Memorial Day
All of a sudden, while reading my daily comics on-line yesterday, I discover that it is Memorial Day weekend. Which, of course, has absolutely no significance in America. It's kind of a shame. On Yom HaZikkaron, the Israeli equivolent, everyone really gets into it, visiting soldiers' graves and really mourning. (The day after that is their Independence Day, which I think is the perfect system.) Of course, it helps that everyone in Israel knows tons of soldiers and most people know a soldier who was killed or a victim of terror, but still, you have to wonder if there isn't something America can do to make the day something more than just a sale, a three-day weekend and a license to wear white shoes. Although, I think that America's being at war in Iraq and on terror has started people thinking again about the meaning of the day. What's the general Memorial Day vibes over there in the States? Has it gotten more serious?
posted by Tobie at 5:25 AM
3 Comments:
I can wear white shoes today! Why wasn't I told of this ?
I think you're wrong that Iraq has changed the general attitude in the states. Overwhelmingly, people still do not behave as if this were a day of mourning. I think that given the size of the US many more casualties are necessary before it can have the same impact as in Israel. Moreover, conscription (or it's lack) probably plays a role too. Too what degree are Israeli's more focused on mourning dead soldiers because it impliedly celebrates surviving soldiers ? Here in the old country we have Veterans Day anyhow, but take that away and add universal military service, I bet Memorial Day would have more national mourning even without any more casualties.
1:38 PM
Isn't veteran's day supposed to be for the living soldiers only?
11:21 AM
Part of my argument was that in Israel Yom Hazikaron impliedly celebrates the surviving soldiers. Take away Veterans Day and perhaps Memorial Day would be serve a similar function.
3:06 PM
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