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Time to remember

By Staff | Nov 9, 2010

To the editor:

What with Armistice Day right around the corner, I wonder just how many Americans can remember the significance of “The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month and the year in which it has been historically placed? Not all that many I would venture to say. Although at that time if supposedly signaled the end of war. Yes, folks, that’s right, that was supposed to be the Big One ending all warfare in 1918. What the hell ever happened? We had number two in 1939 to 1946, Korea in 1950 to 1953, Vietnam from the ’60s into the ’70s, the Middle East for as long as we can remember and on and on infinitum. The carnage has been an on-going thing. So, just who is kidding who? The human animal simply must love war so much that he and now she can’t give it up. Wouldn’t it be nice if we just really tried? How about a referendum on one of the two following songs:

America I raised my boy for you

America I made him staunch and true

Place a gun upon his shoulder

He is ready to do or die

America he is my only one, my hope my pride and joy

But if I had another he’d march beside his brother. Americas here’s my boy or perhaps: –

I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.

I raised him up to be my pride and joy

Let no one place a gun upon his shoulder to kill some other mother’s darling boy

Let nations arbitrate their future problems and put the gun and sword away.

There’d be no wars today if mothers all would say – I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.

Does any of this make any sense to anybody?

Joseph Curran Sr.

Cape Coral