Pet Peeve of mine about Memorial Day

[TransitJohn]

People saying "thank a veteran" or similar sentiments. To me, this is letting the living steal the dead's sacrifice and glory. This day is for the dead alone. I'm kind of anti-military and not into the American military fetish, so maybe this conflation irks me for some reason. Anyway, if you have family dead in war, I wish you my heartfelt condolences.

[rustydog]

1. It is one way for the Mitt Romneys and Ted Nugents to "honor" those who

had the integrity and guts to serve their country.

[pipi_k]

2. I can understand your annoyance...

Memorial Day should be limited to honoring our war dead.

There's plenty of opportunity to thank a veteran on Veteran's Day.


Maybe they just mean for people to mentally thank all veterans who died in war?

[Laelth]

3. I admire anyone who is willing to serve this country.

I took an oath to "uphold the Constitution of the United States," and I have served the people of the states of Ohio and Texas as a public servant (an educator), but I never put my life on the line.

I have tremendous respect for those who are willing to do so.



-Laelth

[pintobean]

4. I thank combat vets.

Many of them lost friends who were closer than family. I'll be visiting my friend today to thank him for his service and offer my condolences for his losses. I know of his losses in WW2.

Other than that, you're right. I served during peace time and never lost a friend or family member to combat. Today has nothing to do with me, or any vet like me.

[TBF]

5. As a socialist I have trouble with all these wars

being fought for resources. But I still honor all Veterans on both Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Many of the boys who serve are just that - young boys from small towns who have no idea why they've been lured into being cannon fodder. They go in with the best of (naive) intentions even if they don't understand the mechanics going on behind the scenes.

For those of us who grew up with disabled combat Vets in our homes I can tell you we are forced to deal with the "collateral damage" of war every single day. To have someone say "oh - that Veteran didn't die so forget about him/her" is repulsive to me. I noticed on Facebook today that liberal organizations were posting thanks to "folks who died". Italicized.

And now I am wondering - why are these organizations doing this? And I will be expecting more cuts to Veterans services. After all, they are only injured, they didn't die, right?

[TransitJohn]

6. "oh - that Veteran didn't die so forget about him/her"

Are you saying I said that, or anything remotely close to that? Because I didn't.

[TBF]

9. I am saying that I think there is a reason

that I am seeing a big split this year. Maybe it has happened in previous years as well and I just noticed it now.

I have Battleground Texas, Wendy Davis, various individual liberals that I am friends with saying "we remember those who died" and they are italicizing those words "who died" in order to make some sort of point.

And then I see other non-political groups saying "we honor those who serve (or served) and those who died".

What is going on? Why the emphasis on only the veterans who died?

It looks like a coordinated effort and I am puzzled by it.

[catbyte]

10. Because Memorial Day is for honoring veterans who died. Veteran's Day is

for honoring living veterans. There's nothing improper about what "liberal" groups are saying.

[TBF]

12. But why all of a sudden this split?

I didn't notice it in previous years and I think I would have because I always post pictures of the Vets in my family.

[catbyte]

18. I think the Republicans are doing it. Just like they are attempting to twist Labor Day.

Bagger politicians across the country were honoring "entrepreneuers" & "business owners", disregarding actual workers & denigrating labor unions. It's a despicable trend. They heap bogus praise on veterans all the while cutting them off at the knees.

[TBF]

22. OK, so republicans are conflating the two

and democrats have decided this year to fight back?

[catbyte]

23. Why not? Why are you oh so concerned?

[TBF]

24. Nobody can answer my simple question -

and now you threaten with a "concern" charge?

Wow, I must've really hit a nerve.

Now I know someone is behind this and I am going to keep digging. I will be very curious to see who proposes the next big cut to veteran's benefits. And I have a feeling that it's not going to be just republicans this time.

[catbyte]

25. Maybe that's because nobody here knows. E-mail the people making the distinction

& ask them. And BTW, you didn't hit any nerve, at least with me. You just seem to be asking the wrong people. We aren't all part of some Borg-like Vast Left Wing Conspiracy.

[TBF]

27. lol @ Borg-like Vast Left Wing Conspiracy -

in my facebook feed it is my liberal friends doing it (not the leftists - ie socialists and communists).

I doubt I'll get a response if I email Battleground Texas but I guess I could try.

I did find an opinion piece on a publication called The Inquisitr (which I'm unfamiliar with so I'm not sure who publishes it) which also complains about the Facebook memes so at least I'm not the only one who noticed.

[TransitJohn]

11. Because today is Memorial Day.

I don't understand?

[TBF]

13. I've pretty much spelled out my question -

I don't get what is confusing.

Here's one example I saw of the italicized thing -



Here is a more inclusive posting from the Red Cross:

"Today, we salute every member of our military family. Thank you for serving, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you to all the military families who stand behind you."

[TransitJohn]

14. You don't understand the premise of my OP, and that's what we are talking about here

The Red Cross' posting is the conflation of today, which is meant to honor war dead who gave the ultimate sacrifice, with honoring of veterans who are still living, which is the subject of my OP. Can you see that? Today is for the dead. Veterans Day is for the living. The italics emphasize the sacrifice that the dead have made. This conflation with the living is part of the meaningless, disgusting "thank our troops" American military fetish which I abhor.

[TBF]

15. No I understand your position -

what I don't understand is why it is all of a sudden an issue for everyone this year.

So I am thinking about where this is coming from as it is obviously a coordinated effort.

I think it devalues the military to pick & choose who we will honor. When you devalue them it's easier to cut their funding. I'm actually surprised to see this coming from liberal groups - I would think it would be coming from conservative groups because it is normally republicans who want to cut funding for Veteran's health care etc.

Or perhaps it is just another tactic to pit people against each other.

I dunno. Will have to watch some more & think about it some more. It is definitely the first year I've noticed it.

[TransitJohn]

16. The military could use some devaluing

Aside from that, It's not new or sudden with me, I've felt this way for years. I think most people are stupid and don't understand the difference, but I'm an elitist prick like that.

[TBF]

17. I really don't disagree with your overall

sentiment so please don't take it that way. As I said at the get-go of this conversation that these wars are not about "freedom" - these wars are about money. They usually are.

Personally I would not be building big new bases in the middle east - I'd be closing them, bringing vets home to work on infra-structure, and taking care of all the Vets we already have.

I'm just trying to figure out why the change in emphasis this year. Whenever I see things like that I am convinced something is going on behind the scenes. It's definitely a slightly different issue than your stated OP but related and that is why I responded. It has just been on my mind this weekend.

[treestar]

20. Maybe they are getting conflated

But you could always italicize Veteran on Veteran's day. Maybe people are noticing the conflation and want to separate them again?

[TBF]

21. Well this is almost an answer -

"Maybe people are noticing the conflation and want to separate them again?"

But why the sudden "notice" this year? Looks like an ad campaign to me. Where is it coming from & why?

[uppityperson]

7. There is a difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.

[brewens]

8. I can identify with you "anti-military" feelings. I do respect those that serve well for the right

reasons though. Anyone that's been around awhile and has known many veterans also knows that isn't always the case. I've spent considerable time hanging out drinking with veterans that brag about how worthless they were and what a joke the whole thing was. These mostly being Vietnam era to late 80's vets. That's mostly guys a little older and a little younger than me, none of them are combat vets. The combat vets I've been around don't tell stories about making a little extra on the side smuggling hookers onto bases in water tankers and shit like that.

My real anti-military feelings aren't because of the screw-offs though. It's the crooks I hate. It's what kills me the most about these anti-guvmint bagger types. The largest most corrupt cesspool of this big guvmint they hate so much is the freakin' military! How could it not be?

[treestar]

19. Veteran's Day vs. Memorial Day

Yes, today is for the dead. My condolences to any family who lost someone in a war. I do have a family member of a family member killed in Iraq and am feeling for that family today.

[liberal N proud]

26. How dare you, stealing the flag waving patriotism from the true patriots.

off!



I agree, Memorial Day is to remember those who did not return and those who returned but have passed. Veteran's Day is the day to thank a veteran, that is the day for the living.


Today - go to the memorials and visit the graves of those who have served and are gone. This is their day.

[arcane1]

28. The Memorial/Veteran's Day conflation, and the omission of the Civil War

Both of those bug me.