Greetings, Gentle Reader,
When the First World War ended, it became important to the American people to commemorate the signing of the peace treaties. As a result, November 11 was set aside and celebrated as Armistice Day. Several decades ago, it was changed to Armed Forces Day, and the armistice which ended that awful conflict was forgotten.
The American people wanted to remember those brave men who had fallen in that hideous slaughter, their fathers, sons, brothers and husbands, and so, a day was set aside to decorate their graves. It was appropriately called Decoration Day. Several decades ago, it was changed to Memorial Day. Our men who had fallen in the First World War had made the first step toward becoming forgotten heroes.
The truly great and noble man who was our first President was born on February 22, 1732. I suppose our people must have celebrated his birthday for close to 200 years. School children were taught of his wisdom, courage, honesty, sacrifice and his basic human goodness. And yes, most of all, they were taught of his noble service to his country. A few years ago, we changed all of that. Celebrating his greatness was too much of a bother. Now we sell cars and furniture on that day, and our children aren't sure why we have a national holiday set aside to do that.
Abraham Lincoln, a man of humility and wisdom, of courage and overwhelming kindness, of sorrow and gentle fun and a man of brilliance and devotion to his country, captained our ship of state through the most turbulent period in our history. He was born on February 12, 1809 Each year on that date, American school children were taught of this great man's humble beginnings, his noble service to his country and of the murder that took him from his beloved people. The celebration of his birthday has ceased to be a time of teaching our younger generation of this great American servant and hero. It has been lumped together with that of George Washington and is now called President's Day. These men of virtue and courage are no longer in style.
Since the end of the Second World War, we have remembered Victory In Europe and Victory Over Japan days. We called them VE Day and VJ Day. That was close enough. The men knew what it meant; they were there. Now that is being changed. Those names are no longer considered appropriate. We have become Globalists, and patriotism of any type is not desirable. It is not even appropriate.
Now, my friends and neighbors, I have no interest in becoming more like Ho Chi Minh. I knew his history before it was whitewashed for modern consumption. I prefer to struggle to be more like Abraham Lincoln. I have no desire to emulate Mao Tse Tung. I was already alive and kicking when he bathed China in the blood of his own countrymen. George Washington will do fine for me, thank you. I have little admiration for the Aztec God, Quetzalcoatl. Human sacrifice has never been my cup of tea. I'll just settle for manger scenes and a constant reminder that I must learn to love ALL of my fellowmen and women, even those who are trying to steal the history of the country I love.
Americans have always celebrated their great historic moments and those men and women who participated in them. They have always celebrated virtue and courage. Those historic moments are no longer in vogue. Sad to say, neither are virtue and courage.
Return to the Neighborhood!
When the First World War ended, it became important to the American people to commemorate the signing of the peace treaties. As a result, November 11 was set aside and celebrated as Armistice Day. Several decades ago, it was changed to Armed Forces Day, and the armistice which ended that awful conflict was forgotten.
The American people wanted to remember those brave men who had fallen in that hideous slaughter, their fathers, sons, brothers and husbands, and so, a day was set aside to decorate their graves. It was appropriately called Decoration Day. Several decades ago, it was changed to Memorial Day. Our men who had fallen in the First World War had made the first step toward becoming forgotten heroes.
The truly great and noble man who was our first President was born on February 22, 1732. I suppose our people must have celebrated his birthday for close to 200 years. School children were taught of his wisdom, courage, honesty, sacrifice and his basic human goodness. And yes, most of all, they were taught of his noble service to his country. A few years ago, we changed all of that. Celebrating his greatness was too much of a bother. Now we sell cars and furniture on that day, and our children aren't sure why we have a national holiday set aside to do that.
Abraham Lincoln, a man of humility and wisdom, of courage and overwhelming kindness, of sorrow and gentle fun and a man of brilliance and devotion to his country, captained our ship of state through the most turbulent period in our history. He was born on February 12, 1809 Each year on that date, American school children were taught of this great man's humble beginnings, his noble service to his country and of the murder that took him from his beloved people. The celebration of his birthday has ceased to be a time of teaching our younger generation of this great American servant and hero. It has been lumped together with that of George Washington and is now called President's Day. These men of virtue and courage are no longer in style.
Since the end of the Second World War, we have remembered Victory In Europe and Victory Over Japan days. We called them VE Day and VJ Day. That was close enough. The men knew what it meant; they were there. Now that is being changed. Those names are no longer considered appropriate. We have become Globalists, and patriotism of any type is not desirable. It is not even appropriate.
Now, my friends and neighbors, I have no interest in becoming more like Ho Chi Minh. I knew his history before it was whitewashed for modern consumption. I prefer to struggle to be more like Abraham Lincoln. I have no desire to emulate Mao Tse Tung. I was already alive and kicking when he bathed China in the blood of his own countrymen. George Washington will do fine for me, thank you. I have little admiration for the Aztec God, Quetzalcoatl. Human sacrifice has never been my cup of tea. I'll just settle for manger scenes and a constant reminder that I must learn to love ALL of my fellowmen and women, even those who are trying to steal the history of the country I love.
Americans have always celebrated their great historic moments and those men and women who participated in them. They have always celebrated virtue and courage. Those historic moments are no longer in vogue. Sad to say, neither are virtue and courage.
Return to the Neighborhood!
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