Day of bad memory
by Wim Laven
676 words
The frustration I experience with dishonest politics reached a peak with Memorial Day this year. I saw protest signs and memes to the effect of: “Some gave all. All gave something. Trump gave nothing.” While it perfectly captured my frustration, it was oversimplified and failed to articulate the real failures.
Donald Trump, who dodged the draft with alleged bone-spurs, simultaneously gets it right and wrong. War is ugly and Vietnam was Kissinger’s and Nixon’s crime against humanity. I will not condemn anyone for refusing to carry out misdeeds. The problem is that he refused for the wrong reasons—cowardice and selfishness. A moral being does not say, as Trump has, that dodging STDs was his own personal Vietnam. A moral being might more closely resemble Anthony Bourdain who said, “Once you’ve been to Cambodia, you’ll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands.” Not that I condone violence, I just understand that witnessing the aftermath and trauma from violence and war—even decades later—present existential challenges that shake a person to the core.
For more than a decade I have taught students receiving post 9-11 GI Bill access to higher education. Many of these students have shared sentiments: “You’re the first civilian I’ve ever felt comfortable sharing these stories with” or “I wish everyone was as open minded about these things as you are.” By the end of the term they let me know, “I fought in the war, but now I understand why,” which I consider the highest praise.
I think it is collective bad memory that makes it possible for Bush, then Obama, then Trump to ignore the consequences of waging war, and for society as whole to do so too.
Lip service is paid to the fallen on Memorial Day, but any correction to the mythology being presented is almost immediately condemned. Why is that? Why do we allow politicians to use sacrifice for political stunts but cower the moment that the politics responsible for the sacrifice are exposed?
Trump himself challenged that Obama would start a war with Iran to boost his ratings. He now beats the drums of war—with Iran. I think we can safely guess that he believes it would provide a boost to his ongoing failures. Great diplomatic efforts have been sabotaged and undermined in literally every global arena he has entered. But while blowing up the Iran Deal was sheer lunacy, nothing shows his shortsightedness more than his trade war with China; China did not become a powerhouse by brokering good deals, they did so by using their peace dividend to invest on development and infrastructure. Imagine if the US had spent trillions of dollars on education, infrastructure, and technology instead of war?
The empty ceremonies for the lives cut short could actually mean something; when people actually care, the ceremonies matter. The surest sign of sincerity—good memory—is evidenced by how a person treats the living. People who care about those who sacrifice might care more about my veteran students with PTSD and permanent disabilities. Maybethe VA is adequately funded, but Medicaid and Medicare (sources of healthcare for more than half of veterans) are not. Over a million veterans’ households receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), programs that have been cut by the current President’s budget.
Politicians who really care about honor and commitment are taking steps to combat homelessness. More than 40,000 veterans were homeless in 2017.
The bottom line is this: Memorial Day serves as another mechanism for avoiding the true costs of war. By keeping the “perceived” costs down politicians are able to garner more support for their violent campaigns. Truly honoring the fallen requires being the kind of person worth fighting for, and that kind of person does not send children to die when it can be avoided. I refuse to accept that moral amnesia honors anyone who died as a sacrifice for the freedoms of others; we can do much better than this.
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Wim Laven, Ph.D., is syndicated by PeaceVoice, and is an instructor of Political Science and International Relations at Kennesaw State University.
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Secretary Perdue in New York TOMORROW and Pennsylvania THURSDAY
(Washington, D.C., May 28, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in New York tomorrow, May 29th, and Pennsylvania Thursday May 30th.
NEW YORK
Secretary Perdue and Representative Reed to visit Ravines Wine Cellars
WHAT: Secretary Perdue and Representative Reed will visit Ravines Wine Cellars to participate in a roundtable discussion with local agriculture leaders and stakeholders. Following the conversation, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, May 29th beginning at 10:45 a.m. ET
WHERE: 400 Barracks Road, Geneva, NY 14456
Secretary Perdue and Representative Brindisi visit Chobani Yogurt Facility
WHAT: Secretary Perdue and Representative Brindisi to visit Chobani Yogurt Facility and participate in a stakeholder roundtable. Following the discussion, Secretary Perdue will host a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, May 29th beginning at 3:45 p.m. ET
WHERE: 669 County Road 25, New Berlin, NY 13411
PENNSYLVANIA
Secretary Perdue and Representative Houlahan to visit Phillips family mushroom farm
WHAT: Secretary Perdue and Representative Houlahan will tour Phillips family mushroom farm then have a roundtable discussion with local agriculture leaders and farmers. Following the conversation, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: THURSDAY, May 30th beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET.
WHERE: The Red Clay Room, Kennett Fire Company, 423 Dalmatian Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348
Secretary Perdue and Representative Smucker to visit Case-New Holland Industrial
WHAT: Secretary Perdue and Representative Smucker to visit Case- New Holland Industrial for a stakeholder roundtable. Following the discussion, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: THURSDAY, May 30th beginning at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: 300 Diller Avenue, New Holland, PA 17557
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WOES
DROPS NEW SINGLE "FANCY"
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO HERE
DEBUT ALBUM
AWFUL TRUTH
DUE OUT JUNE 28 VIA UNFD
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER AT
https://unfd.lnk.to/AwfulTruth
MAY 28, 2019 - Edinburgh - Scottish pop punks Woes are traveling around the world in their music video for new single "Fancy", which has dropped for fans today. "Fancy is a song about when you're first getting to know someone and you're into them, but you have to do a bit of work to convince them to take a chance on you," explains vocalist DJ. "It's a fun, upbeat song about a feeling everyone can understand. It's one of the most fun, accessible songs on the record, but there's a TON of musicality going on underneath, there are some great riffs, there's an insane bass line hiding in the first verse, some big fills. But everything contributes to making an upbeat song that you could jump around to at a festival. I love it." Fans can watch the music video for "Fancy" today here.
"Fancy" follows previous singles "Money Shoe" and "Suburbs" as the third single from their highly anticipated debut album, Awful Truth, due out June 28th via UNFD. The band took their own DIY experience and combined it with acclaimed producer Seb Barlow (Neck Deep, WSTR, Roam), in turn creating their most ambitious collection of music to date. The result of that tireless work is Awful Truth, a collection of songs that are genuinely unique. From the sombre heartbreak of "Cross" and the euphoric swagger pulsing through "Money Shoe" to the earnest punk-rock energy of "Suburbs" and the bubblegum pomp of "Fancy," the spectrum of moods, styles and sounds crammed into these 10 tracks is gargantuan. Awful Truth is available for pre-order now at https://unfd.lnk.to/AwfulTruth.
Awful Truth Track Listing
1. Boy
2. Fake Friends
3. Fancy
4. Money Show
5. Awful Truth
6. Suburbs
7. Mess
8. Cross
9. Gone Forever
10. Ugly
Awful Truth follows last year's acclaimed Self Help EP, which launched the four-piece into the eye of rock press (KKKK - Kerrang!, 'Bold' - Rock Sound, 9/10 - Discovered) and landed a hefty touring schedule with highlights including support to Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Neck Deep, State Champs, 2000 Trees, Download and Slam Dunk.
Woes are more than just a one trick pony, taking pop punk to new heights by embracing their love of pop, hip hop and R&B, and using elements from these genres in their sound. "There is definitely a conscious effort to start expanding our sound, to bring in different instruments and elements that we haven't used before,'' says DJ, "We love loads of modern hip-hop and RnB, which is something we plan to explore more in 2019. We also like incorporating math-rock and prog chords and progressions into our instrumentals... But we still want that pop punk energy live".
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