no worse than say Britain on this. I was in the army and although soldiers get carried away in the heat of conflict, most would prefer not to. It is not the specific conflict that matters for the honour of a soldier but the manner in which he carries out his duties. Never mind what the politicians and the generals spout for their own means, a common man in the thin red line (I love history) just does his duty as best he can as a civilised man.
I have seen mercenaries at work and a real soldier despises their bravado and gung ho bull shit. A real soldier would prefer to practice for war but never have to go to war. He is a defender not an aggressor.
Whether you were landing on Normandy beaches or shooting at them from the cliff tops, there is no difference. A soldier is stuck in a postion that he tries to be honourable about. One has to be in conflict and try to act decently despite everything going on to understand that.
@Lovegrove -
I believe even the “common” soldier serving with the Allied Forces understood there was no moral equivalence between the Allied and the Axis forces.
We can’t assume they had no ability to make a moral distinction between the two. Even among the European civilian population, there were those who knew the crimes that were being committed by the National Socialist German Worker’s Party and they stood against it. The underground resistance in France and The Netherlands removed the guiltlessness from those who embraced country over conscience.
have a great weekend friend~ and thanks to Jeff for his great service to our country.
@Hutch5 - The common allied soldier certainly did see a difference between the Wermacht and the Waffen SS. The common German soldier had no choice and tried to act reasonably. German lads were called up and would be shot if they refused to go. British forces shot German prisoners in North Africa but let the Italians go by themselves to the back lines to give up. They shot the Germans because they could not take prisoners in a desert situation when moving forward. That was the reason given by someone I know who did it. Unlawful killing was carried out by both sides, that is what I am saying. Americans killed a whole village in My Lai. Why were they not shot as murderers? Soldiers obey orders in confusing times. That puts the Wemarcht on the same level as the allies. The SS of course were something else entirely. More suited to your Blackwater merenaries, but that is another story.
Apart from special examples like the Nazis storm troopers, war crimes are committed by the defeated. The winners only do what is necessary. The question has been asked, where were all the good germans? One answer is that they were beig killed by allied bombs. Hamburg was flattened eg and it was full of socialists who hated Hitler. He kept away from the place. Nagasaki was the home of a vast Christian population. The main group sympathetic to the allies was bombed into dust.
War crimes are everywhere in our own ranks and if we do not root it out immediatley, we are no different from the SS exept in scale.
Have a good weegend, as they say in that other colony, Oz.
@Lovegrove -
Should we ever come up with a way to cure the curse of innocents dying as the result of another person’s transgression, we’ll be able to oversee a war like a surgeon conducts an operation. Cutting out the malignancy while leaving the healthy flesh.
Thanks to the ingenuity of Capitalism, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have succeeded in improving modern warfare.
The creation of the Precision guided missile has brought us closer to that ultimate outcome.
When I referred to those who chose conscience over country, I was speaking about those who took an active role against the NAZI Party. Those who invested money effort and risk to personal safety to help the Jews or the French and Dutch who worked with the resistance. I’ve no doubt there were those who disagreed with Hitler but kept silent. Privately held principles that don’t prod a person to action turn men and women into targets and cowardly ones at that. If one dies while trying to achieve the results of those privately held principles, then he’s in the fight……. And in the right fight for that matter.
@bakersdozen2 - One can die for one’s principles but that does not mean the fight is right, as history shows.
Love the picture and the saying.
Happy Memorial Day!
@Lovegrove -
Self-promotion (or by extension national advancement for the sake of domination) is difficult to disguise as a moral principle.
@bakersdozen2 - I would think it would be domination for the sake of natonal advanement. Anyway, the last of the great European empires would know all about that.
@Hutch5 -
@bakersdozen2 -
Sorry Hutch5? I meant to press Bakers button not thine.
@Lovegrove -
Yes, Hutch5 is probably the least political and one of the nicest friends I have…….. Gee, I wonder if there’s a correlation?
@Lovegrove -
The end result of National advancement being the domination of countries/individuals. In Hitler’s case world Domination (?) The beginning of a Third Reich….
@bakersdozen2 - Domination is the means. Advancement is the end
@Lovegrove -
You’re using the word advancement by itself to connote a positive meaning. I’m using the term “National advancement” as one would say “self-promotion”. The context being a furtherance with the tarnish of self-obsessed motives. At any rate, I don’t believe domination results in advancement for anyone…. not even for the one doing the dominating.
heh, snarkiness
It’s important to take time to remember those that have served our country. Thanks for reminding us.
thank you for sharing……..
Bakers.. (hi).. it is heavy thinking about all the Americans who took their last breaths fighting in wars.. It affects me most, when I think about the guys who fought in the Revolutionary & Civil wars, bcuz they often hadn’t seen or heard from family (bcuz of a lack of communication technology, etc) for months, & their families wouldn’t know of their fate for months either.. I’ve been to Gettysburg a couple times, and every trip, I think about all the lives left behind there, lives that weren’t mourned or recognized for months, it’s heart-breaking. peace
so grateful. so thankful for those who have served. My grandfather being one of them, whom I never met. Freedom is worth fighting for – and it’s only when people no longer have it, that sometimes then do they realize it’s worth.
have you ever seen how they train the guys who guard the tomb? it’s INTENSE.
such a moving video. so thankful for these brave patriots.
…and the families who gave them to us.
May those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of liberty never be forgotten.
@Patrick_Henry - Gettysburg is indeed incredible. Brought the family out there last year. I’m not sure which excited me more, the new History Channel program on Gettysburg that will air on Memorial Day, or that my kids are excited to see it. This year, Lexington and Concord!
@grim_truth - That does look interesting. I thought I had seen that it was produced by Ridley Scott. One of my favorite directors. If that’s the case, it should be very well done!
And many prayers to those are still serving, and many thanks to those who served and didn’t die.