God bless the people of every nation.

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CNN Presents, George Bush in World War II --yesterday's program. It showed America's 41st president returning to where he was shot down 59 years ago near the Japanese island of ChiChi Jima—an island where several U.S. pilots had been captured or killed during the war. It spoke of Bush's rescue by a U.S. Submarine and the death of the rest of his crewmen who did not make it out of the plane. Although Bush believes that he acted correctly and gave the right order to parachute from the plane, he does mourn the loss of his crewmembers. Bush stated that this experience at age 18 made him more aware of the costs of sending other people's son and daughters to war during his presidency.

The issue this program raised for me came when the past president spoke of reconciliation between himself and the Japanese. During Bush's presidency, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito died. Many in the American government would not go to his funeral because of his past involvement in the war. Bush decided to attend the funeral and spoke not about the past, but the future. It was an act of reconciliation towards Japan. Now, years later, as Bush approached the Island of ChiChi Jima, he placed wreaths in the ocean in remembrance of his lost crew members, and was greeted by Japanese soldiers. Welcomed on to the island, Bush was allowed to raise a ceremonial America flag, and was saluted by a Japanese Admiral--someone who was once considered an enemy. A powerful picture of what Memorial Day means to me.

Memorial Day is more than raising a flag and flying it half-mast. It is more than a moment of silence in remembrance of American soldiers. It is these things, but it is also more. It is more than wearing patriotic clothing, or, knowing all the words to and singing My Country Tis of Thee and God Bless America.

I am hesitant about holidays and events that focus too much on America and Americans. I feel like we are too close to cutting ourselves off from the rest of the world. God Bless America, and forget about the rest of you. Or, in remembrance of past or present battles, letting hatred for other countries--they killed our troops--surface. It is not that I do not support the American military, or that I do not see good in asking God to bless our country. My concern is when this is carried too far. To focus so much on America and our losses that we forget that others have been lost as well. Others who are not American. What do we do to remember these?

What do we use Memorial Day for? Is it a day to rebuild our pride and puff ourselves up, or, a day to work towards reconciliation between countries that we have been fighting either with weapons or language/politically? Do we remember our soldiers only, or those they fought against as well? As a Christian, I think this includes the enemies as well as those we love; enemies of the past or present. Memorial day should be a day of reconciliation as well as remembrance.


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