I'm as patriotic as the next person, but.....

[SoCalDem]

I have come to HATE the "special" holidays we have to commemorate .. It's all rather upsetting to see a bunch of chickenhawks , all puffed up, swaggering around, pretending to be "soldierific"..

Somehow I can't help but feel that most veterans would much prefer decent medical care, and their enlistment promises kept, in leiu of the fancy parades and poetry readings by senators..

The current soldiers would probably prefer to have properly armored vehicles, body armor, and WATER...than some schmaltzy singing and marching..

And the ultimate slap in the face is when that little deserter lays a wreath on the grave of someone who did NOT shirk their duty..

It seems that now, more than ever, an appropriate commemoration would have been for * to invite and provide transportation for all the parents/wives/children of the ones killed in HIS war, to attend the ceremonies.. But of course he would not do that, He would never want the public to actually SEE them.. That would make it real..

[theivoryqueen]

1. "soldierific".. great word!

I have to go watch a parade now, lots of soldiers wandering by... leaderless, bootless, hungry, and with no bandaids for cuts.
But they have all been issued flags.......

[HereSince1628]

2. Take heart there is no Reagan Day or Corporation Day

There could be a LOT more special days if we don't get back control of the house or senate.

[rucky]

5. If they made Corporation Day on a Satruday...

would everybody have to work?

[JHB]

9. Every day is Corporation Day

The tricky part is NOT gifting them more money...

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. He Lays a Wreath on the Grave of a Lond-Dead Soldier, but Doesn't Attend

the funerals of the ones killed in his wars. Nor does he visit a VA hospital and talk to the returning soldiers without limbs. Nor does he talk to the families of those killed or those still serving and ask them about having to collect welfare to live.

[Love Bug]

4. Sadly, Veteran's Day is pretty much a lip-service holiday

I agree with you that this country puts on a good show of support with little to back it up, especially nowadays. We get hung up on the symbolism of parades and flag waving but miss the opportunity to really support the veterans and their families.

[Avalux]

6. I know what you mean

I am angry today; I do not want to hear shrub's voice give a speech about our veterans. I choose no TV otherwise I may lose my mind. I choose to sit and remember my grandfathers and say my own little prayer that the mess in Iraq will somehow end soon.

I want shrub to go to a FUNERAL. I want to see some shred of emotion on his sneering face; some indication he gives a *&^#.

Yes, I am angry today.

[eileen_d]

7. You're right, it's a lot of lip service for the chickenhawks

I'm glad the day exists for REAL veterans, but I would imagine it's a particularly bitter Veterans Day this year for many of them.

My local paper had this as the top story yesterday, which is worth a read, about a veteran who survived the USS Cole bombing

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/11/10/build/local/30-respect.inc

About Bush and the $87 billion, this vet says: "He wants all this money, but he says he can't afford to take care of the people who took care of him." Pretty basic, but it doesn't seem like Republicans will ever get it.

[IrateCitizen]

8. We should work for the day when we won't have "veterans"...

I agree with you completely, I'd rather look at a holiday like Veteran's Day as a solemn occasion than a "soldierific" one, because we should all strive for a time in which there are no more "veterans".

[SoCalDem]

11. Memorial Day used to be Decoration Day

and everyone took flowers to the cemetary and cleaned the graves.. Now it's just a sorry excuse to go buy some stuff just like the stuff you already have, except that it's the "new and improved" stuff..

[rucky]

10. The Hypocrites Will Take Every Opportunity

to wear it on their sleeve. I can smell the insincerity and self-gratification a mile away. It really cheapens, well, pretty much everything we have to be thankful for.

[mmonk]

12. Real patriots

understand an honorable holiday has been hijacked. Real patriots keep in their minds Jefferson, Washington, Jay, Henry, etc., people, who if alive today, wouldn't put up with what is happening.

[Hamlette]

13. change your definition of patriotism

and it all works. "Patriotism is gratitude. Gratitude to one's fellow man for his cooperation in making living together possible." (Cicero)

The right doesn't have a clue what that means and they certainly aren't cooperating right now but remember a couple of things:

WWII probably was necessary. Many lost their lives and loved ones for us. I'm grateful and willing to think of and thank them by honoring them one day out of the year. Our country did an honorable thing. Wasn't perfect, but it was honorable.

When you think of how awful politics seem right now remember that throughout Clinton's darkest hours, the whole impeachment mess, his favorability ratings hovered at 70%. 70% of our fellow Americans got Clinton's message AND got the message that the right was wrong to go after him. I'm grateful for those 70%.

Many of the 70% are scared right now. Admitting that going to war in Iraq was a horrid thing to do is difficult for many. We would have to admit we were duped by an idiot President and a whole bunch of innocent people were killed in our name.

We'll come around. You'll be proud of us again. (Sorry to preach...extenuating circumstances make this Vetran's day more emotional for me.)

[bobthedrummer]

14. The road to peace is full of veterans, not neo-conservative traitors

and the BFEE. They are using all their power to gloss over the suffering endured by military families of Iraq-Afghanistan war on terrorism.

[The Next Guy]

15. No, I'm EVEN more patriotic!

:eyes:

The Next Guy

[newyawker99]

30. Hi The Next Guy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[felonious thunk]

16. Celebrate with the Veterans Day Sears White Sale

Come join Sears in commemorating the sacrifices made by veterans and soldiers lost in battle by racking up huge savings on all your household towel and bedding needs. Real patriotic Amercians like to help the economy by doing their part and shopping this Veterans Day.

*Obviously this isn't really from Sears. I just use them to illustrate the sad state of what our commemorative holidays have become. An excuse to have a sale.

[glarius]

17. It's sickening to see this putrid little man posturing and playing the

part of the proud American President....He's completely unmoved by the fact that he is responsible for sending young, idealistic Americans to their death and maiming...PLEASE VOTE HIM OUT IN YOUR NEXT ELECTION, AMERICA.....So we in the rest of the world can rejoin you in making the world a better place....:)

[SoCalDem]

18. oops..please delete

[SoCalDem]

19. oops..delete please

[SoCalDem]

20. delete please

[SoCalDem]

21. MSRNC chickie/newsgirl said adoringly..

" the emotion in his voice *swoon*.. " He was choked up"..

Of course he was, you nitwit.. I don;t see how he could wrap those tight little chickenlips around those words...
To paraphrase.. "when you signed up and uttered that oath to serve and protect...blah.blahblah... "honorable discharge"..blah blah.blah..

He HAS to know that he deserted, and yet HE gets to be the one delivering the speeches and strut around like a pompous little king..:puke:

[demigoddess]

24. I keep remembering what the real former governor of texas said

something along the line of 'Poor George Bush he was born on first base and thought he had hit a home run.' I guess some things run in the family. Let this be a lesson to not protect your children from failure.

[catzies]

25. "Born on third base but thinks he hit a triple"

Attributed to Ann Richards, Jim Hightower and Molly Ivins.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. Chimpy McFlightsuit, especially on this particular day is more

disgusting then usual. Phony b******!

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. It's "All show...No substance"

I know one Veteran who would rather have decent medical care, my dad. That fiasco happening in DC means nothing to him. He knows it's all for show. Our elderly are VERY intelligent people.

"Soldierific"...perfect word for the act we are witnessing by that damn chickenhawk.

[DeepModem Mom]

26. Britain does it magnificently....

Starting before November 11, paper poppies are sold to benefit veterans. By 11/11, virtually everyone in Britain is wearing a poppy pinned on his or her coat. Millions of dollars are raised. Ceremonies are solemn, with marching, music, clergymen in their robes -- no speeches by politicians. The royals lead the ceremonies, and, though the monarchy is very controversial, at least all of the male royals, save Prince Edward, I believe, attend in a military uniform they, in fact, earned through military service. There is a great parade on the Sunday before the eleventh, in which veterans march, including the oldest, some pushed in wheelchairs, or driving their own motorized personal vehicles. There are no store sales on the eleventh, or even a holiday, but at the eleventh hour, even the smallest offices pause for two minutes silence.

TV coverage on Sunday often featured a split screen between London and the desert in Iraq, where ceremonies were also taking place. That was when I finally let go of all the respect I once had for Tony Blair, as he stood waiting to lay his wreath.

[Gephard]

27. Your post offends me

I am a veteran and no thanks is necessary. It was my privilige and honor to serve America under both Democrats and Republicans.

It was the least I could do for my country.

Today is a day reserved to honor ALL veterans. ALL that put on the uniform and are serving, or were discharged, honorably, ALL, regardless of political affiliation.

[Bridget Burke]

28. Alas, he is now among the departed....

Let's plant a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Disrupter.....

[Wonk]

29. _

[DebJ]

31. Bush should honor them by signing the bill for increased veteran's

benefits that the White House has said it will not consider.