I am a patriotic pacifist.  Does that make me a human oxymoron? Is it oxymoronic to go to war for peace?

I hate everything about war, but I love this country and swell with pride whenever I hear a patriotic song.  When I was a post-WWII school girl, I was taught the words to every national and every service song.

At a concert yesterday, I sang “The Star Spangled Banner” at the top of my lungs.  When the service songs were played, veterans (There aren’t many left anymore.) and family members were asked to stand to honor their respective heroes, and again, I stood and sang the Caisson Song for Daddy with pride.

Requiem aeternam dona eis et lux perpetua luceat eis.