A Moment of Silence

Let’s take a moment of silence to remember the battle dead of American conflicts since the Revolutionary War: almost 658,000 souls lost on the battlefield between then and the present War on Terror.

Non-battle deaths totaling over 547,000, for a total of about 1,205,000.

Let us honor them. 

I will also take a moment to mourn the 1,800,000 souls lost to the Middle Passage of the Transatlantic American Slave Trade.

Fully 20% of Africans loaded onto boats bound for a life of subjugation did not even survive the crossing.

I will grieve as well for the millions of indigenous peoples, gone in the name of progress.  Whole tribes are extinct, and it is estimated by scholars that 12 million were killed in what is referred to as the coterminous United States between 1492 and 1900. 

America IS great.  In fact, it was great before 2016, and remains so today.    

I am born of American parents, and enjoy all the liberty and freedom naturalized American citizenship affords me.

I am a veteran of the U.S. Army, and am grateful for the training, and the friendships and mentoring I experienced during my time of service.

Therefore, let it not be said that I am belittling or hijacking the intent of our last-Monday-in-May holiday.

I believe it is my duty and my obligation to expand my awareness and acceptance of ALL those for whom we must honor, and share this awareness with as many as will listen. 

America is a young nation with a bloody history.

So many lives lost.  So many weeping families left behind.

They are all worthy of my attention, and my gratitude.

We have so many people to take a moment of silence for.

To remember.

To honor.

And to be eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

In Memoriam.  God bless, everybody.