4th of July Discomfort

Happy 4th of July/Independence Day!

Now, I am about to embark on a slightly touchy subject...

When did the 4th of July become synonymous with Veteran's Day and Memorial Day? I understand that we are celebrating the freedom and independence from English rule, but why do we become so outspoken about supporting our troops and thanking those who have served in the armed forces? They were not involved in the Revolutionary War (unless they had access to a tardis or something...forgive me Dr. Who fans if that's not how it works. I admit I haven't seen the show). Not one person alive who served in the armed forces had anything to do with our country's beginnings, nor gained us the initial freedom from England.

Why can't we celebrate those who have served on the already designated holidays SPECIFICALLY for them?! I am so amazed at our need to "hero-ize" people who have been in the armed forces. As a Quaker and pacifist, this really irritates me. I am not pro-war by any means. I am also not (entirely) anti-war, because I will admit that many of the freedoms we have in our country would not exist without them. But come on now...why do we as a country value war? Those in the armed forces that have fought in wars potentially killed other human beings. I would even go as far as to say that many of the human beings they killed in wars were innocent of any wrong doing. Many countries force young men into war, thereby insisting that they kill other young men for a cause they may not even truly understand. I am not saying all those killed are completely innocent, and I do understand the "kill or be killed" mindset. But this is where my deep, deep innermost being struggles. My pastor recently preached a sermon on "that of Jesus" being in everyone, and he challenged us to focus on how those we interacted with were made in God's image and had "that of Jesus" within them.

How can I sit back and allow people to claim that our military men are heroes after considering that they destroyed "that of Jesus" in someone that was made in God's image? It really churns my stomach and makes my heart ache. Can we PLEASE leave the heroism declarations to the holidays set aside for just that and spend today celebrating our freedoms instead?

I hope I have not offended anyone, but I won't apologize. This is my genuine belief, and I sincerely disagree with war and killing. I can't stop it, but I definitely won't approve of it or promote it.