For https://steemit.com/freewrite/@mariannewest/day-224-5-minute-freewrite-thursday-prompt-40-off
Happy Memorial Day Everyone!
I mean, happy Thursday after memorial day.
Have I spoken yet on my sentiments about Memorial Day?
I'm going to write some things that I hope don't make you hate me, but I think honesty is the best policy.
Here, I'll tell you a story. So, this past Memorial Day I was in an Improv show, and we wanted to honor a veteran. We asked him his name, and how he served, and what he liked to do for fun. He gleefully told us that he shot commies.
We didn't miss a beat and honored him in song. But I felt icky about it. You see, my father and I and many of my friends are commies. We're not the commies he shot at, but we nonetheless believe that a world of peace and that takes care of its most vulnerable and in which working-class individuals wield real political power and can define the space that they live in is not achievable under capitalism, and communism is a step to getting there. Misconceptions about communism promoted by capitalist propaganda is for another post.
And, it's not even that. He is gleeful about shooting at human beings.
And all the pomp and circumstance seems just a little off.
I'm all for acknowledging sacrifice, but that's not what we do anymore. We celebrate soldiers. We put this idea of going to war up on a pedestal and it becomes something to desire.
Memorial day should be a day of mourning. Of crying over the fallen bodies that died on all sides of armed conflict. There is much talk of fighting for our freedoms, but ... I guess some people believe that? I don't. I don't think any of our recent conflicts have anything to do with protecting freedoms.
This is longer than a 5 minute conversation. And it needs to be a conversation, because I can hear the voices of those who disagree. I kinda assume 
I'll go on a little longer.
War is antiquated. Unnecessary. Our world has enough resources for everybody at the moment. It really does. If the massive labor force that is the U.S. Military were instead used exclusively (I know they do this some) for building infrastructure here and abroad, just imagine the increase in living standards across the world. Building solar power plants in communities that otherwise aren't connected to the grid. Building schools and roads and hospitals (I know they do some, but MORE) Staffing those.
I am proud of the civil servants who teach and heal and grow food and build shelter and transport... all the things necessary to a functioning society. Let's beat our swords into plows and our guns into tractors.