Welcome to this Sunday’s Third Degree: Tough, Brief, Weekly Interrogations on matters public and private that force thinking and response. Today we target: Remembrance and Perspective

  • Penning this piece yesterday, Armistice Day now Veterans Day, I wondered if we shared remembrance?
  • Since remembrance enables perspective, do the trenches of the Great War or conflict anywhere provide illumination?
  • Is the digging for refuge and defense strategic and tactical blunder neglecting audacity, speed and maneuver?
  • That said, what wars are “great” or “easy” or “necessary”?
  • Are we sheltered so safe to be immune or like the young, impoverished by comfort and cause, and mostly, clueless?
  • Yet, is there eagerness for the various trenches of our time aided by the media and politicians shaping the choosing of sides?
  • What are some truths and errors from the trenches? What perspective can be or should be gained?
  • Are we ‘trenchies’ acutely aware of the weather and the seasons? To what contrary, climactic conclusion?
  • Do we shiver and sweat, huddled and wet, smelling the rot of voodoo reviews by a bunch of preening, and paid for, panderers?
  • Do trench foot and mouth cause trouble reinforced by a mindless perspective that puts us more into the mire?
  • Digging deeper, if that helps, how do we escape from the trenches, often now of our own, name calling creation?
  • Is legitimate quest just to get out and be left alone? How do we do that?
  • Are we trained or tricked to go over the top?
  • What losses are suffered in no man’s land from intersectional fire?
  • Where are the needed generals or the political leadership, or is it just us, with our own remembrance, our own perspective of need, honor and sacrifice?
  • With that perspective, is there hope for a better life or a comfortable one? Can we have both?
  • Does it take pragmatic, fierce leadership, not feeble fools, to fight with us, for us, and help free us from the inhibiting perspective of the trenches? Something to remember?

Socrates reminds: “The unexamined life is not worth living”. The answers and actions are yours?