My daily peeve is my dwelling on some people who have done horrible things to me decades ago that changed the course of my life, and my letting them do it, and my dwelling on horrible things I've done to others decades ago.
My daily peeve is my dwelling on some people who have done horrible things to me decades ago that changed the course of my life, and my letting them do it, and my dwelling on horrible things I've done to others decades ago.
I think deep in our hearts we know that our comforts, our conveniences are at the expense of other people. Grace Lee Boggs
You can reject mine; I can reject yours. I know I don't see the world the way most people do. I don't let that bother me personally.Originally Posted by Alan
As in so many other discussions in public discourse, definitions -- and agreeing to those definitions -- rule the day.
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. - Booker T. Washington
Actually, you have made an incorrect assumption. I never said that firefighters do not honor other dead firefighters. I said merely that commemoration of the deaths of the 9/11 firefighters in New York City -- especially in a place untouched in any linear way by the tragedy -- seems to honor their loss more than that of other firefighters who died in smaller numbers or in less noteworthy locations.Not particularly. But you make the incorrect assumption that we do not honor those others.
Maybe "peeve" is not a good word for my reaction to the hoopla that surrounds 9/11. I don't see networks interrupting their broadcasting each year for a ceremony recounting those killed aboard Navy ships in Pearl Harbor. I don't see cars around here with little ribbon magnets on the back honoring the memory of Twin Cities firefighters and law officers who died in the line of duty. I don't see hats and Facebook memes and tweets and lobbying efforts urging that we never forget the brave men and women who died trying to rescue people in Montreal during the rail-car fire a couple of months ago. Or soldiers who fought in, say, World War II. I don't think any of those people should be forgotten. Their loss is no less than anyone else's. And their losses are our losses.
Yet people who don't think twice about Washington's fallen firefighters -- or even know about them -- will slap a magnet on their car. I just don't think that's right. And, in its own way, it's not very honorable.
Good day to you.
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. - Booker T. Washington
Steve, the group-think of "we must honor the fallen on such and such a day" turns me off, so in a way I'm one of you. I don't like sentimentality. But I'd bloody well better think about honoring those who risk their lives for the sheeple like me at some point in the year. If I want to do that on September 12, that's ok. So is April 10. Don't tell me when, but I need to set my internal compass to at least have a moment.
This debate reminds me of those who consider themselves better Christians due to a variety of reasons. Those reasons usually include NOT going to church and rejecting the trappings of religion but they consider themselves truly spiritual, knowing the one true way of Jesus. Etc.
In the end, it's all supercilious oneupmanship. No one has the market cornered on patriotism, Christianity, or whatever -ism or -ity. Let people celebrate patriotism as they choose. Let people worship as they choose. It's all good.
I wasn't born then. You most certainly was not born then. Haven't you talked to you mom about Pearl Harbor? That was a central event of her life. To me and to 3/4 of the people in this country (or is it 9/10?) we don't remember it.
9/11 commemoration events will die off, count on it. The next generations will have their own clarifying moments in time.
And another point: you are creating a false dichotomy. One can participate in 9/11 events AND ALSO honor fallen cops and firemen, it's not EITHER/OR. We do that here in my urban core neighborhood where we know and trust the cops, and support them every freaking day. I cannot tell you of all of the hours my neighborhood spends working on the police substation, gathering money to stock it for food and drink, organizing potluck police dinners, working with our neighborhood policeman in support and etc. If we don't contribute to the annual Guns Vs Hoses (cops vs firemen athletic event) or visibly support Backstoppers, people look at us cross eyed. I give cash toward the Xmas present of our neighborhood cop because if I didn't I'd feel really stupid.
I will also add that each and every time I drive by a particular commercial building where two firemen died, I think about them. Something about that fire, it's unexpected tragedy, and two very young families left without their fathers really makes me sad.
When we were last in Edinburough, Scotland, there was a fireman death being honored at St. Giles on the Royal Mile. My brother who is in emergency response work (Well, has been in the past) liked seeing how the Scots do this. There were lots of flower arrangements put up around the area.
my dad was drafted in the war and seldom mentioned that day. The war was considered overall worthwhile in his story (i have no problem with that at all, but I also have minimal problem with those who raise questions). Still my dad suspected the army exposed him (and his fellow basic trainees) to poisons in basic training - always blamed his on and off coughs and nasal problems as possibly due to that (didn't smoke or anything). My dad had very good friends that were of Japanese ancestry who as little children had been imprisoned with their parents in the internment camps, despite being 3rd generation Americans. I interviewed them. Rememberance? Perhaps .... but sentimental?Haven't you talked to you mom about Pearl Harbor? That was a central event of her life. To me and to 3/4 of the people in this country (or is it 9/10?) we don't remember it.
Trees don't grow on money
Pop up ads & pop up ad blockers that block so much they really can't be used,
Last edited by Liv; 9-15-13 at 5:42pm.
Actually, my mom was 7 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I was 8 when JFK was shot and I recall nothing of that event other than my mom watching the TV and crying. So I don't know how well my mom recognized Pearl Harbor as an event then. Certainly she remembers WWII rationing and (distant) family members going off to war.
But I think you're right -- in time, September 11 will revert to being the day between the 10th and the 12th. I think that's a good thing. I don't believe that's a day that should define America beyond so many other days in our history.
And I know it's possible to participate in 9/11 events and honor the fallen. Maybe it would be better if the events concentrated less on the myriad (civilian) losses (the squabbling over the WTC memorial was quite unbecoming IMHO) and more on the idea of remembering fallen firefighters and law officers (and even victims of terrorism) no matter the day or the circumstance -- much the way Memorial Day morphed from its origin as a commemoration of Civil War dead.
il, this may scare you, but I agree with both of your posts here 100%.
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. - Booker T. Washington
I just need to whine here for a moment before I get on with my day, it's those pesky, annoying, chronic albeit relatively minor aches and pains that keep me from feeling as good as I would like. My achy knees, the feeling of being terribly bloated and an allergic reaction to a bee sting from yesterday are bothering me today. Oh yeah, and bad allergies... That is all, thank you for indulging me. I am going to go have a cup of tea, make some art and forget about them as best I can.
Something new I've been noticing from service workers: the standard greetings like "good morning, how are you?" have now been stretched to include things like "do you have anything exciting planned for this weekend?"
I'm getting asked that in different places like the local deli to the bank teller to the chain drop-in haircut place.
Makes me feel put on the spot, like just saying "No" is disappointing to them because they'd rather me tell them something interesting. I know it's petty, but I'm doing errands, not trying to make conversation about my life to amuse someone.
There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote