I’d like to take up the subject of the many unnamed heroes that create the possibility of greatness, around us. We all know the famous names and the great deeds, but how many appreciate the many anonymous nobodies that pull the plough’s and grease up the engine. The many heroes, who for a few thousand calories, plastic trinkets and vague promises put themselves on the line and build empires, are mostly ignored. Except on those days of remembrance when the anonymous soldiers are honoured, these unsung heroes are rarely mentioned. Even less so are the many civilians, which grind away at work and slave over metal, mentioned or honoured. We, for example, all know about the Roman Empire and we recall the great men that made Rome great, but do we remember the multitudes upon whose blood and sweat this empire was raised? Do we pay homage to the anonymous Roman who lived and died for his homelands greatness? Do we remember Cavronus Maximus, living in the Roman slums, who shovelled cow dung which heated hearths and homes? Do we recall Bigus Penus, from the Greek quarter, who taught a noble mans son how to read and write Greek, for a slice of daily bread and season tickets to the Coliseum? Do we even know about little Abraham Goldberg, who was brought to Rome to die before roaring crowds under the paws of a lion and who in his last days of life came to know Jesus and was saved from the eternal darkness of Hell? Do we even know about Smelus Badus, who was an Roman Legion porter, carrying loads of spears and gear for the valiant Roman soldier. A man who tripped and died by smashing his head against a rock, with the full force of the momentum the stuff he was carrying gave him? Do we? No we don’t. We only know about Augustus or Caesar or Caligula. Likewise the American empire relies on the toil and effort of countless Jacks, and Janes, and many more Bobs and Janets. In the future will they read about the greatness of America, her virtues and moral fibber without also acknowledging her nameless minions, engorged on chips and dip, and inebriated by many hours of TV watching, that made it all possible? What about Jack who was sent to war, so that some guy in an office could make a quick buck that makes capitalism such a wonderful system, and dies there splattered against a Baghdad stone wall? What about Susan, who entered the army because she couldn’t afford college and lost a leg, so that the noble and just congressman can play golf on Saturday and send his son to Yale? What about Lester, who only knew war by playing Commando on his playstation and wound up in Falhouja, his head under a rock and his balls on a tree, so that we could bring this fine system to those infidels and barbarians? Wasn’t their sacrifice worth it? Bob, who’s never hiked for over a mile and likes taking his car to the corner store for milk, wants inexpensive fuel for his SUV and his son is protected from the consequences so he likes to play Hawk and wave his flag on weekends. He loves to talk the talk. And once a year he loves pressing his hand against his chest and honouring the sacrifice of those countless many, stupid enough to die for him. God bless America.
Jack and Susan VOLUNTEERED to serve in the military ...they weren't "forced" to do it as you've so implied. Well, that part you got right somehow! I see your post as not actually talking about (honoring?) the Jack's and Susan's of the military, but denegrating the regular American public who did NOT volunteer for the military. ...those suck at the titties of a great nation, while at the same time make disparaging remarks about it. Baron Max
In eighteenth century England, when the law was rough and ready and hanging was the standard punishment for just about everything, a reformer pointed out that many of the hanged were probably innocent. A judge didn't think this was a good argument for changing the law or the way it was carried out, but he did suggest that a memorial ought to be put up to these [inadvertent] heroes who had died for their country. Alter Ego: Read Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard and Masters's Spoon River Anthology for memorials of some unknowns
Baron Max Of course they “volunteered”, just like a child-whore in Thailand volunteers, or is volunteered by her dad, to sell her body to strangers. It’s all good. Strange how Bush volunteered also to serve the good old USA in ….Texas during a war period. But these things are irrelevant. At least he showed up and didn’t duck his responsibilities. I bet terrorists volunteer also. Why do you think that is? Amen brother. You know I never served in no damn army. I’m not stupid, dude. Khaki doesn’t look good on me and I’ve had terrible experiences with organized male institutions. I was once stripped naked and locked in the showers with a 250lbs gay wrestler, back in my baseball days. Steroid injections?!!! Dude you don’t know how fast you can run until you’ve had a meat injection from a humungus brute with no sense of morality. It took me a month to be able to walk to the plate right. People thought I was on drugs. No, me and organized institutions don’t work. I prefer sending poor, black kids to die for me and then sit home with my beer and nuts singing ‘God bless America’. I mean sure I volunteered for duty during the Vietnam War, but only because I was too dense to finish college. But I did ok. Daddy pulled a few strings and got me a cushy posting, protecting beaches in Hawaii from those damn Viet-Cong. I did my duty. This was me honoring the countless many, who are never mentioned.
Alter Ego.... there seems to be a slight tone of sarcasm in your post. But maybe you've got a point anyway. I mean, how many good things do we take advantage of, that were given to us without us even knowing? In my opinion, that's the best sort of gift. Giving away something even if you know that you will won't be recognized, or given credit for it. It's not something you can usually observe directly in people, but it is something you can observe in yourself at least. But in a way, we're all trying to give them credit and remember them. Which sort of negates that quality. I guess that doesn't change their motivation, it's just giving them what they're owed in a way. But you can't really give everyone credit, because you don't know shit. You don't know what kind of pain they went through. What's the point then? I don't think there is one.
-Bob- Sarcasm? I’m paying tribute to the brave, selfless, enlightened warriors of western civilization. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I don't know. The names of those Romans sound a little funny. 'Biggus Penis', for example. Or 'Cavronus Maximus'. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I wonder if they hung out together. Yeah. But they could be heroes, you never really know. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
