FknBucky

Memorial Day — What does it mean to you??? BBQ?? Beer?? Friends?? Family?? Getting a day off of work??? Do you or have you ever given it any thought??? Do you know what it really means?? Do I know??? I’ve seen the history of Memorial Day or Decoration Day floating around Facebook. Seems back in the day people still had some respect, and I believe deep down many of us still do.

I don’t think any of us that did not go into combat/serve in the military can fully appreciate the emotions that a day like Memorial Day brings out in a service member. Being in the military is like a job the rest of us go to every day in some aspects, but the sacrifices these men and women are asked to make are nothing like what the rest of us do daily. They are expected to pack up, leave their families, and travel anywhere in the world to protect our freedoms. Your freedom to support the president, your freedom to disagree the president, and your freedom to do whatever you want. These people may not agree with your life choices or life style, but they willingly go to protect your right to be free whenever asked. Think about that the next time you call someone intolerant. When is the last time you put your life on the line to protect someone’s right to live in a way you disagree with. Powerful is what I call that.

America is beyond special and I’m damn proud to be an American. I will never apologize for loving this country, I will never apologize for sticking our nose in when human rights are being trampled on, and certainly not apologize to those who wish to do us harm because they hate our freedom. I talk a lot of smack in my blogs because I’m free to do so. I make fun of women, people of color, the gays, the environment, and mostly myself. There are plenty of moments to be serious and act serious in life so I feel it is important to take the time to laugh and throw political correctness out the window, run over it, and flip off its mangled carcass as I speed away laughing. Let loose and join me. It is liberating.

The truth is I don’t hate anyone. It takes to much energy and it is a complete waste of time, but today isn’t about all that. Today is about acknowledging the sacrifice our fellow Americans have made for generations allowing you and me to be ourselves. Is America perfect??? Nope, but damn is it ever great!! Here you have the freedom to learn whatever you want, practice whatever beliefs you want, and live whatever lifestyle you want. This is what so many men and women gave their lives for and we owe them a debt that is impossible to be repaid.

Some lost their lives. We can’t bring them back, but we can honor their memory by using our freedom for more than drunken keg parities on the weekend. Use your freedom to educate yourself, your friends, and your children about current events, politics, and form opinions that come from substance. Read some books, a newspaper, and even some respectable internet articles so you can marry this information with your own life experiences. By doing this you will honor those that died so you would have the freedom to do so. Go ask some North Koreans what they would give to have a small piece of the freedom you take for granted everyday. Watching TMZ and thanking God you got to see pictures of Kimye’s wedding is not paying homage to the sacrifice our military people have made. It does make me want to puke though!!!

I am proud of America and because of our freedoms we are prosperous, successful, and extremely generous. When things go bad in the world the stars & stripes are there to rescue those in need. Rightfully so. I’d much rather be the nation known for charity, tolerance, freedom, and doing right than to be known as say Iran?? The people we pay respect to and acknowledge on days like Memorial Day paid a price for the rest of us to enjoy this reputation. Make sure you take the time to remember that on your 3 day weekend.

It makes me sad/angry that I can’t write this blog without mentioning the absolute disgrace being reported concerning the VA hospitals. Veterans died waiting for treatment which is for lack of a better term “disgusting”. We owe them better. I’m not a fan of Obama, but this is bigger than that. For when Obama fails on this one, our veterans lose and that is unacceptable. Republicans are no better on this as they failed to fix it, bring attention to it, and all of them are to blame, but in my world the buck stops with the leader.

I say let Obama, members of congress, and their families use this healthcare system. Bet it gets fixed real fast. This is exactly the type of thing I was talking about when I said earlier to honor those who paid a price for your freedom by staying informed. If you don’t know the problem, or even know one exists, then how can you even begin to help fix it. In fact your ignorant ass is just in the way of those of us that truly want to make things better. You don’t have the right to be stupid/ignorant. Actually in this country you do, but if you choose this option don’t go saying “support our troops” once a year because it would be a BS statement.

Go up and thank a service member when you see them. I do it all the time when I’m traveling. The smiles and appreciation you get back are 100% awesome and very worth it. These amazing people sacrifice so much. Thanking a service member is just like showing some appreciation to your parents. You don’t have to wait for a holiday, a tragedy, or anything out of the norm. Just walk up and say thank you. Trust me on this one, you will be very happy you did so. Everyone’s day gets better and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Free happiness. Pretty darn cool.

So just remember honoring those who gave everything they had for our freedom means doing more than posting something on your FB page and drinking a 30 pack over a 3 day weekend every Spring. You have to practice your freedom and use it to become the best person you can be. I’m sure those that laid down their lives would gladly take a 2nd chance at it beings you’re too busy to make your life one of substance.

God bless the USA, and God bless our military men, women, and their families.

Fknbucky