Memorial Day

I know it may be blasphemous to some but I do not go out of my way on Memorial Day. One reason is that not a lot goes on in the community of Hanford. There's usually a ceremony in the morning at the cemetery which I attended a few times when my son, Jake, was part of the JNROTC Rifle Team (they did the 21 gun salute). The boys and I used to watch a couple war movies, but they are "too busy" now. My wife is off doing whatever women do, and Samantha does her thing.

So today I went about a normal weekend routine, some computer time, do dishes, do laundry, and since it was nice out went and sat in the front yard smoked a cigar and did some reading. I read an interesting piece on "Sheep and Sheepdogs." Not the literal kind but how people can be classified as sheep, wolves, or sheepdogs. For me this article clarified what Memorial Day is really about.

The author explained that those three categories are not absolute and that our natural tendency from birth is to be sheep. We are born innocent babes and sheep represent that innate desire to be good. So being a sheep in this sense is not a derogatory term describing blind obedience but simply being a good human, in the sense it is used Biblically. Some sheep become wolves due to a predisposition to be evil, or they are acculturated that way, or face socioeconomic factors that push them into the wolf pack. Other sheep become sheepdogs--the protectors.

Sheepdogs might be loners looking out for others (our secret warriors fighting terrorism), natural protectors who fill that role 24/7 (police, the military, fire and rescue, etc,), or they can be among us and simply spring to the call of duty (the dozens of onlookers who sprang to action after the bombing at the Boston Marathon). Not to demean the sheep but not many of them have what it takes to be sheepdogs.

The author went further and explained that we can be taught how to be sheepdogs. What if every American age 16 and over was CPR/First Aid certified? What if we taught that taking action is better than standing on the sideline? What if we once again taught boys to be men, emphasizing that real men look out for others, sacrifice when it's warranted, treat everyone with the respect they deserve regardless of age, gender, class, or sexual preference, and what if we taught them that sometimes they have to risk all for others?

Anyway, the men and women we honor today were and are sheepdogs--passive but vigilant, understanding but honest, hoping for peace but ready to go to war. Sacrifice for them is willingly given in the name of their fellow citizens. This day is not one to debate politics or the right and wrong of wars, but for the sheep to pay tribute to the sheepdogs. And for the wolves to take note that the sheepdogs are there--waiting to strike.

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