Happy Memorial Day!

[milojthatch]

I know not everyone is American here, but for those who are, Happy Memorial Day!

[TheValentineBros]

I'm American, so happy Memorial Day to everyone, even if some of the users on DVDizzy aren't American.

[dvdjunkie]

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of our brothers and sisters who have given the ultimate sacrifice in a time of War or some other conflict. There is nothing 'HAPPY' about it.

We should all make sure we thank a vet or a current member of our services for the job they have done or are doing.

This should be a very solemn day of remembrance.

[milojthatch]

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of our brothers and sisters who have given the ultimate sacrifice in a time of War or some other conflict. There is nothing 'HAPPY' about it.

We should all make sure we thank a vet or a current member of our services for the job they have done or are doing.

This should be a very solemn day of remembrance.

Sure there is something "happy" about it. I'm happy that I enjoy the freedoms that come with being American. I'm happy that others showed courage and selflessness in times of tragedy and hardship. I'm happy that I have the ability to thank the men and women who have served in that manner. See, three things right there to be happy about.

I agree, today is solemn, but I think happiness can be found even in days such as today. My grandfather was a Navel Seal and fought in World War II, so I'm very proud of him for doing what I'm not so sure I could have done. I come from LA and Santa Monica, where the homeless line the streets. Fact is, many of those are Vets, I've talked to many of them and heard some fascinating stories about Vietnam and Iraq, and what it was like fighting over there. I'm proud of what they gave up and still give up as a result of fighting for this nation, and show great empathy and compassion for them. To relieve their hunger for a moment and make them smile makes me happy, yet another use of the word in regards to this day. As I was saying, Happy Memorial Day!

[Goliath]

[dvdjunkie]

Not saying you can't or shouldn't say "Happy" in the greeting for this day, but most of the youth of today don't understand what day it is we are celebrating. Most of us are out on camping trips, or at the beach, or doing something that has nothing to do with what the day is designated for.

I have gone out of my way to say "thanks" to any vet I see, and "Thank You for your service" to any member of the Armed Services that I see today, while I am out doing family things.

Just a reminder of what day this is.

Note to Goliath:

Your 'Anti-war' views should not be posted here.

Thank You

[Scarred4life]

Goliath, that's a excellent picture, and something that I strongly agree with.

Your 'Anti-war' views should not be posted here.

Are you kidding me?

[Goliath]

[carolinakid]

On Sunday we applauded all the members of the armed services and their families who were in church today and we sang Irving Berlin's God Bless America as the closing hymn.. We recited the Military Prayer after Holy Communion.

Yesterday we had a parade honoring all armed services personnel down Main St.

[Wonderlicious]

Note to Goliath:

Your 'Anti-war' views should not be posted here.

Thank You

I don't think Goliath is trying to condemn veterans or current soldiers. The idea of a memorial day to me, is to reflect on the sacrifices those people made, and with that, one has to question whether the selflessness can be morally justified. How can there even be humans, supposedly the world's most intelligent species, be so monstrous and selfish to even start conflicts, trampling innocent civilians as though they don't even exist, requiring the use of other men and woman as chess pieces, and just generally denying people normal lives?

Now, there is a lot of respect and mourning that should be given for soldiers past and present, both those who lived and died on the front lines. However, the reason for their death or severe injuries (either physical or mental) is by all means terrible, especially when one considers that most of them are young men whose lives (or normal lives, as far as the dreadfully injured are concerned) were cut short far too early.

We can easily go pointing the blame at a select few (terrorists, ignorant politicians, crazed dictators), but the fact remains that war is awful, and that people everywhere should be hell bent on not letting them happen. Even the wars considered just and with a happy ending aren't completely that; World War 2 may not have ever happened had the Allies not oppressed Germany so much that the Nazis could rise up so easily, and the "happy ending" doesn't account for the nuclear bomb, wide-spread austerity that would last for several more years, or the discovery of Nazi concentration camps. The fact that we have memorial days (the one in May for the Americans, or the 11th November and 8th May in numerous European countries) should, in my opinion, be a testimony to there being pacifists out there, who never want to see another war raged again.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2xB4dbdNSXY" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[Goliath]

I don't think Goliath is trying to condemn veterans or current soldiers.

Exactly. I thought the picture was very fitting for the reflective nature of Memorial Day. I wish I could say it suprised me that somebody could see such a message of peace asbeing offensive, but it really doesn't. I've seen many people on the internet who thought that pleas to end wars or save soldiers' lives was politically motivated bleeding-heart liberal propaganda. Nothing on the internet surprises me anymore.

I do agree with your post, with one addition. I really do believe in the message of 'The Universal Soldier' (by Buffy St-Marie/Donovan), and I suspect that's not a very popular one. It points out that the soldiers themselves make war possible. I'm not a pacifist persé, but more often than not, I think the wars we fight exist for far less noble reasons than our politicians would have us believe.

[Scarred4life]

I really do believe in the message of 'The Universal Soldier' (by Buffy St-Marie/Donovan), and I suspect that's not a very popular one. It points out that the soldiers themselves make war possible. I'm not a pacifist persé, but more often than not, I think the wars we fight exist for far less noble reasons than our politicians would have us believe.

I just checked out The Universal Soldier, and wow. I can see why it would be unpopular, that's clearly not a 'politically correct' view, but I wholeheartedly agree with that message. I'm not quite a pacifist either, but I do (usually) oppose war. I've often been chastised for my views on this subject. Once, when I was very young, I pointed out that we were supporting soldiers who had killed people- my parent's were none too pleased. But what people don't seem to understand is that even though I think that 'soldiers make war possible' it doesn't mean that I don't have respect for them. I do. But like you said, the reasoning behind war and deciding to fight might be... flawed.

[Super Aurora]

Is The Universal Solider the one with Dolph Lundgren in it?

[Goliath]

I just checked out The Universal Soldier, and wow. I can see why it would be unpopular, that's clearly not a 'politically correct' view, but I wholeheartedly agree with that message. [...]

You did? That's so cool! I like the original by Buffy St-Marie the most; it's more passionate. Donovan sounds like he's indifferent to the message of the song. Anyway, the song also points to us when it comes to taking up responsibility. "But his orders come from far away no more/ They comes from him and you and me/ And brothers, can't you see/ This is not the way we put an end to war". So let's not overlook ourselves and demand better political representation. (Although I'm almost ready to give up on politics altogether.)