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Originally Posted by Sliver
All holidays are like this though. I mean seriously, it's not like any of us are actually celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday on May Long. I'm an atheist and I don't celebrate Jesus's birth on December 25. Easter means ham and chocolate to me. Thanksgiving means turkey. Family day I make a point of doing family things - but I actually treat every stat holiday like family day so in fact it is the only one that is appropriately named IMO.
Right now in my life I'm way too busy to dedicate one full day to thinking about WWI and WWII vets. I will certainly be thinking about them from time to time on the 11th, but that's the extent of it and I think it's presumptuous of them to expect any more than a thank you and some gratitude when I can give it. For example, I spent Father's Day at the Museum of the Regiments with my kids because I believe it's important to pass down that history, but mandating a day for me to do that again on November 11 is unnecessary when that time could be better used doing other things.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz
I think that's a horrible attitued. A huge number of people, who's time was no less important than yours gave up much more of it to fight for a cause, that you now reap the benefits of.
As to the second highlighted point, I think it's presumptuous that you think any of those vets expecdt you to give them thanks. I'd be willing to bet that most of them are of the attitude that they were simply doing what needed to be done.It isn't up to them to expect a thanks, I'd say it's your obligation to offer it.
It's nice that you do things like take your kids to the museum of the regiments, but I think it is very important to have just one day a year, where we're reminded and given the opportunity to say thanks to those who've made bigger sacrafices than we ever will.
Finally, I'd be interesed to know what you classify as "better things to do", it's not like it takes a whole day to attend a service, go see a parade, or visit the museum.
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This is where you lose me. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but it doesn't take me a whole day to do this. I'll think about the sacrifice of our vets more on November 11 than probably any other day in the year, but I don't need a day off to do it and I don't need a ceremony, either. To me that's a depressing way to spend a day.
Better things to do: I have two small kids. Caring for them, providing for them, entertaining them are more important to me right now than anything else and it is more than a full-time job. It is an all day, all night job 365 days/year with no breaks. I think this is what the vets were fighting for in a lot of ways and my using the gifts they sacrificed for in such a way is a fair and honourable way to spend the 11th.
Re: the presumptuous comment. You're right - I don't think the vets would presume to think they know how I should spend my time. You seem to know what I should be doing on the 11th though, and that's a little presumptuous.
