Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

“Happy” Memorial Day?

If I hear another person say "Happy" Memorial Day, I may commit mayhem.

There isn't any reason to be happy about this day. None at all. Clearly there is a real and growing misunderstanding about what Memorial Day is all about abroad in the land. I would like to take a moment to clear up the origins and history of this national holiday.

Did you know that the holiday we now celebrate was initiated by black freedmen after the civil war? Well, it was. The freed black population in and around Charleston, SC began this tradition by memorializing the dead Union soldiers buried at Hampton Park. In 1866, "Decoration Day" (as it was known then) was celebrated in Waterloo, New York. The number of cities, and states memorializing our war dead increased until it became a recognized federal holiday, being named "Memorial Day" by act of Congress in 1967.

Now that we know that Memorial Day is a holiday that we use to recognize the sacrifice made by our fallen soldiers, I have to ask you what is there to be happy about? Sure, we celebrate our freedoms, but that is what Independence day is supposed to be about, isn't it? We celebrate our living veterans, but that is what Veteran's Day is supposed to be about. We celebrate our serving soldiers, but that is what Armed Forces Day is supposed to be about.

No, my friends, there is no reason to be "happy" about our war dead. Those men and women are just dead… many of them having died furthering the agendas of our government, NOT securing or protecting American sovereignty. Those men and women deserve no less prayer, consideration, and recognition than any other dead soldier… maybe even more, considering the questionable causes we have sent our soldiers to die for.

As a veteran, and as an American who has known people who have died in battle (and after a battle because of psychological wounds manifested later), I want you to remember our war dead properly. I want you to stop thinking about Memorial Day as the "beginning of the summer season". I want you to stop thinking about Memorial Day as just another long weekend. I want you to THINK about these dead people. I want you to THINK about your own culpability in some of their deaths. I want you to stop waving flags and chanting "USA! USA!" when we send our soldiers to war. I want you to start thinking about ways to lessen our national penchant for expending the lives of our soldiers for bullshit reasons.

Think about it.

"Happy" Memorial Day? How about Solemn Memorial Day, instead.

May all of our war dead rest in peace.

 

Book Review: A Game of Character

Craig Robinson is Michelle Obama's brother.  You knew that, right?  I'm sure you did... but if you think that the fact that he has written a book is only because he knew that he would find a publisher to put out anything that he wrote down just because he is the President's brother in law.... well, you might be right about that, too.  You know how it is... there is always someone who wants to cash in on someone else's celebrity, isn't there?  As true as those statements might be, they aren't the case when it comes to Craig Robinson's book "A Game of Character", because Mr. Robinson has some things to say that I think you'll like.

From what I read in this book, it is clear that Craig Robinson was shaped by the way he was raised... as most of us are.  He was raised by hard working parents who instilled the values that we so frequently talk about in America, but don't always see.  This book is going to inspire you.... and it won't matter a bit if you are a Republican, a Democrat, and Independent, or a None-of-the-abover.

If you happen to be a big fan of either Barack or Michelle Obama (and I openly confess to my own admiration of our President and his wife) you are likely to enjoy this book based on that alone, even though this book isn't about them.  If you aren't particularly enamored of the President, you needn't worry, because this book isn't a love letter the the President or his wife. 

If you are a sports fan, you will like this book, and if you aren't a sports fan, there is plenty for you, too, because this book isn't a love letter to the game of basketball, either. 

To tell you the truth, I don't care much for basketball... so reading this book wasn't some sort of vicarious thrill ride for me.  I'm not particulalry interested in Robinson's Ivy League education, or his success in the corporate world, even though rising to a Vice Presidency at Morgan Stanley is no mean feat.  What I am interested in, as a family man, is the core of this book.

This is a book about character.  This is a book about the rewards of hard work and effort.  This is a book about determination.  This is a book about respect.

Craig Robonson writes in a clean, conversational style, and if you don't get anything else out of this book, you will leave believing in the value of strong families, hardwork, study, love, and discipline.

You won't be disappointed.

 

 

 Disclaimer:  This review is presented as part of a TLC book tour.  Although I was provided a free copy of the book, I was not compensated in any other way, nor was my review influenced by that fact. 

Where Have I been? (with addendum)

So... I haven't been around for a while.   Let me tell you why.

The first five months have been painful for me.  Not physically, although there has been some of that, but not enough for me to bother writing about, as physical pain and I are old comrades.  No, I am talking about emotional pain.

My mother died on February 5th.

Remember when I told you, last year that my mother had been declared cancer-free, for the second time?  Maybe I didn't tell you... honestly, I don't really remember.  Anyway, after beating cancer last year, she had the bad fortune to take a nasty fall in the kitchen of her home.  Of course, being a pretty tough old bird, she didn't bother to tell anyone for a couple of weeks... so when she went to the hospital with her friend who was later to be diagnosed with stomach cancer, she passed out.  She was checked out and MRI'ed and X-rayed and massive bleeding on the brain was found.  You know the drill from here, right?  She had surgery, there was lots of clotting, she started having strokes and seizures.  She was in a lot of pain.  After nearly three weeks, the Doctors induced a coma, hoping it would allow her to stabilize with less of the pain she was obviously in.  She died less than 12 hours later.

I went ot the funeral, of course, though I didn't want to... it was horrible.  Oh, there were mourners... neighbors and old faces from my childhood that I haven't seen in 30 years.  There were also siblings that I really had no interest in seeing.   I drove to New Jersey that morning, and then went back to Virginia that afternoon.  I got back in time to go to my Confirmation class.  The other teachers had it covered for me, so I went home with the Joe's Special that I had gotten from the best pizza place on the planet.

 
This is Joe's Pizzeria.  I lived within a 5 minute walk from this place from age five, until I enlisted at age 17.  This place still has the pizza most beloved by almighty God.  No, I'm not exagerrating.  Have a Joe's special and you will know what I mean.

 

Anyway, a month (to the day) after my mother died, my father in law died.  We went to his memorial service (a month after he died) in Milwaukee, Wisc., in April... and wouldn't you know it... it snowed.  No, really.  It freakin' snowed!

 

 
(Seriously... does it look like I am happy about any of this?)

So, we get back from Wisconsin, and a week later I am in Princeton, New Jersey to spend most of a week at the Princeton Theological Seminary.  Why?, you ask?, because I have enrolled in the Certificate Program for Youth & Theology.  We had a three day forum on youth ministry and then our cohort for the certification program met or the first time. 

It was incredible. Trust me.  I'll talk more about it some other time, when I have the words.  I wouldn't really have brought it up in the first place, except that my presence there bears on the subject of this post.  The day before the retreat ended, I found out that a colleague of mine, a two-tour veteran of the Iraq war... a man who had been treated for PTSD, killed himself... on his father's birthday... two days before his sister's wedding...  using the gun I trained him with and issued to him.

Nice, right?

I suppose I have to see the divine in this as best I can.  I was in a place where I was in a tightly-knit group of people who were able to help me get through it.  I recieved a great amount of prayer and support from my new friends, and some really  great advice from a new partner in ministry and pal that has allowed me to process all of this.

 
(This is Stuart Hall)

The first several months of this year haven't been kind to me... or maybe they have... I don't know.  There is a lot going on in my head right now.  I suppose I'l have to get back to you.

Oh, and I'm not sleeping well, which is why I am posting this at nearly one A.M. on a Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

OK, enough crying in my beer... I have to go to sleep.  I have to teach a class on response to the active shooter tomorrow, when all I really want to do is cover my head with a pillow and take a long nap.

Oh... lastly, my mother's friend... the one she went to the hospital with? he died, too, a few days after my father in law's funeral.

 

Peace be with you.

 

Wait.  Sorry... I read this after I posted it, and it sounded rather morose.  Let me end on a high note by adding that lots of good things have happened since the beginning of the year. 

I already told you about my time at Princeton, which was an amazing and unexpected blessing.... let me tell you that I also lead a youth group from my church to a weekend-long event in Maryland; several babies were Baptized at our church, the most recent of which was just this past week.  I have been named Confirmation Coordinator at my church; I have read many new books; I have touched, and been touched by others.  I remain well-loved despite the fact that I'm probably not worthy... and I have cooked some really fantastic food.

Good night, Seattle!