We are not at peace
Local political candidate Garry Bredefeld posted a Memorial Day tribute to veterans on his campaign Facebook page. It read, in part, “Thank you to every veteran who has served our country and to those who died so that we all can live in peace and freedom.”
Huh? We are not living “in peace.” For several decades now, we have been in a state of perpetual war. Right now, we have service members in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Just a few weeks ago, a Navy SEAL died in combat in Iraq, and in March, a Marine died in combat, also in Iraq. If this is what you call living “in peace,” then your worldview is warped.
Bredefeld’s statement is part of our sad national ability to send soldiers off to die without serious public, collective conversation, contribution or sacrifice. Instead, we mouth fine words on Facebook. As someone who served in the military, I consider this behavior a slap in the face. It dishonors the fact that right now service members are dying in wars we have chosen to wage.
Henry D. Delcore, Fresno
This story was originally published June 5, 2016 at 3:34 PM with the headline "We are not at peace."