TRAGIC EXCHANGE RATE_July 4th Post

“The cost of a thing is the amount 

of what I will call life 

which is required to be exchanged for it,

immediately or in the long run.” 

- Henry David Thoreau, Walden 

 The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members 

who have died without 

their remains being identified. 

It is also known as the  

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 

but it has never been officially named.

 It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States of America. 

Thoreau moved into his Walden Pond cabin on this day in 1845.

In Walden, Thoreau claimed that his move occurred on Independence Day only “by accident,” 

and that others should find their own time and path to personal freedom.

Politicians will pontificate endlessly today about the cost in millions of American lives for our freedom.

But what did those deaths really buy and were all our wars necessary?

Certainly, the Revolutionary War ...

And World War I:

First, America had no choice:

 The Germans sunk Lusitania which was a British ship and contained American soldiers, 128 died. 

Second, it was the Zimmermann Telegram, 

Germany told Mexico to declare war on America which outraged them. 

And lastly, Germans sank anything in their way with their deadly submarines. 

So what else could America do?

The Civil War? 

Basically, it was about clinging to power and the inability to see all humans as beings of worth.

States were given congressmen in the House of Representatives based on the population of the state.  

But the Northern States objected to the South having it both ways --

people as property AND as countable population.

So a Sad Day in America came to pass with 

the 3/5 Compromise

Congress decided a slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person.

And things rapidly went downhill from there.

So over 600,000 Americans died tragically because politicians 

could not abide by the Bill of Rights and common decency.

World War II 

was thrust upon America, 

and we had to fight it.

Yet. study History, and you will find that the majority of our wars sprang from a breakdown in clear thinking in Congress

and politicians acting to entrench their personal and political power.

So what is the value of  

political power and ambition?

Millions of American lives.

But our military must always remain strong,

for tyrants around the world 

are amoral and predatory.

Because most wars are unjust does not negate the fact 

that eventually some insane world leader(s) will force America to defend its citizens with its armed might.

"The condition upon which 

God hath given liberty to man 

is eternal vigilance; 

which condition if he break, 

servitude is at once 

the consequence of his crime 

and the punishment of his guilt."

- John Philpot Curran