Note: I want to let you know that I went slightly off my normal topic of decluttering and organizing in the following post. The website links are for info and ideas to help you celebrate Veterans Day. My opinion below is something I just had to write.
This Friday is Veterans Day. It’s also 11/11/11. I didn’t really know much about the significance of the date (11/11/11) but after looking it up on the internet I found some interesting facts. Here are a few links if you want to find out more.
http://www.timeanddate.com/date/11-11.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45195313/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.TrlajLLZeuI
Maybe because this Veterans Day is 11/11/11 it seems more special. It also might be because of the current withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Whether you are for or against the withdrawal is not what we should bring up on Veterans Day. We should honor all of our military, past and present, who have sacrificed some of their own freedoms to protect the rest of us.
It also doesn’t matter whether you are for or against the wars we have been in. What does matter is that we treat these returning soldiers with honor and respect.
I remember back in the mid 70’s when I was attending a local junior college that many of my classmates where veterans of the Vietnam war. Because the war had been so unpopular the veterans were taking the heat from their fellow citizens. It was hard to understand how people could treat these veterans in such a bad way. Although I never said anything bad I hate to admit that I felt uncomfortable around some of these classmates. I was guilty of being influenced by the media into feeling like these classmates were more like ex-cons instead of United States War Veterans.
Many of my classmates did not even want to talk about the war. I’m sure the horrors they experienced where bad enough but I also believe they kept the facts private out of fear of criticism from their fellow citizens.
It was a double whammy! There was no way of knowing whether they had enlisted or were drafted. It didn’t matter to the protesters. They blamed the veterans as much as they blamed the politicians.
Although we didn’t have a draft during the current wars many people enlisted at a time we were at peace. None of us had a clue we would be attacked on our own turf. And those who enlisted after 9/11 did so to protect their fellow citizens.
So let’s celebrate this year’s Veteran’s Day by honoring all veterans. Put the blame and the heat on the politicians who decide whether to go to war or not. Don’t blame the veterans. They are our neighbors, fellow workers, teachers, etc. who have experienced things we ordinary citizens have not.
Here are some sites for you to read more on Veterans Day. Share this information with your family and friends. As the saying goes, “United we stand, Divided we fall”. This is one day we can show our unity.
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/veterans/
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/veterans-day/teacher-resources/6674.html
http://www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/veterans.htm
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice