Monday, May 29, 2017

Memorial Day 2017: A time to stand up

ED DIOKNO
They died for their buddies. They died for the U.S.. They died for us.
TODAY we remember and honor those men and women who gave their lives while serving their country in our nation’s military.

From the Battle of New Orleans and the Civil War, to the battles of Iraq and Afghanistan, to the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, to the trials of World Wars; from the Lousiana swamps to forests of the Battle of the Bulge, to the jungles of Asia and the deserts of the Middle East, Asian/Americans have fought to keep our country safe from the evil ambitions of tyrants and despots

The best way we can honor their memories is to make sure that the values and principles  that they died for continue to thrive.

Today, freedom of speech is being attacked as the press is wrongly maligned as they try to uncover the true stories behind the headlines. Journalists are being verbally and physically attacked. This is wrong! 

Today, voting rights are being denied by the shenanigans of politicians trying to protect their power. This is wrong!

Today, hate has burst out of the darkness to become part of our everyday lives. Our neighbors are being attacked and killed, their homes vandalized, and who live in terror because of the color of their skin, the accents in their speech or the religion they practice. This is wrong! 

Today, families are being torn apart and communities live in fear because of immigration policies being enforced unjustly, unevenly and inhumanely. This is wrong!

Today, there are those who wish to enact laws denying travelers, immigrants, and refugees from entering the United States, a country of immigrants, because of their religion. This is wrong!.

Today, we place flags on military graves and we sing patriotic songs … but most of all we remember those we miss so much. Let’s honor their sacrifice by remembering what they died for and protect those values that have made America great. 

Today, we recall that liberty is always the achievement of courage to step up when duty calls; courage to point out and speak out against injustice; courage to stand up to fear, hate and ignorance.

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