The Valor of Eugene Goodman


         My Father had a saying "war is the last argument of statesmen," and the thing that always angered him, as it does me and many others, is that old white men (still the majority in gov't), Presidents and members of Congress, are all too willing to go to war allowing young people to die for their political gain. When I first went into the Army I was not old enough to drink or vote and barely old enought to drive, but I was old enough to die.

You might have seen my post about Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who used himself as bait to lead the mob away from the Senate chambers giving time for the Senators to escape to safety. I posted a set of four pictures of Officer Goodman. Every time that post passes before me, my eyes are drawn to the bottom two pictures (posted here). Look at that face. That could be my grandson who starts college next year. This young man needed to be home breaking young girls' hearts, not half way around the world fighting for - who knows what their current excuse is - trying not to think about going home in a body bag. (And believe me. You think about that.) I wonder what was going through his mind as he sat with his head down. And if you look at the patch on his right arm, he was a member of the famous Screaming Eagles, the 101st. Airborne Division. He was hardly more than a child, yet our politicians, like countless before them, were happy to send him to fight and possibly die to achieve their ends. He wasn't there for national security. Hell, except for 9/11, the only attack we've had on our country and/our democracy has been by the followers of a sitting president. We haven't had to actually defend ourselves since December 7th., 1941.
I'm always saddened by pictures of war, but I think this picture will always haunt me. Perhaps that is, in part, because Eugene Goodman survived a bloody conflict only to be put in a position where the best, greatest and most honorable thing he could do was use himself as bait and be chased through the halls of Congress by a violent mob of so-called americans.
Our shame is great. His valor was far above and beyond the call of duty.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Profit above all else

Image
 I have a grandson who is a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy.  I am extremely proud of him and love him very much.  That doesn't mean that that pride and love must extend to his Washington bosses.  It doesn't!   The principal argument here is not about whether or not we should have missiles or planes or tanks, etc. The real question is our morality, our compassion for those who are suffering, or lack thereof.    When Pamela and I visit family in the east we live about ten miles north of Fort Campbell.  Often I can hear the Howitzers firing.  Each boom that I hear costs the American taxpayer from $10,000 to $150,000. Now you can have quite an argument about the costs, etc., of such ordinance.  You can see how capitalists are getting filthy rich charging exhorbitant prices. When I was in the Army the joke was about the $500 hammers. We got paid $102 a month. The capitalist got more than that for every mortar we fired, and, yes, the...
Read more

BE HERE BE NOW.

Image
  #Buddha,  #reality,  #hereandnow, #Thay, #RVance-blog There is a great deal about our society, which is rapidly becoming global, that reinforces such "lies".  We are programmed to be mindless workers for the Tria Daemonia.          Be mindful.  Live in the now. That doesn't preclude doing something for the future, but be mindful that whatever you are doing is being done here and now. Don't let the systems force you into the past or future. Only now exists.     
Read more

First Rule of Life

Image
  #Buddhism, #DalaiLama, #FirstRuleofLife,  #VancePhilosophy   I had the great privilege of studying with the Dalai Lama a number of years ago.  I was just one of probably 200 students, but when he spoke I felt like I was the only person in the room. He was talking to me.  During that time I learned that Buddhism is actually 99% philosophy/psychology of life and 1% religion.  I must admit that if I were to be forced to declare a religion I would probably say that I am 99% Buddhist. Forget the religion. Philosophically I'm a naturalist/existentialist, both of which are quite ontological.  It is the philosophy, psychology and spirituality of Buddhism that usually draws a person to it.   The first Rule of Life -  classic Buddhism loves numbered lists  - is that we do good to all sentient beings and if we can not do good, do no harm.   I don't care how many marvelous, powerful, inspirational, insightful things Buddha or the Da...
Read more