Would I be worthy of their sacrifice?

[sgser]

I think that is a question we all should ask ourselves. In an article in the March issue of The American Legion magazine that question is asked. There is also a wartime prayer attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt That prayer struck me pretty hard. It certainly has got me thinking. That prayer is:

Dear Lord
Lest I continue
My complacent way,
Help me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man died for me today
As long as there be war,
I then must
Ask and answer
Am I worth dying for?

[ungawa]

Whoah, pretty strong *** ***...

I'll keep it in mind.

[General Geoff]

Powerful words indeed.

[4XLT]

wow.......

[larrymeyer]

With the bodies coming back I hope I am.

But the way I heard the line

A man died for me today
was
A solider died for me today

[Hokkmike]

Great poem in two ways:

As written it talks about what brave men have sacrificed for us.

The first and last line by themselves talk about what God as done for us.

[RocketFoot]

Great poem, but a question that does not need to be asked. As prescribed by the Bill Of Rights, every American is worth dying for...even the antiwar protesters that show no love in return for a country that loves them unconditionally!

(Some people may not deserve the unconditional love of this county, but that is another discussion all together!)

[sgser]

Great poem, but a question that does not need to be asked. As prescribed by the Bill Of Rights, every American is worth dying for...even the antiwar protesters that show no love in return for a country that loves them unconditionally!

(Some people may not deserve the unconditional love of this county, but that is another discussion all together!)

I view this as a prayer for those who have died in the service of our country (and those who have suffered grievous wounds)with the hope that my patriotism, my love of our country, and my gratitude for their sacrifice rises to the level that I would not wonder whether they might have died in vain. It leads me to evaluate myself and suggests to others to do the same. It says to me, question myself. It does not suggest that we judge others. Am I worth their sacrifice? I sincerly hope so but I can't help but wonder. Lest we forget

[Rule10b5]

As prescribed by the Bill Of Rights, every American is worth dying for...even the antiwar protesters that show no love in return for a country that loves them unconditionally!

People don't love their country because they're against war?

I fail to see how one is related to the other -- or how blind support for any governmentally endorsed war necessarily equates to love of country.

War isn't a football game. There are good guys, bad guys, and everyone in between. Unjust wars happen all the time, and we're not always on the right side. I won't "root" for my side simply because it's my side -- I'll save that for the Eagles game.

Anyone who doesn't watch and scrutinize the actions of this country's government like a hawk, but rather, falls to unreasoned cheerleading, is contemptible.

Part of what made this country great is the refusal blindly to accept all government decisions simply because they are made on behalf of my country.

My country is not the same as my government.

As Jefferson himself said:

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then.”

I'd rather have a dreadlocked college student burning flags and raving about imperialism than a bunch of guys sitting around the table at a gun club talking about how great it is that we're at war. The dreadlocked guy may be an asshole, and he may be an idiot, but at least he's not treading the party line because he feels obligated to do so in order to "love" his country.

[ChamberedRound]

I don't love my country because I'm against war?

I fail to see how one is related to the other -- or how blind support for any governmentally endorsed war necessarily equates to love of country.

War isn't a football game. There are good guys, bad guys, and everyone in between. Unjust wars happen all the time, and we're not always on the right side. I won't "root" for my side simply because it's my side -- I'll save that for the Eagles game.

Anyone who doesn't watch and scrutinize the actions of this country's government like a hawk, but rather, falls to unreasoned cheerleading, is contemptible.

Part of what made this country great is the refusal blindly to accept all government decisions simply because they are made on behalf of my country.

My country is not the same as my government.

As Jefferson himself said:

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then.”

Well said, Rule. I'd give you rep but I have to spread the love.