1.2 Million Americans Die; 300 Million Americans Celebrate

[bondwooley]

Last edited Mon May 27, 2019, 03:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Via Crooks and Liars

Memorial Day is a solemn day to think about dead people, broken families, orphaned children, blood and ultimate scarifies. So, why do we put “Happy” in front of it? Why do we have family BBQs in the back yard, coolers full of beer in the park and carefree children celebrating a day off from school?

The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. is 246 feet long and lists 58,000 names of fallen American soldiers. Were it to include all American soldiers who died in service, it would be 5,888 feet long – that’s more than a mile. (Or, to put that into American measurements, it’s 16 football fields.)

Memorial Day started as a commemoration of Americans – Northern and Southern – who died in the Civil War. That’s a whopping 600,000 people. Which is about half of all the soldiers who died in service. The concept of 1.2 million people dying in trenches and stepping on mines or being gassed, napalmed, or tortured to death is a grizzly thing to ponder. So, again, what’s up with “Happy”? Imagine the looks you’d get if you went up to someone and wished them a “Happy 9/11”.

“Thoughtful,” “reflective” or “peaceful” seems much more appropriate. Wearing black like pallbearers is more logical than wearing swimsuits. Just walking the 246 feet length of the Vietnam War Memorial brings tears, anger, and stirs emotions that most of us would rather not face. walking the whole length, which can be too overwhelming, firing up a BBQ is not the first thing that comes to mind.

The names on that wall and walls not built yet died courageously, some timidly, some angrily and in some cases didn’t know that they did. They fought in good wars, bad wars, and probably some illegal wars. They fought willingly and they fought because of rigged systems that weeded out kids who couldn’t go to college or couldn’t grow an overnight bone spur.

Whatever way you look at it, though, notice that there’s no Nazi flag hanging in your office. That you don’t say “what’s that” when a person says “synagogue.” Take note that New York, Chicago and Los Angeles aren’t mythical lands from before the nukes fell. And consider that we don’t have to study about a time the military chain of command broke, and a coup took over the east coast (excluding Florida – the imaginary coup wouldn’t want that).

People around the world want to live in America because they see it as a symbol of hope that won’t die. And for hope to stay alive, a lot of people, sadly, had to die protecting it. Maybe Memorial Day isn’t about putting flowers at graves with a tear but setting them down with a smile and a subtle nod. Because those are the people who saw the mortar coming and hoped that -- if they couldn't -- their buddies would make it home to have family BBQs in the back yard, coolers full of beer in the park and carefree children celebrating a day off from school.

Right now, there’s a rumble in New York City from military jets circling to make sure those picnics aren’t disturbed. So, Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Pass me down a beer.

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[Bayard]

1. Shouldn't tRump be at Arlington today,

Instead of watching sumo wrestling in Japan? He has no respect or knowledge of the day.

Thanks for posting.

[bondwooley]

5. Your lede is right...

He is getting far away from Arlington. You know, his bone spur might act up if he's there.

Wondering how many presidents have skipped the ceremony since it began...

[lunatica]

8. He and Melania paid their respects in Arlington before the trip

I’m sure it helped them avoid the crowds.

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/may/23/trumps-pay-respects-fallen-arlington/

[doc03]

2. Well he will be here July 4th to see his

parade. He will have neo-nazies goose steping like in Nurenburg in the 30s.

[fayhunter]

9. It will be bigly...

A biglier turnout than his inauguration.

[abqtommy]

3. Fix your title by inserting "million" after your "1.2".

[bondwooley]

4. Oh, wow, thank you!

[Historic NY]

6. They should have kept Decoration Day......

the had to change it in 1971 for no actual reason and even the day from the 30th all to make a 3 day holiday.

Over time it has become blended into Happy Memorial Day sales, picnics etc. The original intent was to honor the dead and decorate the graves of our deceased warriors. I recall on the morning of Decoration Day we'd go to the cemetery or the local memorial for a ceremony, flags would be all over. In the afternoon when the flag was raised back to full staff, preparation for a parade of veterans, from all the wars would get together and march down main street. We would ride our bicycles the length of the march all deck out in bunting. Mostly our fathers WWII vets would get out an march, some with the fire dept, or other civic groups, the various vet. organizations.

Seriously to make a 3 day holiday.....it just dilutes the message of what the day is all about.

[bondwooley]

7. 👍

[Wounded Bear]

10. America commercializes everything...

regardless of original meaning, it's always about making more money.