Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for November 12, 2012

<gulp!>

At least they tried to end all wars….It’s not their fault the rest of humanity let them down….War. What is it good for? Nothing!

Huh, I know the last Canadian veteran died in 2010. I’ll have to mull on this for a while.

Salute!

And from a species-wide point of view, war is actually of tremendous value (From any even remotely personal point of view it SUCKS) – huge mixing of genes, technology advances, culture sharing/spreading, a pruning of excess population, etc…

But speaking as someone who’s been IN a war…They suck. LOL

Orion

Thanks for remembering those often not mentioned. I knew quite a few.

If you’ve never read of the 1914 Christmas Truce, please go to this link and read it, it will leave you misty eyed and knowing on that battlefield man missed a chance to truly end all wars. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/weekinreview/25word.ready.html?pagewanted=all

Well said Mr. Johnson. Thank you veterans everywhere.

Thank you, Dad, for your service in WWII, and thank you, brother Jack for VN, and thank you nephew Tripp for Bosnia and Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m deeply sorry you had to go, but proud of you all.

I wish my father were alive, I miss him terribly. He was a WWII veteran and was in the 101st Airborne Division and was at the Invasion of Normandy. He received a Purple Heart as well. I regret that my father never told us about his experiences during WWII, but he was such a wonderful father. I miss him so very much.

If Mittens had been elected, I can see him, in my mind;s eye, commemorating Veterans Day in Paris, Accompanied by his five sons.

A plague or other epidemic could make the population smaller too, and without so much destruction of property!

I don’t know if you believe “Ask Marilyn” but she claims that war hasn’t had an effect on population because women of child bearing age will have children even if most of the men are killed in war.http://www.parade.com/askmarilyn/2011/04/The-Effect-of-War-on-Population-Growth-19.html

In Flanders FieldsIn Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved, and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

- John McCrae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields

@PipeTobacco My dad was in his 80s before he ever told us anything about his WWII experiences, and he still, at 90, won’t tell us everything; it’s too hard for him.

@Rockngolfer – The 20 years of Napoleon wars had a huge effect on the French population, it took a century to catch up again which is why it started WWI at a 3 to 1 disadvantage. As for the war having no effect on population growth, here are two age trees for my country – yep, France, how did you guess? :). vaugeladed.perso.neuf.fr/Trente_Glorieuses_fichiers/image007.gifAs you can see the two world wars had an effect on the population. I’d say Marylin either is wrong or talking about period longer than a century. All right, I’m a closet social history fan

Thanks for remembering all of those who fought.

People just do not want to understand.

War is critical to the survival of a people who never were able to, or have abandoned the ability to create wealth by combining raw materials and labor to create wealth, either for their own needs and wants, or to trade in a free market for the things they want or need.

Without the means and will to produce, they must conquer to acquire the goods or slaves they need.

Im glad Arlo remembers things like this. It reminds me of Charles Schultz and Snoopy every June 6th for D-Day. Thank you, Jim!

As a vet (Vietnam): I am not proud, but I am not ashamed. “Welcome home” to those who have served and “come home soon” to those still serving.

Rest in Peace, WWI vets. I remember when I was quite a bit younger when the last Civil War veteran died.

To Veterans, everywhere, God Bless

That choked me up; I remember when Mr. Johnson had a similar Arlo and Janis comic about the last United States’ World War I veteran. The end of an era; and I am old enough to have been alive when Spanish-American veterans yet lived. I suppose in another score or so of years we will lose the Greatest Generation as well. Life is about living, but in the words of a song years back: “Memories are supposed to be reflections of what used to be; that’s why while we can, we should remember when.” It is good to reflect on those who gave much, to celebrate their lives, and yes, to mourn the end of an era. Very moving comic.