My Father Died 14 years Ago Today-Thankfully Died Before Trump Embrace Of N. Korea

My father, Anthony S. Aquino, died on this date in 2010 at the age of 80. Tony was a medic in the Korean War.

​Below is some of what he wrote about the Korean War in the 1970's:

“One thing that I learned is that the young men who fought in our wars should never be forgotten…Another fact I learned…is that millions may serve but far fewer fight. So, in reality, for many who have served, war is a glory-and-gory myth that feeds on its own legends and publicity.…Another truth I learned is that civilians are combatants in war-–embattled victims perpetually on a losing side….That brings us to the biggest deception: The need to be ready defend our freedom if we are to keep it. Those who say that freedom has a price are absolutely right, and wrong: International conflict today is beyond ideology. The only freedom American and Russian leaders offer their people today is the freedom to kill ourselves in the name of freedom. This is not freedom, but allegiance to a suicidal death culture….Today, we are servile to our masters, mistaking economic well-being for true freedom, which is the freedom to live hopefully and not to die needlessly.”

Thankfully Tony died before Trump became President. He never saw Trump embrace the North Korean dictator.       

Trump degrades everything he touches. I don't know how decent people tolerate it or have any self-respect in accepting it.  

Have a drink or a cigarette today to recall Tony. Buy a lottery ticket or read a book.

Tony spent a year on the North Korean/Chinese border in combat that helped bring some freedom to South Korea. (Though recently there have been attacks on that freedom. Thanks to Trump and his supporters for helping create a climate that erodes freedom across the Earth. And all politicians should stop taking the endorsement of anti-democractic police unions.) 

If Tony could fight for strangers 5000 miles away from his home in Rhode Island, we can show up for our own freedom here at home.  

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