what matters

This weekend is long weekend in so many places. Monday's off for a lot of people, even though Veteran's Day is today. They could have just left it on Sunday, but I guess it's nice that they are still taking Monday off for us.

Before I begin a small rant, I just want to leave this photo here (from reddit):

I'm not gonna lie, but this image is one of the most heartbreaking images I've ever seen in my life.

This is Jason K. Edens, 22, from Tennessee. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team in Texas. On April 15th, his unit was attacked by a small arms fire in Laghman, Afghanistan. He did not survive his injuries.

He knew he was putting himself in harm's way. His wife Ashley knew he was putting himself in harm's way. They knew that the ever-dreading day might come, and I undoubtedly believe that they pray everyday the day never comes. And yet, this picture brings out almost all the unworthiness of war and simply the sound of heart breaking of Ashley. They're both only 22, and yet they had to suffer this possibility. I cringe just at the thought of that.

Maybe Jason's encounter with arms wasn't a major one in the scheme of history; maybe he was simply one of the tons of people who lost their lives. But this is the atrocity of war, the living proof that so many people do not value human lives. Is it a reality check? I guess so. I simply have no words for the fact that war still exists. A professor once said, "answer to everything in history is power." Power is such a costly thing to have, I don't think it's worth the amount of tears and sounds of cries that this lone word of "power" has resulted. It just isn't.

And on a greater scheme, war was what created "freedom" we have today, whatever that may mean. Maybe ways other than war would not be possible because people can still resort to war for immediate results. As long as war remains an option to resolve tension or to obtain something, it can and will be used. It's just so sad.

My heart and prayers go out to all the families, defenders, and soldiers across the globe. The words "thank you" cannot express what you do, what you have to endure, but for us who are not in your position, almost anything we do fall short to your achievements.

Thank you. Remember the ones who lost their lives yet won with their souls. Before humanity knows the atrocity of war, before we can only fight war with war, my prayers will go out to you all.