Memorial Day has a special meaning for me, because I find my emotions are over flowing

My wife and I learned yesterday evening that our thirty year old nephew, the son of my wife’s sister, was found dead in his apartment by his father earlier in the afternoon. There were no signs of foul play and the death appears to be of natural causes.

Obviously it is a shock to learn that someone so young, and for no apparent logical reason, has passed away. A death such as this quickly brings to mind our own mortality, but I believe that it also brings about the realization that none of us will get out of this life alive. However, for those left behind, especially those close to the person who has died so young, we wonder why, but alas there is no answer.

I have heard comments from time to time that seem to reflect the frustration some folks have over a young person dying, i.e., “Why did he have to die so young, he had his whole life ahead of him”, or “It isn’t fair, he didn’t have a chance to really live”. Yet, those comments really provide no answers, nor do they provide comfort or solace to those who feel the loss. I am writing about this subject because it allows me some catharsis, because I too wonder why.

After receiving notification of our nephew’s death, I set about making notifications to my sons and daughters. Since my son Jason is currently serving in Afghanistan, I was unable to call him, so I called his wife Susan and ask that she pass along the information to Jason, since he calls her as frequently as he can. She indicated that he would probably call her in the morning – Sunday – as he often does.

At around 11:30 a.m. this morning, I received a telephone call from Jason. He had spoken with his wife and was calling to check on his mom and I, and to pass along his heartfelt condolences. Unfortunately the telephone connection was very bad, so the call was of relatively short duration, which was disappointing, but at least my wife, daughter Kate and I all had a chance to speak with him and to know that he was okay.

After having talked with Jason, I felt conflicted in a strange way. Because I worry about him serving in harm’s way in Afghanistan, I was overjoyed to hear from him and that he was okay; however, my feelings of sorrow over my young nephew, as well as trying to reconcile the grief that my sister-in-law was suffering over the loss of her son were a strange combination of emotions I found that I was experiencing. This was further compounded by the follow up email I received from Jason a short while after the telephone call from him. I would like to share the part of his email which exacerbated my conflict of emotion. Jason wrote, “Just wanted to talk to someone. I'm just heart broken about Dax. We lost four Team guys to an IED today and then I heard about Dax. I still can't believe it, I just want to be home and put my hands on everyone that I love. I'm really tired from thinking about death…”. Once again I felt great relief that my son was okay but in my joy, I felt such anguish for the families who had lost their sons today. And then I found that I was asking why…Why do these brave young me have to die when their whole lives lie ahead of them? Alas I do not know the answers, but my thoughts and prayers are with their families, as they are with my sister-in-law and her family.

This Memorial Day is truly a day that I will remember, because it has a special meaning for me. The events that have occurred involving our family, have left an indelible mark that cannot be forgotten. These events have caused me to take inventory of the blessings and freedom I enjoy, and to say thank you to all of the men and women who have served and are serving in our Military. I am truly astonished and amazed that for over two centuries, men and women of our Military have been willing to serve, to fight and to die to preserve our freedom as a nation. I pray that God will bless and protect the members of our Military, their families and continue his blessings on our Great Nation.

Philosophically and theologically, there is difference between Islam and Christianity, but what are the differences in reality?

Islamic terrorists kill in the name of their god. Islam is not the religion of love and peace that many people purport it to be! In this world of ecumenicalism, Christians have become more concerned about 'political correctness', rather than morality and righteousness, thus we see religious leaders willing to accept, adapt or ignore the evils perpetrated by the Muslim faith in order to avoid unwanted criticism from the secular world. Or might it be because Christians have something in common with Muslims…a dark and unspeakable past?

Unfortunately the religious community frequently invokes the rationale that Islam and the Muslim faith does not promote violence, only the extreme radicals within the faith are responsible for the death and destruction. Is this attitude a means of covering up or justifying the horrors perpetrated by Christians against non-believers of the faith, both past and present?

An examination of the Holy Qur'an sheds light on the focus of the Muslim faith, which is either the conversion of the unbeliever or their ultimate destruction. But wait, scriptures of the Old Testament invoke similar requirements by the faithful upon the unbelievers. Is this because the Qur’an and the Old Testament share much of the same writings of the first five books?

In order to understand more completely the role of religion and ‘religiosity’ in controlling the destiny of mankind, I believe the history of the Christian faith, and the role of both the Catholic and Protestant Churches cannot be excluded in the discussion.

The Catholic Church authorized several inquisitions. The first began around 1184 and lasted into the mid 1200’s and became known as the Medieval Inquisition. The Spanish Inquisition began in the latter part of the 1400’s and continued through much of the 19th Century throughout Central and South America. The Portuguese Inquisition spanned a similar time frame as did the Spanish Inquisition, running from the early 16th Century through the early 19th Century. The Roman Inquisition occurred simultaneously to the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions. Various popes, using the authority of Mother Church, authorized agents of the Church to seek out, locate, arrest and try individuals accused of heresy. Those individuals accused of heresy were tortured into confessing to crimes against God and the Church. They were generally executed and their property was confiscated by the Church. The accused's executions were not humane, but very cruel, i.e. death by burning.

Then you have the Crusades to consider. The Crusades spanned a three century period from the 11th to the 13th, and should be considered religiously sanctioned military campaigns authorized by the Catholic Church. The Crusades massacred Muslims, Jews, Pagans and other non-Catholic believers. The Crusades were focused on eradicating the non-believers in order to spread Christianity. Mother Church even turned on its own purveyors of death, the Knights Templar, and on October 13, 1307 scores of them were tortured and murdered. Their riches and wealth were confiscated by the King of France and the Catholic Church. Seems the Church was fonder of the riches and wealth than loyalty to its defenders.

Let us not forget the witch hunts. There were Colonial religious zealots, i.e. the Puritans responsible for killing witches in America. Over several centuries throughout England and Europe, both the Catholic Church and the Church of England were responsible for hunting down and murdering, mostly women, accused of being witches. There is evidence that even the female children of accused witches were killed to ensure that the seed of witchcraft would be destroyed.

Whether it was the Crusades, the Inquisitions or the Witch Hunts religion appears to be behind the efforts to either convert or kill the non-believer. Literally millions of people were murdered in the name of God, and for the proliferation of Christianity. The Church accumulated untold wealth through the seizure of the property and possessions of those whom they murdered. Now then, should we dare compare the Muslims, the religion of Islam and the Prophet Muhammed’s Holy Qur’an against what has been done by Christians? The Muslim religion and the Holy Qur’an require the conversion of all non-believers, and if the non-believer fails to convert, then he is an infidel and must be put to death. Doesn’t seem too different from what the Catholic and Protestant Churches have done does it?

I am not defending or condoning the Muslims, but I will not be accused of being the pot that called the kettle black. Evil is as evil does…and any religion that has murdered in the name of God cannot claim legitimacy, for if you claim that Mother Church was righteous in her acts of murder for the sake of conversion, then how can God be a loving god? But if it was man using the name of God and Mother Church committing these heinous acts, then should we not condemn what they did? And if man makes up the Church, what credibility can the Church possess?

Patriotism...Do the politicians in Washington D.C. know what it is?

After reading recent commentaries and text on President Obama’s speeches concerning the Middle East, terrorism and what Israel must do to achieve peace certainly raise the specter of his patriotism, or his understanding of it, as well as that of the other politicians running our government.

“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” ~ Adlai Stevenson

“... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” ~ John F. Kennedy

I am not a Democrat, but I thought it very interesting that Democrats of the past understood, at least through an expression of words the ideal of "patriotism". American patriotism is not just about words, but it involves a demonstration of loyalty to one’s country through thoughts, words and deeds. Patriotism is oft explained or described as “love of country”, and indeed any good patriot will love this country, but true patriotism penetrates the veneer of love and goes deeper and grows more complex.

Patriotism is not about being a hero, but it is about the willingness to defend this country…and if need be, to die for it. It is not about being a Republican, Democrat or Independent, because it does not recognize “party lines”. It is not about just me, but more about us, the “society of citizens”, and includes the belief in unalienable rights; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that justice for all should prevail. It is about exercising one’s right to vote by voting one’s conscience, as opposed to not voting at all. It is about understanding that there is a difference between right and wrong, as well as good and evil; and that right and good must triumph. It is about wanting this country to lead, succeed and prosper, because setting an example for the other countries to follow, may foster positive change and freedom for others. It is about believing righteousness cannot be divested from this country, and the basic principles of morality, integrity, honesty, decency and honor are the foundation stones of our continued existence.

For some in this wonderful country, patriotism seems to be a fleeting thought, only to be brought to the forefront when giving speeches, but not lived as a solemn commitment. Too many politicians, who often use their eloquent manner of speech, frequently invoke, through words, their alleged patriotism, but words alone do not make them patriots. Their actions speak volumes regarding love of country. If love of country were the only prerequisite for patriotism, the Liberal would still fail miserably, because their pursuit of liberalism destroys the very tenets this country was founded upon.

Patriotism does not seek change from the founding principles as described in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, or the “rule of law” which protects them, but instead seeks to guard, protect and defend those principles and documents to the death. A true patriot bleeds red, white and blue.