Memorial Day. Tolerance and Peace.

from http://www.silkartist.co.uk/poppies.jpg

I see the men in fatigues outside the Armory near my house. They are beautiful in the way that's inevitable for the young and strong, the disciplined, the fragile. Many have already served, will return to action.  Beautiful, equally, the women, at risk by virtue of gender but willing to strike a new path.
I admire the complexities of duty, bravery, ambition in today's soldiers and in soldiers who had no choice but to serve. 

There is little positive net result to the wars of my lifetime, and an infinitude of collateral damage, but I can hope for an end run around the phenomenal gain of the industries of war and corporations without conscience.

If we can love the now and tolerate the person next door, allow our intellects to be engaged in planning for cooperation and civility and not allow that small warp of willful ignorance which is rampant in the country, right now, grow and intensify, then there is hope and the wheel or spinning firmament of karma and grace will help our Memorial Day mean something tomorrow.

Today is a day of gratitude. Today is a day of love. Today the seeming strangeness of things unfamiliar is tolerated, seen for what it is, something new and untested. Something that won't be strange after proximity and acquaintanceship.

Peace.