Yesterday, as our nation paid solemn tribute to those who laid down their lives for our freedoms on Memorial Day, certain politicians couldn’t resist the urge to weave in their political agendas. It’s a sad state of affairs when representatives like Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Cori Bush (D-MO) don’t grasp what Memorial Day is, confusing it with Veteran’s Day and choosing instead to treat it as another opportunity to push their woke policies under the guise of honor.
Bush’s since-deleted post on her official government X account epitomizes this disconnect. She said, “This #MemorialDay & every day, we honor our veterans in St. Louis. We must invest in universal health care, affordable housing, comprehensive mental health services, and educational & economic opportunities for our veterans as we work to build a world free of war and violence.” Not only did she skew the day’s meaning, but she also bundled it with a laundry list of progressive causes, which hijacked the day meant to honor our fallen, not debate policy.
Similarly, Omar’s post was a parade of political correctness, missing the day’s solemnity. “On #MemorialDay, we honor the heroic men and women who served our country. We owe them more than our gratitude—they have more than earned access to quality mental health services, job opportunities, housing assistance, and the benefits they were promised.” Worthy issues, but her timing belied a serious misunderstanding of the day. Memorial Day isn’t about the living; it’s a profound remembrance of those who have died defending our nation.
The backlash was swift and deserved. Figures from across the political spectrum called out these representatives for their glaring errors and complete disrespect for the fallen. Popular conservative commentator AG pointedly asked, “So do any of the squad members actually know what Memorial Day is about?” Meanwhile, John Hasson from Town Hall noted that “Ilhan Omar misunderstanding Memorial Day is incredibly on brand.”
It’s embarrassing and frankly, shameful that those elected to represent us, those who should understand and respect our traditions, use Memorial Day to peddle a political agenda. This day should be devoid of politics, a pure expression of gratitude to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
As we reflect on the sacrifices made by our military, we don’t need political posturing; we need genuine reverence and remembrance. It’s a stark reminder that the woke are so entrenched in their ideological silos that they can’t put aside their agendas even when honoring our nation’s greatest heroes. This incident isn’t just a faux pas; it’s a stark illustration of how far some “leaders” have strayed from the values that define us as a nation.
