Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for May 30, 2016

Thanks for the reminder. To the cemetery we go tomorrow, bearing flowers and thanks.

“We” invade and destroy to maintain hegemony over the world, to the extent that “we” can. I put “we” in quotes, because I really mean our rulers do that, not, not me or you. Me, I think this desire for power and greatness is idiotic, and I do what I can to keep my country from taking part in it.

To make this clear, let me add an example. Some people try to show that the US military’s Middle East antics aren’t about oil by pointing out that the US doesn’t import much Middle East oil. Others say we shouldn’t be there because of this lack of need for their oil. But that’s not our rulers’ purpose. They want to dominate the Middle East in order to be able to threaten to deny the oil to others. The purpose is Power and Control, only marginally Defense.

Sure wish that I’d just read the strip and not the four comments. Can’t folks just let the preaching go for this one day?

George … in some ways I agree with you…but this day is about the preaching…and the strips themselves are waving all those flags….whether you regard them as patriotic, or more like red flags in front of a bull…I can understand why people react.

I don’t like to make political comments on the comics…so on days like this it’s rather hard for me to post.

Amethyst … mostly I came to this forum to thank you for letting me know you saw my post…I was a bit worried about seeming presumptuous, so thank you for the kind words. Wishing you happiness….

This is not a day for celebrating the politics of wars past; it is a day to remember those who’ve fallen in service, regardless of what put them in that situation.

Today isn’t about why the kids died. It’s simply that they did die, and deserve to be remembered.

To those who died winning our freedom in the Revolution, and those who died defending our country in the War of 1812, the Civil War, and WWII, thank you – we are forever in your debt.To those who died needlessly in one our 250+ other imperialistic deployments, we’re sorry.And always remember: Old, rich men start wars. Young, mostly poor men (and now women) fight them. Patriotism is the deception the former use to bamboozle the latter into this insane arrrangement.

Wish extreme right wingers would keep their politics in their little minds and let the rest of us enjoy this strip without conspiracy theories.

I have little tolerance for the leftists who would abandon freedom for the rest of the world. But for the mercy of God you crazy leftists would be subjugated Iranians.

Our noble and grossly-underpaid military are the only moral element of our grossly over-sized and wasteful government, yet that is the only part you crazies condemn. Let’s start by resetting the pay of all bureaucrats at military levels – that would likely balance the budget by itself.

I like today’s strip. It’an entertaining comic that isn’t real (like some other things).

Thumbs up to you jbmlaw.

That’s not what memorial day is for.

Schrodinger’s Dog: Please pay them no mind. On other days, I might be mildly tempted to respond to them. But, on this day, they are mere trolls.

My father, who does NOT believe in war or military, joined freely for Vietnam. This was (I was told) to be able to join for 2 years rather than being drafted for 4. He was greatly wounded by a shrapnel bomb mine, and among those faces he would never again see alive is the face of the very buddy who saved him. He has forever with him those faces, faces of bunk mates dead IN their bunks, faces of those killed so that he or others he was responsible for would live. He even has his OWN face, forever changed due to his injuries, forever unable to function as it once did. He is haunted. And that is just the start. So today, shall I weep with anger, with sorrow, or with thanks?.I weep for all 3 reasons, for all of any nationality who has served. My father, and most of those who haunt him, I think would appreciate that.

Too many wars, yes. But every soldier who died, died to keep us safe & free. If you are mad at the politicians for the way they spend the lives of our servicemen & women, then another day would be more appropriate for expressing it. Today, just say thank you.

It’s about that tombstone, with the flag next to it. Period.

Honor today, politics tomorrow.

Perhaps, if he knew he was going to be drafted(remember the draft lottery?), he preferred to only be in for 2 years instead of 4. And, as I understand it, if you signed up yourself, you had more control over what branch of service you would be in and possibly what job you would have. I had a friend that signed up before he was drafted and he was allowed his choice, which was to be a medic.

Thank you for your sacrifice to the red, white and blue.

During World War 2, My husband spent 3 years in the South Pacific fighting for the freedom we have to express ourselves. Need I say more?

instead of live flowers for a deceased veteran.. should buy a meal for he homeless live veterans…just sayin’

In Canada Remembrance Day is held on November 11.It is a day to remember and give thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.Nothing more,nothing less.

Night-Gaunt, I generally highly respect and enjoy your commentary. You have seemed like a person I would like to sit and talk with for long periods. But in this, I am disappointed. What on earth makes you think you can judge him? You were not there, you are not him. His situation at the time as a very very poor young man, in the middle of all of the propaganda, having already understood just too well the corruption and dishonesty that can exist in town and city officials, the family he left behind in the middle of where he was that was highly vulnerable should any said official “take exception” to his choices, etc etc. Also, he does not believe NOW, but as I mentioned, this was highly propagandized. I do not know for sure, but I think at the time he just DIDN’T KNOW. So he learned. And he survived. And he does not deserve to be judged by you. He is haunted enough, thank you.

Memorial Day was never intended to be a day to decide which wars were “moral” and which were not, or even to condemn them all. There is nothing “immoral” about remembering the dead and no need to cavil about it. I don’t think I’m easily offended, but today’s Frazz is disappointing.

Thank you to all who served, God bless each who lost their lives…we won’t forget…

So we don’t forget our comrades in arms…..Peace And Love.

I’d say the wars since 1945 …There haven’t been any wars for the USA since June 5, 1942.In order for the USA to have a war, congress has to DECLARE war on whoever it is we are going to attack.

I would challenge some of the uninformed who commented on today’s strip but I’d rather there was a way to block comments.

The loners enjoy another holiday…

thanks ‘allie gater’. couldnt agree more…

Ms. Schroeder:

I mean no offense and no disrespect, but please don’t use “Happy” with Memorial Day. “Happy” is suitable for Thanksgiving, Easter, Independence Day, and Christmas, but Memorial Day is a somber day of mournful remembrance.

Please join me in saying, “Have a meaningful Memorial Day” or simply, “Remember.”

Everyone:

My late father was to be part of the main landing force on Japan, but, while he was en route, we used the atomic bombs. He became part of the occupational force stationed at Nagasaki (and suffered many cancers throughout his life, by the way).

Although he never fought, he saw things at Nagasaki that haunted him forever.

My dad came back from Japan, but part of him died there, and I think of that each Memorial Day.

I would suggest that everybody listen to Eric Bogle’s ‘Bringing Buddy Home’ on YouTube.