I had someone post this Sunday. I wasn't even thinking about the next weekend yet. They just wanted to be first and therefore win the 'appropriate someone's suffering to make yourself feel good Olympics'.
I TRULY don't know what they want me to do. Take 3 days and morn people I don't know (thankfully or shamefully my family has not lost anyone to war.)? take 1 day and morn? spend 20 minutes at a parade? publicly ask for a moment of silence? reflect to myself for a few seconds?
How much is enough for them? What is this supposed to accomplish? How do they know that there are millions of people out there who literally do not understand the holiday and/or give no thought to any dead service members? How are the masses supposed to PROVE they care, so we can stop with the memes?
I had someone post this Sunday. I wasn't even thinking about the next weekend yet. They just wanted to be first and therefore win the 'appropriate someone's suffering to make yourself feel good Olympics'.
I TRULY don't know what they want me to do. Take 3 days and morn people I don't know (thankfully or shamefully my family has not lost anyone to war.)? take 1 day and morn? spend 20 minutes at a parade? publicly ask for a moment of silence? reflect to myself for a few seconds?
How much is enough for them? What is this supposed to accomplish? How do they know that there are millions of people out there who literally do not understand the holiday and/or give no thought to any dead service members? How are the masses supposed to PROVE they care, so we can stop with the memes?
I've wanted to ask this to the person or two i know will post something to this effect. Maybe this is the year I'll get up the courage.
I've seen this one a few times, getting the vibe they're mixing up Veterans day with Memorial day.
Because I'm a snarky bitch, I'd respond saying "I won't, because it's not Veteran's Day." with a link to the wiki on Memorial Day.
There are still some surviving WWII veterans (1100 worldwide, about half from the US). And one from the Spanish Civil War if Wiki is correct...and if it counts. He's the oldest surviving US military veteran. Born 1915, joined 1938, served in the Abraham Lincoln (anti-aircraft) Brigade, currently resides in CA.)
I guess we're thanking the WWII vets that we're not Nazis.
Post by redheadbaker on May 23, 2015 8:54:54 GMT -5
A friend (who is already on shaky ground for badgering me about her new Pampered Chef "business") posted this:
This is how my Dad always felt:
So yeah. I’m frustrated by Memorial Day. And I’m angry about apathy.
I want to see people besides the small percentage of us who are veterans, know veterans, love veterans or lost veterans, understand what the day is about. It’s the one day on the American calendar meant to exemplify what it costs to be American and to be free… and we’ve turned it into a day off work, a tent sale and a keg of beer.
I commented that I wouldn't assume that people have forgotten what the day is about just because they don't post a meme about it on Facebook.
She replied: "I wouldn't assume that either. Nor would I assume that because someone has a barbecue they are unamerican and forgetful. But I would share this article to remind people that there is more than kicking off summer to Memorial Day weekend."
So, you don't assume that people have forgotten, but you want to remind them anyway ... ?
How am I supposed to feel about active duty friends hosting cookouts? Every single one has served in active combat zones and have known friends and coworkers who were killed. Sometimes celebrating life is the best thing to celebrate sacrifices of others.
If I said thankyou to a veteran this weekend and he came at me with this, I might kill him so that he would qualify. People thank military people all the time - so stop this day?
I don't know why this is bugging me, our holiday weekend celebrates queen victoria. We remember in November - survivors and non survivors.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have come at a great cost borne by many generations. Here are two powerful thoughts concerning Memorial Day.
"Memorial Day is meant to remind folks of the sacrifice borne by those who fell in battle in defense of the country, as well as their families. But once you lose someone in combat, Memorial Day bleeds across the rest of the calendar ..."
"I hope civilians find more solace in Memorial Day than I do. Many seem to forget why it exists in the first place, and spend the time looking for good sales or drinking beers on the back porch. It's a long weekend, not a period of personal reflection. At the same time, many incorrectly thank Vets or active duty folks for their service. While appreciated, it's misdirected. That's what Veterans Day is for. Instead, they should take some time and remember the spirit of the country and the dedication of those men and women who chose to pick up arms. They never came home to be thanked, and only their memory remains."
The poppy is a symbol of Armistice Day, which coincides with Veteran's Day. Again, I feel like people need a reminder that Veteran's Day =/= Memorial Day.
Post by StrawberryBlondie on May 23, 2015 14:24:22 GMT -5
Not memorial day related, but a cop wife that is a very good friend of the family posted something that explicitly said that some lives just don't matter.
Because I'm a snarky bitch, I'd respond saying "I won't, because it's not Veteran's Day." with a link to the wiki on Memorial Day.
There are still some surviving WWII veterans (1100 worldwide, about half from the US). And one from the Spanish Civil War if Wiki is correct...and if it counts. He's the oldest surviving US military veteran. Born 1915, joined 1938, served in the Abraham Lincoln (anti-aircraft) Brigade, currently resides in CA.)
I guess we're thanking the WWII vets that we're not Nazis.
1100?! Damn. My grandfather was also born in 1915 (WWII vet), but died in 1994.
Post by katietornado on May 24, 2015 22:00:28 GMT -5
GUYS! I got a really good one!
This guy is ex-military and snarky as fuck. And I love him. He's a weightlifter and always making these shitty faux inspirational memes with trite sayings on them, plus hazy pics of him and something majestic, like a tiger or an eagle. Anyway, here's what he did for Memorial Day...
Post by litebright on May 24, 2015 22:31:38 GMT -5
I am so tired of the memes.
I did share an NPR story about the people who work at Dover AFB bringing home the bodies of those people in military service who are killed overseas. You know, because it actually seemed relevant to Memorial Day. And it was a powerful story and made me tear up when I heard it this morning.
Admittedly, I also shared in part because the very fact that that story exists is a nod to freedom of the press and Obama lifting the media ban on coverage of what happens there.
The poppy is a symbol of Armistice Day, which coincides with Veteran's Day. Again, I feel like people need a reminder that Veteran's Day =/= Memorial Day.
I dislike and disagree with the preachy tone of these FB posts however I disagree about the poppy thing. I think it's fine to borrow the symbol of the poppy for American Memorial Day because the poppy is a memorial symbol. McCrae poem here.
War and death and bravery are terrible and wonderful things that are hard to talk about eloquently. It seems natural to fall back on the poetry and symbols that other people have used.
Is this the thread where I can tell you about the story my husband told about the history of Memorial Day including a charming little side story about making sure you honor the confederate dead too?
Is this the thread where I can tell you about the story my husband told about the history of Memorial Day including a charming little side story about making sure you honor the confederate dead too?
Is this the thread where I can tell you about the story my husband told about the history of Memorial Day including a charming little side story about making sure you honor the confederate dead too?
I'm tired of these people.
Yes please.
I have no idea why I said husband. That man does have some sense. I meant my pastor, who obviously doesn't have enough sense.
The poppy is a symbol of Armistice Day, which coincides with Veteran's Day. Again, I feel like people need a reminder that Veteran's Day =/= Memorial Day.
I dislike and disagree with the preachy tone of these FB posts however I disagree about the poppy thing. I think it's fine to borrow the symbol of the poppy for American Memorial Day because the poppy is a memorial symbol. McCrae poem here.
War and death and bravery are terrible and wonderful things that are hard to talk about eloquently. It seems natural to fall back on the poetry and symbols that other people have used.
Well that's just the thing. The preachy nature of that picture implies that everyone who isn't using the poppy as the symbol for honoring those who died in wartime/service is remiss. They're trying to make a thing out of something that just isn't a thing. Guaranteed someone stole that from someone else's Armistice Day post. Slactivism at it's finest.
As for the poem, it specifically speaks to losses suffered in The Great War (WWI). I wouldn't care if people used it as their remembrance symbol, but there's no need to chide anyone because it just isn't a thing here. Besides, flags and eagles will always be more popular trump poppies in the States.
Post by cattledogkisses on May 25, 2015 7:57:02 GMT -5
I dislike these memes.
We have lost friends in Iraq and Afghanistan. We take a few moments to remember them on Memorial Day, but we do fun things too. Yesterday we stopped by the gravesite of a friend and made sure it was all cleaned up. Today we're boating and barbequing with more friends. See how that works, meme people?
I like to think that having fun on Memorial Day is a form of tribute too, because I'm pretty sure that the people we knew would want us to enjoy life today, not sit around with long faces.