is about people who died in wars. It is a tribute to the idea that this nation is a collective enterprise but that when the rubber hits the road, the few have to (or, even more humbling, choose to) sacrifice for the many. In some ways it is the most potent reminder of our existence as nation - or else what did people die for? Almost no war enjoyed universal support when it was fought, but here we are as a country, still surviving, (I believe) the longest-lived democracy still in existence. Memorial Day should be about the people who believe in that and sacrifice for it, not about the pros and cons of any particular war. Those in military service commit themselves to take orders on faith, knowing things won't always be handled fairly or intelligently, because they believe in this country as an idea. By criticizing a given war on the day set aside to honor the war dead, we are spitting in the face of their generosity. We are telling them they are stupid to have gotten themselves into a situation where they're taking orders that we (maybe they) don't agree with. On this day, we should not muddy the waters with protesting a current policy, but instead keep the focus on the servicemen and -women and their sacrifices. Whether we agree in how they are being deployed or not, only the most out-of-touch radical can fail to be glad that we have them.

We really need not be afraid of the American Legion. The Republican "debate" the other night should have clued us all in to the fact that those who wish to appeal to the American Legion will support torture, bombing innocents, whatever cowboy talk will get them votes. These people are not in the majority. Yes, we all support the troops but we want them safely HOME. The troops themselves are probably misled about their mission and sort of have to believe in some way that they are defending this country in order for them to be motivited to volunteer to be killed and/or maimed in Iraq. They have been deceived and it is not nice to decive our soldiers.

The best thing this country can do for our solders is to get them out of that hell hole as quickly and as safely as possible. Edwards is right. Memorial Day has for too long been an advertisement for mindless militarism. If we want to honor our war dead the way to do it is not to create more dead Americans for a mission based on lies..

To me, Edwards' biggest issue on this is his utter lack of credibility on the war since he was such a strong supporter of it, through his failed vice-presidential candidacy.

His mea culpa sounded opportunistic to me, and all the posturing in the world now cannot make up for his very poor initial judgement, his inability to see the light much sooner, and, naturally, all the innocent blood on his hands and anyone else who ever supported this monstrous war.

... the second anybody says not to do something because we're supposedly playing right into the Republicans' hands.

Republicans have been wrong about everything and/or criminal in their destruction of America. I'm not living my life under the threat that if I step out of line they'll throw a tantrum, I'm living my life according to what I believe is right.

Edwards keeps looking better and better to me all the time.

Don't rock the boat. Don't be too edgy. We like that centrist DLC position.

Bullshit. What better day to bring this home than Decoration Day (as we used to call it afore they changed it to the more homogenized Memorial Day).

The Decoration Day parade used to end at the cemetry, where wreaths would be laid. Respectful demonstration to end George Bush's vanity war is entirely appropriate.

You are, at this very moment, the men who told Martin Luther King that he should not go Selma, Alabama. You are representing the safe choice that says that we should not make waves, that change comes through editorials and pinstripe suits and not through agitation. Would you even know when the right time was to confront authority through civil disobedience? I seriously doubt it. If Edward's call to action falls flat, it won't be because it's a bad idea, it will be because too many people prefer outdoor barbecues over social justice. I don't think that makes Edward's wrong.

Would someone there at Salon like to explain why you all are spending so much time running John Edwards down? Seems like every time I come to the site, you're taking another swipe at the guy, and as far as I can tell he's done nothing to warrant it. I don't know yet which Democratic candidate will get my vote, but this is starting to smell like an organized campaign. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you all were Republicans.

"I would say you can't enjoy your American privilidges(sic) (with all that entails) without, if not gratitude, at least tacit acknowledgement that our troops provide some measure of insurance for the lifestyle you surely enjoy.

Well, maybe you can, but it makes you a hypocrit(sic).

To the extent that you condemn them, you condemn yourself for enjoying the fruits of their labor, all while wagging your finger in disdain.

You should think a little more deeply about who we've made enemies of recently and what our army means in that respect."

Your "logic" makes no sense, you right-wing troll. What Iraq has to do with ANYTHING regarding privileges or "insurance" is beyond me, and I would guess, anyone with an inkling of sense. The fruits of this endeavor are general hatred of and contempt for the U.S. worldwide - even among former allies. That, and we have apparently turned into a torture-friendly nation - torture - a contemptible disgrace in any civilized person's book.

Don't you dare lecture me on deep-thinking, you shallow shill.

It would be hard to find a more flawed, empty "argument" than the one you just put forward.