Memorial Day 2015: Give peace a chance.

Howard Zinn, "Whom Will We Honor Memorial Day?"

In the end, it is living people, not corpses, creative energy, not destructive rage, which are our only real defense, not just against other governments trying to kill us, but against our own, also trying to kill us.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I am disappointed with our failure to deal positively and forthrightly with the triple evils of racism, economic exploitation and militarism."

John Lennon, "Give peace a chance"

I've been living overseas in Japan for nearly 11 years now. It's been a series of life-changing, eye-opening experiences from day one, yet a major change of perspective that I've evovled has been on the importance of peace. Before I left the States, I was willing to join America's finest military service in order to pay for the remaining college fees that I had. Had I not found alternate funding as well as secured generous support from my family, I probably would have enlisted.

However, as luck, the fates, God and other influences would have it, I did not have to do so. And this has made a world of difference in my life path because I came to Japan as a emerging teacher, not an airman or soldier. I embraced the rich cultural uniqueness that is Japanese culture, instead of brandishing a rifle and proclaimed all that is good with the mighty American Empire.

I am patriotic. I love my country. That is why I oppose the use of its military forces as police forces around the world. It is why I oppose use of drones as spy machines and as pilotless bombers of innocent men, women and children. It is why I teach my child how to honor the differences she's finds in other human beings, not to discriminate because of them. Terrorism is all in the definition.

Who were terrorists when the US massacred over 20,000 Filipinos in the Philippine-Amercan War? Who were the terrorists when 17,000 Cherokees were forced from their homes to take the "Trail of Tears" toward desolate reservations? Who instigated Sailor Riots in L.A. in 1943 (AKA "Zoot Suit Riots")?

There is so much more to learn in this life. Why do we citizens allow our goverment to perpetuate the industrial-war complex? Why do we let corporations dictate national efforts toward protection of fossil fuel resources and not urge them toward investment in clean energy alternatives? Technically, this is still our governement, a government "of the people." Let's take it back!