Memorial Day (Page 2/4) cliffw MAY 29, 10:22 AM quote Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist: How would you suggest someone " properly celebrate" this holiday? Would like to do so and make sure it's not just "A day off from school"... know what I mean? Well, "this holiday" known as Memorial Day, is a gift to you given by brave American soldiers, to do as you wish. I choose to think, talk about, and honor those that died for our freedoms. Here is a good song to get you in the mood. It is traditional to show appreciation for our fallen by wearing a red poppy. Inspired by a witness, to a grave yard of allied troops blooming with poppies. Red Poppies. Canadian artillery unit brigade surgeon named Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae saw bright red poppies blooming on the war-torn fields where so many soldiers had lost their lives, and he was moved to write “In Flanders Fields.” A poem. quote John McCrae - 1872-1918 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Two women in different countries saw the poem and were inspired in different ways. American University of Georgia professor Moïna Michael wrote a poem in response to McCrae’s, titled “We Shall Keep Faith,” in 1918. She also started wearing a red poppy in honor of the troops and came up with the idea of making and selling red poppies to raise money for veterans. Meanwhile, in France, Anna Guérin organized large poppy drives, making and selling poppies to raise money for widows, orphans, and veterans, and to fund France’s post-war restoration efforts. She championed her idea for an “Inter-Allied Poppy Day” and started Poppy Days worldwide, during which fundraising poppies were sold in many Allied countries. Poppy factories were set up, often employing disabled servicemen to make the silk and paper blooms. quote We Shall Keep the Faith We Shall Keep the Faith Oh! You who sleep in Flanders’ fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew, We caught the torch you threw, And holding high we kept The faith with those who died. We cherish too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valour led. It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders’ fields. And now the torch and poppy red Wear in honour of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders’ fields. Me ? I am going to attend a few memorial community services, read the names on the community monuments, lay a wreath or two, also the red poppy, and then drink a beer for everyone of of those super heroes. "Thank You Men". sourmash MAY 29, 10:31 AM I knew I was right and my level of indoctrination is less than many. Wars of empire aren't the goal of Memorial Day. Honor for the soldier, the soldier's sacrifice and service in all wars. It's not the war itself. The results of some of those wars eliminated our freedoms in some way and oppressed others. Gaurding Poppy fields in Afghanistan is not our government's brightest example of usage of the soldier. quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Sometimes you say asinine things. This is one of those times. Your responses always tell me that my character holds me to a little higher standard than yours holds you to. I think the cartoon is sheep-shagger indoctrination just like so many political propaganda pieces. olejoedad MAY 29, 11:05 AM The men who died in the wars that you don't 'agree' with still answered the call of duty. The cartoonist chose to honor all those who served, and protrayed their sacrifices as pillars that hold our freedoms up. I don't see it as you do, but I am sure that there will be people that see the message in the cartoon with different eyes than ours. In any case, it's a good reminder that this weekend is about remembrance, gratitude and appreciation. And I stand by my previous post. Thanks for reinforcing it's point. sourmash MAY 29, 12:10 PM quote Originally posted by olejoedad:The men who died in the wars that you don't 'agree' with still answered the call of duty. You're reiterating what I posted twice, that it's about the soldier and not the war. The post you said is assinine. You're not very introspective. quote The cartoonist chose to honor all those who served, and protrayed their sacrifices as pillars that hold our freedoms up. He honored the wars, not the soldiers. He left the viewer to wonder if he's just a political hack because there are no soldiers drawn. Sheep-shagger neocons say we don't support troops if we don't support wars of empire. The cartoon should have a soldier of each war shown, not the war. quote I don't see it as you do, but I am sure that there will be people that see the message in the cartoon with different eyes than ours.[quote] Well, obviously. You could've said that instead of throwing bombs of zero intellectual value. [Quote]In any case, it's a good reminder that this weekend is about remembrance, gratitude and appreciation. I knew you'd see it my way, ultimately. Now find a better cartoon. quote And I stand by my previous post. Thanks for reinforcing it's point. My post said it's about the soldier. You said I make assinie posts. You make as much sense as cvxjet. blackrams MAY 29, 11:22 PM quote Originally posted by sourmash: You're not very introspective. Obviously, you don't know Joe nor, do you interpret his posts as was intended. Your welcome to interpret however you wish but, in this case, your opinion of Joe is way off. I don't plan to come back to this thread so, any response would go un-read by me so, don't bother. I'm one of those who sincerely appreciate those that have gone before me. Rams sourmash MAY 30, 06:18 AM You've said that in previous threads and then posted again. My evaluation of the text in each post is accurate, or you'd quote where it isn't.. He likes to hit and run. You like to pile-on. olejoedad MAY 30, 12:22 PM Remember the true heroes of our nation, those men so elequently described by General Patton. cliffw MAY 30, 04:34 PM quote Originally posted by sourmash: The cartoon seems a propaganda piece to me. How so ? What do you think it is propagandizing ? That you say Memorial Day is only about the soldier's sacrifice of life of our soldiers, our heros, the Worlds heros, for to me is misguided. The sacrifice for the causes of our Country are also worth remembering. To be honest, I saw a yahoo saying Memorial Day needs to be Canceled Cultured. That it honors American Imperialism. sourmash MAY 30, 04:59 PM Remember Decoration Day. Today each marker at our National Cemetaries receives an American Flag placed beside it. The volunteers who place them will have blistered hands to remind them of this day from now and forever. I witnessed one of our local cemeteries with thousands of flags placed today. Cliff, if you don't understand by now, then you aren't capable. Hudini MAY 30, 06:16 PM quote Originally posted by sourmash: Remember Decoration Day. Today each marker at our National Cemetaries receives an American Flag placed beside it. The volunteers who place them will have blistered hands to remind them of this day from now and forever. I witnessed one of our local cemeteries with thousands of flags placed today. Cliff, if you don't understand by now, then you aren't capable. They say when you are in a hole to stop digging. My suggestion? Stop digging.