On this military remembrance holiday, originated as Decoration Day in 1868 to memorialize the dead on both sides of America’s Civil War, I would like to share a few famous quotations on the subject of war. They all appear on one of my favorite web sites, Freedom’s Nest: Anti-conservative. Anti-liberal. Pro-freedom.
The fact that slaughter [in battle] is a horrifying spectacle must make us take war more seriously, but not provide an excuse for gradually blunting our swords in the name of humanity. Sooner or later someone will come along with a sharp sword and hack off our arms.
- Carl von Clausewitz
Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.
- Demosthenes
War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil.
- George Orwell
A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.
- Eric Hoffer
We have a solution for war. It is to expand the sphere of liberty.
- Rudolph Rummel
And finally, here is Cox and Forkum's Memorial Day post.
Posted by JohnGalt at May 26, 2003 08:22 AMWell done. I hope everybody has fun today (It's my Birthday!) but I hope that we have grown to appreciate better the sacrifice of those who fought and died for our freedom.
Thanks to everybody who served and my best to all who mourn a loss today.
Posted by: jk at May 26, 2003 10:22 AM