Getting Back to Basics
I was going to get into some other stuff today but after reading King's op-ed this morning I think he's finally on to something:
Don't the Fallen Deserve at Least a Moment?
By Colbert I. King
The Washington Post
Saturday, May 27, 2006; Page A25
"Memorial Day Sale! Warehouse Is Stocked and Ready for Your Home"; "Memorial Day SALE plus EXTRA 15% OFF when you use your store card or pass"; "Memorial Day 1/2 Price Sale on Mattresses!"; "Memorial Day PIANO SALE"; "UNBELIEVABLE! STOREWIDE SAVINGS JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!"
-- Thursday newspaper ads
This cannot be what Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, had in mind when he officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868. His thought, as best I can tell, was to set aside a day to honor the war dead. The true meaning of Memorial Day, however, has been overcome by door-buster sales, backyard cookouts and the opportunity to get a little extra sleep.
The fallen don't seem to mean much anymore except, perhaps, to veterans of previous wars and their families, and to the nearly 5,000 mothers and fathers of men and women in uniform who have given their all in Iraq. To those parents, please add surviving brothers and sisters, wives, husbands, children, grandchildren, cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces, neighbors and friends. If these folks happen to gather on Memorial Day, most likely it won't be to organize a shop-a-rama or barbecue. For them, Monday will be the time to remember loved ones who lost their lives serving their country.
The shame is that much of the nation won't be sharing this day of observance with those families. The shameless will be too busy with other pressing matters, such as:
· Taylor Hicks, the "American Idol" -- should he have really won out over Katharine McPhee?
· Rep. William Jefferson from New Orleans! Was he on the take?
· Don't forget Angelina, Brad and the expected baby in Namibia.
Then there's Comcast and the Nats; Libby and the Veep; Pelosi, Hastert and the FBI; illegal immigrants, the border and the debate; and the John Allen Muhammad farce in Rockville. Anything and everything but time to honor to those who have paid the ultimate price.
It shouldn't be this way.
Full Piece
Don't the Fallen Deserve at Least a Moment?
By Colbert I. King
The Washington Post
Saturday, May 27, 2006; Page A25
"Memorial Day Sale! Warehouse Is Stocked and Ready for Your Home"; "Memorial Day SALE plus EXTRA 15% OFF when you use your store card or pass"; "Memorial Day 1/2 Price Sale on Mattresses!"; "Memorial Day PIANO SALE"; "UNBELIEVABLE! STOREWIDE SAVINGS JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!"
-- Thursday newspaper ads
This cannot be what Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, had in mind when he officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868. His thought, as best I can tell, was to set aside a day to honor the war dead. The true meaning of Memorial Day, however, has been overcome by door-buster sales, backyard cookouts and the opportunity to get a little extra sleep.
The fallen don't seem to mean much anymore except, perhaps, to veterans of previous wars and their families, and to the nearly 5,000 mothers and fathers of men and women in uniform who have given their all in Iraq. To those parents, please add surviving brothers and sisters, wives, husbands, children, grandchildren, cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces, neighbors and friends. If these folks happen to gather on Memorial Day, most likely it won't be to organize a shop-a-rama or barbecue. For them, Monday will be the time to remember loved ones who lost their lives serving their country.
The shame is that much of the nation won't be sharing this day of observance with those families. The shameless will be too busy with other pressing matters, such as:
· Taylor Hicks, the "American Idol" -- should he have really won out over Katharine McPhee?
· Rep. William Jefferson from New Orleans! Was he on the take?
· Don't forget Angelina, Brad and the expected baby in Namibia.
Then there's Comcast and the Nats; Libby and the Veep; Pelosi, Hastert and the FBI; illegal immigrants, the border and the debate; and the John Allen Muhammad farce in Rockville. Anything and everything but time to honor to those who have paid the ultimate price.
It shouldn't be this way.
Full Piece
posted by Will at 7:45 AM
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