Honoring the Memory, Being More Engaged

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. – Mark Twain

I don’t normally get into politics and the like on this blog, and I’m not about to start now, but I wanted to write something appropriate for Memorial Day here in the USA.

There are all sorts of ways to interpret (and use/mis-use) Twain’s words above.

What I would like to do is raise the idea of decisions and the consequences that follow.

Our nation has gone to war many times. Many of our citizens have made the ultimate sacrifice.

I believe it is very important to separate the politicians who make the decision to go to war, and the men and women who actually do the fighting.

It would seem that (all too often) those who are willing to make war are not willing to face the consequences of their decisions.

The Veterans Affairs scandal/crisis currently unfolding here in the US is a sad, tragic and unnecessary example of this.

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The same is true for any decision though.

When we decide to do this, or that, or not do this or that, there are consequences.

There is no such thing as “not-deciding.”

When we face the truth of that, and become active, authentic agents in our own lives we can do more and more to shape (and ultimately create) our consequences.

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On this day of remembrance I would ask you to consider the men and women who made the decision to go to war, regardless of what you may think of the politicians who sent them there.

If you’re a US Citizen consider doing something to help those left behind by those who served. If you know someone who lost a loved one to armed conflict, please reach out and offer your support – your love.

And, as we move forward, consider what you can do to be a more engaged citizen. Ask yourself what you can do to be more involved in the process of deciding who gets put in harm’s way (and if they even should . . . ).

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And be more engaged in the decisions that create your life.

Be more aware and interested.

Make better decisions.

As you do so you’ll have more energy and power to be more engaged in decisions which affect us all.