I don’t do a lot of significant day posts, because frankly, I usually forget the day is significant until it’s over. But today, as I read the news, I was struck with a correspondence I couldn’t ignore. Today is the sixth of June, the anniversary of D-Day, the launch of Operation Overlord whose purpose was to retake western Europe from the racist, fascistic dictators and their minions who had devastated the world.
Last night people all over the US assembled in remembrance of those we have lost, especially those black lives we have lost, to injustice and systematic racism. In DC along #BlackLivesMatterWay, houses of worship rang their bells for 8 minutes 46 seconds in memory of George Floyd. In the same way, chaplains of all faiths–not just Christian, I say this as someone who knew people who were there–prepared the soldiers, sailors and marines about to land on the beaches of Normandy.
Today unknown thousands will assemble across the country to march toward a better tomorrow. Significantly, the Department of Defense has unilaterally ordered home the active duty forces ordered to DC and disarmed the National Guard in the area. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has reminded all military personnel in writing that the military’s oath is to support and defend the Constitution and all Americans exercising their Constitutional rights.
Whatever happens today, it won’t be the end. D-Day wasn’t the end of World War II. Evil clutches its power with the desperation born of fear. Racists and tyrants are cowards at their core, terrified of being held accountable for their deeds. What’s worse, evil never stays defeated. There’s always a bully or would-be dictator awaiting their opportunity to strike. And tragically, the very forces we fought in Europe and elsewhere so many decades ago are still at work today. But I can’t help looking at the parallels between that June 6, 76 years ago today, and hoping.
Hoping with all my heart.
