I deeply respect and thank those who have placed their own lives on the line for something bigger than themselves. For all my disgust with the political agenda of the past few years (and delight and tentative hope following the recent elections), I still believe in the ideals that America is supposed to represent, and I am grateful for those who guard those ideals and our freedom to pursue them.

I wish governmental policies showed the same appreciation.


After The Parade

I shot two men in a military car
On a road in a country I can't pronounce
I saw their eyes when I pulled the trigger
Then checked the back seat for the body count
I know I'm lucky, I could have been
The one beneath the clover
But who do you think will push my chair
After the parade is over

A three star general at my back
And another one up at the microphone
They call me a hero
And sing "say can you see"
To the pole where the flag is flown
Everyone stands when my name is called
I alone must sit in the god damn sun, and
Who do you think will push my chair
After the parade is done

Maybe I'll go to college
GI bill
GI bill
Maybe I'll go into politics
Yes I will
Yes I will

I'm glad for the disability benefits
I'm glad for the medals and the ribbons and the songs
I hope the blisters on my fingers
Turn into calluses before too long
I'm glad my mother could be here today
I'm glad somebody drove her
And maybe she will push my chair
After the parade is over
Maybe she will push my chair
After the parade is over

Dan Bern, After The Parade