Am I the only one who thinks it's a waste of tax dollars to guard a tomb?




+MrKushinator420 [in regards to your suggestion that I've been judgemental and overly harsh]

 First, it cost no more to guard the tomb than it does not to guard the tomb since those are military personnel and that is a station like any other. They won't simply vanish if they are not at that post.

Second, the tomb is the tomb of every soldier of every war who was not recovered, and it is the mourning of all of those mothers, daughters, wives, brothers and extended family encased in stone.

Third it holds the full respect of those who knew all of those soldiers and failed them on the field by not bringing them home, which is likely something you have not experienced.

Fourth, if you don't want a personal answer to an extremely insulting and personal question, it would be wise to not ask the question in a massively public medium. Especially in a topic line which is attached to a video, which demonstrates quite accurately the national importance imbued into the tomb by the citizens paying those taxes.

And to sum up, the elevated view of the importance you believe to have against my life, opinion or career is deeply delusional. 



+phileagfan -- after going through some of your posts I see that you might be genuinely confused. Those aren't guards. Guards would be defending or deterring people from vandalism or actions that could be done to a monument -- a piece of rock above a grave.

The tomb was originally called the Tomb of the Unknowns. It was created in 1921, after WWI

Those are soldiers of the 3rd Infantry (the Old Guard) standing vigil. It is considered the highest honor to be assigned to that duty. Fewer than 20 percent of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full-fledged Tomb Guards.The duties of the sentinels are not purely ceremonial. The sentinels will confront people who cross the barriers at the tomb or who are disrespectful or loud.

Vigil -- I'm pleased to find still means -- a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance. The Italian word vigilia has become generalized in this sense and means "eve" (as in on the eve of the war).

The funeral of the Unknown Soldier has never happened. It has not happened because he ... and now she ... keeps dying. When you visit the tomb, you are not walking up to a monument that marks something that happened a few years after WWI. You are walking up to the beginning of a service for someone who is under-fire or dying right now. Those Who Stand are guarding those souls who guard us -- right now. This very moment.

So for some of you others who find this Soldier's response too aggressive, and believe our freedom should include laughing at someone who is breathing their last breath right now -- someone who gave everything for you, even identity, and is only doing so because she felt that your freedoms were worth suffering through this moment -- it is obvious that it takes a gun and the demand of a soldier to show you that is not acceptable.

There are places which do not accept that kind of disrespect. Court rooms, the presence of the Pope perhaps, whether you are Catholic or not ... moments of silence. And like I gauged Phil before the lack of the sacred in your life truly is sad. I can't imagine going through a life which had nothing sacred in it, or in fact not understanding the experience of the sacred. This is not guilt I'm giving, it's awareness, but if all that is available to waken is guilt,... maybe you should consider the poverty you are in.

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