Of War Heroes

Of war heroes so much is written and said
But for every living war hero there are a thousand war dead
And dead heroes and dead villians they all are the same
They will not hear you speak when you mention them by name.

The living coward is of more value than the one who died brave
At least he's alive he is not in the grave
For humanity there is nothing that the dead can do
Though a living coward he may be one to help you.

Dead war heroes are honored in story and song
Perhaps we have got our priorities wrong
'Tis said they died for freedom and we believed the lie
For freedom as such how can anyone die?

For the right to live is a basic human right
And freedom is not to die for but for to fight
On the flag-posts the patriot flags in the wind flying
And for to cling to power the politicians keep lying.

The war dead are honored on war memorial day
And the politicians to honour them patriotic things say
But the dead as we know from their graves we will not raise
With kind words about them or songs in their praise.

It may be said of them that in life they were brave
But the dead war heroes are quiet in their grave
And the narcissistic politicians their praises do sing
They know how to win votes and to power they must cling.