Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

By Mark W. Danielson

Before I begin, please take a moment to read Pete Seeger’s lyrics to Where Have All The Flowers Gone: 

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?

Where have all the flowers gone? Young girls pick them, every one.

When will they ever learn?  When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?

Where have all the young girls gone? Gone to young men, every one.

When will they ever learn?  When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone, long time passing?

Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?

Where have all the young men gone?  Gone for soldiers, every one.

When will they ever learn?  When will they ever learn?

And where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?

Where have all the soldiers gone, a long long time ago?

Where have all the soldiers gone?  Gone to graveyards, every one.

When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?

Where have all the graveyards gone?  Gone to flowers, every one.

When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Seeger wrote this song at a time when the nation was on the brink of civil war.  As the US continued to throw everything it had against the North Vietnamese, anti-war protests occurred throughout the country.  Seeger’s song has been recorded numerous times by artists including The Kingston Trio, Peter Paul and Mary, and Joan Baez.  It is as timely today as it was in the 60s and 70s, and in spite of suffering staggering physical and economic losses in Vietnam, we continue to play the role of the word’s police.  The first question one might ask is why?  The bigger question is why do we allow it when we cannot take care of our own? 

Never once have I considered myself an activist, but I do believe every citizen has an obligation to express their views.   As such, I express mine frequently.  For anyone to think we are saving the world by bribing countries that hate us is ludicrous.  To believe the billions of dollars we send overseas is aiding the population rather than supplying our enemies is absurd.  At some point we must come to terms with the fact that we cannot save the world.

It has been said that those who fail to learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them.  Seeger’s song echoes that anthem at the end of every chorus.  In the end, our graveyards are overflowing with soldiers who died because their country sent them off to war.

As a former military man, I can say first-hand it is one thing to defend our country and quite another to occupy foreign soil.  Vietnam should have taught us that while we can invade and destroy, our military might’s influence is limited to turning others against us.  Our “war on terror, now nearly thirteen years in the running, continues to prove that point.  We spend billions on anti-terrorism, and yet we ignore intelligence that is handed to us.  The NSA may have the technology to monitor every phone conversation, but it cannot stop a determined suicide bomber. 

If our country fails, it will be from apathy, not terrorism.  Our short memories are short, our stomachs weak, but those who wish to harm us have neither.  Rather than bring our troops home and concentrate on national defense, we expand our overseas bases, clinging to the belief that we can change the world.  I cannot imagine a more flawed policy.    

Ironically, the unwavering anti-war protestors from Seeger’s heyday are now part of today’s “silent majority.”  Our young people aren’t tuned in about overseas events because we no longer have a draft.  It seems the only way to get their attention is to take away their cell phones.  You know it’s true if you’re smiling.     

I do not support any protest that destroys property or injures anyone.  However, I do believe every citizen should express their opinions to their elected officials.  Encourage them to stop funding the Middle East war and our overseas bases.  Remind them that their priority should be on rebuilding our infrastructure and placing their own citizens first.  For those who have lost loved ones, send them photos of where their soldiers have gone.  When will we ever learn?  When will we ever learn? 

 

                                          BRING THEM HOME ALIVE.