I believe that three very important holidays are being inadvertently watered down by well meaning people. The three holidays are: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran's Day.

They are distinct holidays with very different purposes:

-Memorial Day is for honoring those who gave their lives for our country.

-Independence Day is for celebrating the creation of our nation, freedom from tyranny and celebration of our liberties.

-Veteran's Day is for honoring the living veterans of war.


I don't like the idea of mixing these holidays because it dilutes their individual purposes. I applauded as the various veteran groups marched by in the parade this morning, but I am not going to turn the day into Memorial Day part 2 or an early Veteran's Day. Today I am celebrating our nation's independence. I am spending my day at the parade this morning, reading the Declaration of Independence and watching documentaries on our nations founding.

Happy birthday USA!


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quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: I believe that three very important holidays are being inadvertently watered down by well meaning people. The three holidays are: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran's Day. They are distinct holidays with very different purposes: ...................., freedom from tyranny and celebration of our liberties. .

Ya MIGHT wanna take a look around and re-think that idea...with the permission of the TSA, DHS,DEA,FBI, local PD and WITHOUT a camera, of course......

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 07-04-2011).]

There was a military conflict involved with the start of the U.S.A. as the fireworks represent. A General was elected to be the first President. It would be very difficult to leave the military out of the celebration.

quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: I believe that three very important holidays are being inadvertently watered down by well meaning people. The three holidays are: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran's Day. They are distinct holidays with very different purposes: -Memorial Day is for honoring those who gave their lives for our country. -Independence Day is for celebrating the creation of our nation, freedom from tyranny and celebration of our liberties. -Veteran's Day is for honoring the living veterans of war. I don't like the idea of mixing these holidays because it dilutes their individual purposes. I applauded as the various veteran groups marched by in the parade this morning, but I am not going to turn the day into Memorial Day part 2 or an early Veteran's Day. Today I am celebrating our nation's independence. I am spending my day at the parade this morning, reading the Declaration of Independence and watching documentaries on our nations founding. Happy birthday USA! .

As a Veteran I also believe in separation of the holidays. It's like combining mothers day, fathers day and groundhog day into one...

Yeah and since we are on the subject

Can we get Halloween changed back to All Saints Day?

Howabout moving Christmas to an anniversary date that ACTUALLY reflects when Christ was born? What does Santa Claus REALLY have to do with it? He could be wearing shorts while delivering presents at least if we moved it .

Can we ditch more modern made up "Hallmark" holidays like Boss' Day, Sweetest Day, etc? Lets celebrate the fact that we dont need a holiday for every possible relative and acquaintance and save money on "thoughtful" gifts or cards we are expected to fork out for.

Also..
Can we recognize that President Lincoln actually made Thanksgving a national Holiday in the 1860s as an effort to boost the morale of those getting very tired of war. The day itself has less to do with Pilgrims and Indians eating a meal together than is advertised. I mean, its all buckles on hats, Turkeys and horns of plenty in everyone's head and thats what they celebrate, but the first official Thanksgiving national holiday was during the Civil War. Union soldiers ate a nice meal only hundreds of yards away from starving Confederates, who recognized a ceasefire and let the Yankees have a peaceful holiday. A gesture that would not have been reciprocated had Jefferson Davis declared a Thanksgiving for the South as well. Sherman is proof of that.

Besides me, is there anyone who mentions that around the table on Thanksgiving or even sees that as part of the meaning of the holiday? Yeah, I probably annoy my family with it but its better than talking about American Idol around the table, but my teenage niece probably does not think so. I guess prescious moments Pilgrims and Indians with a great looking Turkey and spread looks better on holiday napkins than a dead Union soldier at Cold Harbor.

Nobody will listen to me on these, or any other. I'm against getting the meaning of holidays wrong myself, and I dont just reserve it for July 4th, Veterans Day and Memorial Day. I just dont expect anyone else to do the same, so I just make sure I do so for myself. I find the peace of mind refreshing when I am not worried about how others celebrate.

[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 07-04-2011).]

And what about Labor Day?

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: And what about Labor Day?

The union labor wanted another day off?

quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: I believe that three very important holidays are being inadvertently watered down by well meaning people. The three holidays are: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran's Day. They are distinct holidays with very different purposes: -Memorial Day is for honoring those who gave their lives for our country. -Independence Day is for celebrating the creation of our nation, freedom from tyranny and celebration of our liberties. -Veteran's Day is for honoring the living veterans of war. I don't like the idea of mixing these holidays because it dilutes their individual purposes. I applauded as the various veteran groups marched by in the parade this morning, but I am not going to turn the day into Memorial Day part 2 or an early Veteran's Day. Today I am celebrating our nation's independence. I am spending my day at the parade this morning, reading the Declaration of Independence and watching documentaries on our nations founding. Happy birthday USA! .

Very good point. I was feeling something was odd lately, but you put it into words quite perfectly.

quote Originally posted by tbone42: Yeah and since we are on the subject Can we get Halloween changed back to All Saints Day? Howabout moving Christmas to an anniversary date that ACTUALLY reflects when Christ was born? What does Santa Claus REALLY have to do with it? He could be wearing shorts while delivering presents at least if we moved it . Can we ditch more modern made up "Hallmark" holidays like Boss' Day, Sweetest Day, etc? Lets celebrate the fact that we dont need a holiday for every possible relative and acquaintance and save money on "thoughtful" gifts or cards we are expected to fork out for. Also.. Can we recognize that President Lincoln actually made Thanksgving a national Holiday in the 1860s as an effort to boost the morale of those getting very tired of war. The day itself has less to do with Pilgrims and Indians eating a meal together than is advertised. I mean, its all buckles on hats, Turkeys and horns of plenty in everyone's head and thats what they celebrate, but the first official Thanksgiving national holiday was during the Civil War. Union soldiers ate a nice meal only hundreds of yards away from starving Confederates, who recognized a ceasefire and let the Yankees have a peaceful holiday. A gesture that would not have been reciprocated had Jefferson Davis declared a Thanksgiving for the South as well. Sherman is proof of that. Besides me, is there anyone who mentions that around the table on Thanksgiving or even sees that as part of the meaning of the holiday? Yeah, I probably annoy my family with it but its better than talking about American Idol around the table, but my teenage niece probably does not think so. I guess prescious moments Pilgrims and Indians with a great looking Turkey and spread looks better on holiday napkins than a dead Union soldier at Cold Harbor. Nobody will listen to me on these, or any other. I'm against getting the meaning of holidays wrong myself, and I dont just reserve it for July 4th, Veterans Day and Memorial Day. I just dont expect anyone else to do the same, so I just make sure I do so for myself. I find the peace of mind refreshing when I am not worried about how others celebrate.

What about calling the re-named holidays what they are? Like Ostara.. Oops, forgot it was renamed by the Pope to Easter so it would be easier for the heathens to accept and convert to Christianity and Catholicism. How about Yule.. Damn, another rename(Christmas) for converts.

It is true and I agree for the three holidays mentioned in the opening post.

Otherwise, I mean most Holidays are watered down. Its what we get when we are a "melting pot". Its a suituation where each person celebrates their own way. Each family is what should be passing it down to their own family members, otherwise it dillutes and disappears. But as for society as a whole, whatever sells is what we see. Also it can reflect the change in what majorities of people believe, or show how little people know about why they do things on a holiday.

Just do your thing to keep it alive.

How about this in reference to what Rallaster said:
" Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox -- almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west. There is very little documented evidence to prove this, but one popular legend is that Eostre found a bird, wounded, on the ground late in winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But "the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs...the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre." For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season. Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons. Of course, it's also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well.
http://paganwiccan.about.co...p/Ostara_History.htm

Melting pot

How about we just get rid of nat'l holidays, and let people celebrate things as they see fit?

edit: oops - nevermind - remebered WHY we needed to enforce nat'l holidays.....because employers, worshipping at the alter of the almighty dollar would not allow workers' holidays.....and, to this day still.....oh - well, while here: how many people worked on the 4th? because holidays are not for the "workers"......?


edit: bah - nm - sleepy rant....

[This message has been edited by Pyrthian (edited 07-06-2011).]