Memorial Day: Remembering America's Perpetual War

I just realized there is not a proper greeting for Memorial Day.  I mean, think about it.  "Happy New Year!", "Merry Christmas!", there are even greeting cards that say "Happy Valentines Day", which is pretty weird. But you can't wish someone a "Happy Memorial Day", because it's not really something worth celebrating.  So what do you say to a grieving loved one on memorial day? What can you possibly say to show your sympathy for their pain?   

Although the practice of decorating soldier's graves is ancient, the day itself formed in the United States after the American Civil War, arguably the darkest period of our Nation's history.  Memorial Day is a day of mourning those lost in conflict, a day of remembrance. But what I'm going to say here probably won't be popular.  And I'll probably get some angry responses to it.  I in no way mean to diminish the pain felt by those who've lost someone. But I think it's worth saying.  Memorial Day should be a day of protest.  It should be a day of anger.  It should be a day when the American people cry out to their government for redress.  After all, they wouldn't have suffered and died if it hadn't been for war.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8.

Is there a time for war? Yes.  When diplomacy has failed and life and liberty are truly at risk, then yes, there may be no other option but war.  But looking over the 239 years of our country's history, a majority of these conflicts the US was the aggressor.  When 93% of the years of our existence our nation has been involved in war, it would appear other channels have not often been pursued. President Obama has recently received criticism from the right for his peace talks with Iran, a rare move considering his administration's previous and current foreign policy initiatives.  They were able to reach a positive outcome without war while the right is beating the war drums calling for aerial strikes and more drones drones drones. And yet, peace was successfully achieved without going to war. Maybe something worth trying again? 

The following list is not new, I've seen it on multiple websites.  This is a list of all the wars that America has been involved in since it's formation in 1776:

1. 1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
2. 1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
3. 1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
4. 1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
5. 1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
6. 1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
7. 1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
8. 1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
9. 1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War
10. 1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
11. 1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
12. 1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
13. 1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
14. 1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
15. 1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
16. 1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
17. 1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
18. 1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
19. 1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
20. 1795 – Northwest Indian War
21. 1796 – No major war
22. 1797 – No major war
23. 1798 – Quasi-War
24. 1799 – Quasi-War
25. 1800 – Quasi-War
26. 1801 – First Barbary War
27. 1802 – First Barbary War
28. 1803 – First Barbary War
29. 1804 – First Barbary War
30. 1805 – First Barbary War
31. 1806 – Sabine Expedition
32. 1807 – No major war
33. 1808 – No major war
34. 1809 – No major war
35. 1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida
36. 1811 – Tecumseh’s War
37. 1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida
38. 1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida
39. 1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war
40. 1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war
41. 1816 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
42. 1817 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
43. 1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
44. 1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
45. 1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
46. 1821 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)
47. 1822 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)
48. 1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War
49. 1824 – Anti-piracy war
50. 1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
51. 1826 – No major war
52. 1827 – Winnebago War
53. 1828 – No major war
54. 1829 – No major war
55. 1830 – No major war 
56. 1831 – Sac and Fox Indian War
57. 1832 – Black Hawk War
58. 1833 – Cherokee Indian War
59. 1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign
60. 1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War
61. 1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War
62. 1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War
63. 1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War
64. 1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars
65. 1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands
66. 1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa
67. 1842 – Seminole Wars
68. 1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast
69. 1844 – Texas-Indian Wars
70. 1845 – Texas-Indian Wars
71. 1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
72. 1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
73. 1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War
74. 1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
75. 1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition
76. 1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
77. 1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
78. 1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars
79. 1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
80. 1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
81. 1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War
82. 1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua
83. 1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
84. 1859 Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico
85. 1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War
86. 1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign
87. 1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862,
88. 1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War
89. 1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War
90. 1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War
91. 1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China
92. 1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan
93. 1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War
94. 1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
95. 1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
96. 1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea
97. 1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War
98. 1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico
99. 1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
100. 1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
101. 1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
102. 1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
103. 1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
104. 1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
105. 1880 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
106. 1881 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
107. 1882 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
108. 1883 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
109. 1884 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
110. 1885 – Apache Wars, Eastern Nevada Expedition, U.S. forces invade Mexico
111. 1886 – Apache Wars, Pleasant Valley War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
112. 1887 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
113. 1888 – U.S. show of force against Haiti, U.S. forces invade Mexico
114. 1889 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
115. 1890 – Sioux Indian War, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Ghost Dance War, Wounded Knee, U.S. forces invade Mexico
116. 1891 – Sioux Indian War, Ghost Dance War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
117. 1892 – Johnson County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
118. 1893 – U.S. forces invade Mexico and Hawaii
119. 1894 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
120. 1895 – U.S. forces invade Mexico, Bannock Indian Disturbances
121. 1896 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
122. 1897 – No major war
123. 1898 – Spanish-American War, Battle of Leech Lake, Chippewa Indian Disturbances
124. 1899 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
125. 1900 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
126. 1901 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
127. 1902 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
128. 1903 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
129. 1904 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
130. 1905 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
131. 1906 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
132. 1907 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
133. 1908 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
134. 1909 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
135. 1910 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
136. 1911 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
137. 1912 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
138. 1913 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars, New Mexico Navajo War
139. 1914 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
140. 1915 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico, Colorado Paiute War
141. 1916 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
142. 1917 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S. invades Mexico
143. 1918 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S invades Mexico
144. 1919 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
145. 1920 – Banana Wars
146. 1921 – Banana Wars
147. 1922 – Banana Wars
148. 1923 – Banana Wars, Posey War
149. 1924 – Banana Wars
150. 1925 – Banana Wars
151. 1926 – Banana Wars
152. 1927 – Banana Wars
153. 1928 – Banana Wars
154. 1930 – Banana Wars
155. 1931 – Banana Wars
156. 1932 – Banana Wars
157. 1933 – Banana Wars
158. 1934 – Banana Wars
159. 1935 – No major war
160. 1936 – No major war
161. 1937 – No major war
162. 1938 – No major war
163. 1939 – No major war
164. 1940 – No major war
165. 1941 – World War II
166. 1942 – World War II
167. 1943 – Wold War II
168. 1944 – World War II
169. 1945 – World War II
170. 1946 – Cold War (U.S. occupies the Philippines and South Korea)
171. 1947 – Cold War (U.S. occupies South Korea, U.S. forces land in Greece to fight Communists)
172. 1948 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)
173. 1949 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)
174. 1950 – Korean War, Jayuga Uprising
175. 1951 – Korean War
176. 1952 – Korean War
177. 1953 – Korean War
178. 1954 – Covert War in Guatemala
179. 1955 – Vietnam War
180. 1956 – Vietnam War
181. 1957 – Vietnam War
182. 1958 – Vietnam War
183. 1959 – Vietnam War, Conflict in Haiti
184. 1960 – Vietam War
185. 1961 – Vietnam War
186. 1962 – Vietnam War, Cold War (Cuban Missile Crisis; U.S. marines fight Communists in Thailand)
187. 1963 – Vietnam War
188. 1964 – Vietnam War
189. 1965 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic
190. 1966 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic
191. 1967 – Vietnam War
192. 1968 – Vietnam War
193. 1969 – Vietnam War
194. 1970 – Vietnam War
195. 1971 – Vietnam War
196. 1972 – Vietnam War
197. 1973 – Vietnam War, U.S. aids Israel in Yom Kippur War
198. 1974 – Vietnam War
199. 1975 – Vietnam War
200. 1976 – No major war
201. 1977 – No major war
202. 1978 – No major war
203. 1979 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)
204. 1980 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)
205. 1981 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), First Gulf of Sidra Incident
206. 1982 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon
207. 1983 – Cold War (Invasion of Grenada, CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon
208. 1984 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Persian Gulf
209. 1985 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)
210. 1986 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)
211. 1987 – Conflict in Persian Gulf
212. 1988 – Conflict in Persian Gulf, U.S. occupation of Panama
213. 1989 – Second Gulf of Sidra Incident, U.S. occupation of Panama, Conflict in Philippines
214. 1990 – First Gulf War, U.S. occupation of Panama
215. 1991 – First Gulf War
216. 1992 – Conflict in Iraq
217. 1993 – Conflict in Iraq
218. 1994 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti
219. 1995 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti, NATO bombing of Bosnia and Herzegovina
220. 1996 – Conflict in Iraq
221. 1997 – No major war
222. 1998 – Bombing of Iraq, Missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan
223. 1999 – Kosovo War
224. 2000 – No major war
225. 2001 – War on Terror in Afghanistan
226. 2002 – War on Terror in Afghanistan and Yemen
227. 2003 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, and Iraq
228. 2004 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
229. 2005 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
230. 2006 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
231. 2007 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen
232. 2008 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
233. 2009 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
234. 2010 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
235. 2011 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; Conflict in Libya (Libyan Civil War)
236. 2012 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen
237. 2013 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen
238. 2014 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine
239. 2015 – War on Terror in Somalia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine

America Has Been At War 93% of the Time - 222 Out of 239 Years - Since 1776 (Washingtons Blog)

222 out of 239 years of our nation's history, we have been at war. 93% of our existence. Wow. And

we wonder why most other countries of the world distrust or dislike us. With a history of war and bloodshed, it's no wonder our culture is saturated with violence. It's no wonder more Americans kill other Americans way more than any other country finds it necessary to murder each other. And no wonder the US allocates more money to their military budget than any other country by leaps and bounds.

So this Memorial Day, grieve the dead of yesterday, and ask your government to prevent the dead of tomorrow. Let's stop sending our friends, our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters to early graves.  Let's stop policing the world and seek for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness at home.