11/11/2025
Today I remember those who would do anything to forget.
My mom's side of the family is Mennonite. One of the main tenets of that denomination is pacifism. But I grew up in North Carolina where military service is almost glamorized. So when I joined the military, I hadn't considered what it really meant to have to go to war. Apparently I wasn't the only one.
During the military intake process, they have to make sure you're physically and mentally fit to serve. After a round of tests, a group of us were making small talk and one guy proudly exclaimed "I scored good enough to be a grunt! I wanna get shot so I can git a medal!"
I wish I knew what happened to him. I'm sure his experience changed him. I hope he changed for the better. I'm not sure if I hope he got his wish to be shot.
There's almost as many ways to think about war as there are people. What some may consider defense, others may see as self righteous vengeance. Sometimes defenseless countries need help from their allies and other times evil regimes get what's coming to them. Usually we think of war on a global level or at least a national level. Rarely do we consider the individuals unless we're confronted with it personally.
This Remembrance Day, I urge you to contemplate the cost individuals pay after witnessing the horrors of war. It's easy to glamorize war stories. It's easier to do that than to stop fighting, especially when we're not the one paying the price.
To remember is to work for peace.
