To All Present & Past Military Member's

Over here in the states it is "Veterans Day" and I want to "salute all" that have gave and served for their respected country.

Let us not forget the sacrifices that many have made over the years for our countries and freedoms we now enjoy.  

My sincere respect!

Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries , le Jour du Souvenir in French-speaking ones VolksvertrauenTag ( the Day of National (or People's) Mourning)in German. 15 millions lives wasted in a futile and fratricide war not to mention the ensuing 100 million who would die as the result of WWI as a result of the Spanish flu epidemic , the economic crisis and the rise of murderous Bolshevik -Stalinist-Leninist communism, Fascism and National Socialism and WW2.

I guess for us Europeans or European-born, it's also the date that marked the end of nearly 5 centuries of European cultural and economic supremacy which started with the Renaissance  and culminated with the Industrial revolution and 70% of the globe under the domination of European colonial powers. A century later you can see the end of 70 years of American supremacy and the slow but probably unstoppable rise of Asia.

Taking a look at Spain in middle 16th century and Great Britain in early 20th century, I believe when we noticed that something earth-shattering had occurred, we were usually 50 years late, and those in the center of the event were usually the last to find out. Written in 1900 by a Scottish geopolitician, "The American Invader" cautioned that US imports were eroding Britain's industry and economy. But he still believed that the Americans just didn't had what it takes to overtake the British Empire. Economic historians now agree that by 1900, the US was already the strongest economy in the world and is well on it way to become the world's sole power. Like MacBeth, Germany in the 1900s thought it saw destiny and went ahead to assert it, only to pave the way for the next world power. The only thing we can be absolutely sure in this world is that nothing will ever stay the same. I believe that is what makes being alive interesting and I welcome changes. I only hope we are wise enough to cope with changes without *too much* carnage.

I would argue that in 1918 the US was the primary economic power in the World but not yet a superpower. Militarily the US was still well behind most European powers. By 1945 it was both. It will remain a military superpower but economically an ageing population and heavy national debt are dragging the US economy to a standstill .