i was at Meeting at 11:11 this morning, and thinking about how in the US they changed the name of "armistice day" to "veterans' day," and about the difference that makes in teaching our children our values. because you tell any kid under 12 that you're getting a day off from school for either an armistice or for veterans, and you have to explain what an armistice or a veteran is.
and how much more powerful and morals-giving (well, at least my kind of morals-giving) it is to teach children that they are having the day off to commemorate a peace, that the peace was short, but that we still believe it is possible, and worth both celebrating and working to achieve.
on the other hand, it says something about a country that chooses to focus more on celebrating the warrior culture... it's not merely a question of whether vets deserve respect for the work they've had to do, but a question of honoring the warrior professions above all others (except, perhaps, secretaries, but nobody actually gets secretaries' day off). but it seems also to look to the past more than the future.
okay. this comment states everything i wanted to post about today, so i'm going to copy it and x-post to my own journal.
Very well said. It's all about politics and what you want your citizens to aspire to. I'm waiting for us to change it. We've already had spin on what the poppies represent - the army is now saying it's in support of the army now and what they do, the rest of us maintan it's for remembreance, grateful remembrance, and the hope of future peace - which is why I wear both the red and white poppies together.
and how much more powerful and morals-giving (well, at least my kind of morals-giving) it is to teach children that they are having the day off to commemorate a peace, that the peace was short, but that we still believe it is possible, and worth both celebrating and working to achieve.
on the other hand, it says something about a country that chooses to focus more on celebrating the warrior culture... it's not merely a question of whether vets deserve respect for the work they've had to do, but a question of honoring the warrior professions above all others (except, perhaps, secretaries, but nobody actually gets secretaries' day off). but it seems also to look to the past more than the future.
okay. this comment states everything i wanted to post about today, so i'm going to copy it and x-post to my own journal.
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