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On Memorial Day, honor fallen soldiers by fighting for rights they died to protect | Opinion

Ah, Memorial Day, let’s say a quick prayer for our fallen heroes before jumping in the pool, eating BBQ, and of course, enjoying the fashionably acceptable start of white sandal season. We may briefly consider that this freedom to enjoy ourselves on this last Monday in May came from the sacrifice of human and animal life to protect our country and keep the world safe, but really, it’s all about having a good time on a late spring day. Or is it?

Goodness knows there is nothing wrong with having fun with our family and friends. We work hard for this, don’t we? But this freedom to enjoy these things in life, was a price paid in death, tragedy, and trauma, by those who served our country and witnessed a reality most of us cannot begin to imagine. And while we claim ownership over words like liberty, justice, and “the American way” the truth is if we really want to honor and memorialize those whose blood was spilled to give us countless freedoms, we would be doing everything in our power to fight for the democracy that is dying in the daylight.

The reality is our brave and courageous military members who lost their lives defending the USA deserved better, then, and now. My father, a first-generation immigrant, fought proudly for this country. In the last days of his life, he shared more about his military experience as his anger was palpable at the hateful politics in Florida, and what he knew was the beginning of the end of what he sacrificed for in his service. Had he lived to watch his beloved granddaughter’s reproductive rights obliterated, or to witness the deadly attacks on our LGBTQ+ citizens, and the unconscionable racial injustice, he would have been inconsolable. At age 92, he still remembered the slaughter of our Christian relatives when Hitler invaded Norway and feared the same political madness would be repeated here. He knew. And we know.

The questions that beg the ask are simple: do we care enough to honor our fallen soldiers by fighting like hell to save the freedoms they died to protect? Will we step up and stop the hateful rhetoric that is destroying our country and dividing our nation? Or do we keep quiet, play nice in the sandbox, and hope others will do the work for us? Silence is agreement.

Every day, 20 veterans die by suicide. Kentucky has two military bases, but who will want to bring their family, or fear for their own safety, in a state that is doing everything possible to condemn our LGBTQ+ citizens? Those who voted to deny a child or adult their reproductive choices, have devastated the reproductive medical care in Kentucky, regardless of a planned or unplanned pregnancy. We talk a good game about mental health, but we will never have the resources necessary to protect the mental and physical health of those whose basic human rights are being denied, destroyed, and fuel the 18-23 hate groups growing inside our bluegrass state.

Draven Wright, 7, of Nicholasville, Ky., places coins on headstones before a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in 2019.
Draven Wright, 7, of Nicholasville, Ky., places coins on headstones before a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in 2019.

If Kentucky is really the “bible belt” it is time we used that belt to hold up our people, not beat them down. It is time we celebrate our brave soldiers, and those we will need now and forever to defend our country, by fighting with our voices and votes to protect our rights. It is time we shut down the divisive rhetoric that is poisoning our state and bleeding injustice across our country. We must hold our elected officials accountable to lead with integrity, compassion, and commitment to protecting our democracy and human rights, instead of starting a war right here on American soil.

Something to think about when we wave the flag, isn’t it?

Brenda Rosen is a social worker in Lexington.