WHAT A WASTE!

Today is Memorial Day, a day that is filled with sadness and reflection. Often we equate it with the dead men and women who gave their lives for this great country. I think it should be expanded a day more. It should be a two-day memorial for not only the dead soldiers and sailors, marines and air force men, but a day for the innocent victims of the wars, the children and men and women who lost their homes, their limbs, and their lives.

I think two days, because we can not diminish what the brave did, even the ones that survived the combat, whether in one piece or not, yet a second day points out the stupidity and wastefulness of war. The spending of lives, treasure, peace and good will that only war destroys.

Men and their ideology starts wars for mankind. It gets in the way of people living their rightful time on this earth. And what does starting war really accomplish in the end? Orphans, widows and widowers, pain and suffering, hunger and disease, the loss of one’s home: is what is accomplished.

Hollywood has had a tendency to glorify war, and most people that do glorify it, have never fought in one, they don’t know, it is not a child’s game. But it makes us child-like with fear. I see all the crosses at Pinelawn or Arlington and I think, is the cure for cancer resting under a cross? Is the cure for heart disease resting under that Star of David? What have we done? We have sent all the young men, with futures in front of them, to an early grave by old men with their futures behind them.

We as humanity should make it a law: you cannot be a politician unless you are a mother of a son under the age of 18 years old. See how fast we beat the drums to march, see how quickly we play the bugle to call for arms. I think there would be peace in this world.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
words and music by Pete Seeger
performed by Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.