Monday, November 15, 2010

Celebrations

As holidays and events go, I'm sort of negative on the celebration of such.  Most of our holidays have been reduced to excuses to go to excess, whether it is the actual celebratory activities or the spending of money for no other use except to enhance our economy.  Thanksgiving, for example, is no longer a day to get together with friends and family to enjoy the simple act of being thankful for friends, family and the great bounty that we enjoy.  Rather, it is the precursor to the gluttonous four or so weeks of shopping to support another holiday which has lots much of its meaning - Christmas.  You noticed, I said Christmas, not the Winter Holiday (italics mine). 

New Years is another event for indulging in excess and the days such as St. Valentine's Day (note the religious prefix), Easter, Mothers & Fathers Days have become opportunities for the greeting card industries although email cards are rapidly taking over this event.  The Fourth of July, even, has become a time to spend a small fortune on booze, food and fireworks.  Most of the historical significance has been all but forgotten. 

One day, however, has remained much as it has always been.  Formerly known as Armistice Day, November 11th was changed by congress to Veterans Day a few decades back.  Seems that folks still take the opportunity to pause and remember the great wars our country has fought and the young men and women who did the fighting.  Here in Lincoln, we had two observances, both of which were to the point and appropriate. 

But, the most enjoyable for me and a few fellow vets was the student assembly at Twelve Bridges Elementary School, here in Lincoln  although they celebrated on November 12th (no school on the 11th).  For the third year running, the hundreds of kids at the school honored vets with music, laughter, smiles and homemade cards.  The parent club provided refreshments and, as well, lots of "thank yous" to those who attended.  Good show Twelve Bridges. 

Some things give you hope that we are not all lost.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Differences Between Cultures

Sixty Minutes did two segments this evening; the first being a report on Haiti and the continuing misery going on there which includes earthquakes, hurricanes and a cholera epidemic.  The second was the story of the U.S. Army soldier who will receive the Congressional Medal of Honor in ceremonies later this week.  How could there be any parallels between these stories?

Tangents possibility; however, no parallels.  Haiti is one of those perpetual third world countries which, no matter how much the rest of humanity tries, never seems to even approach the prosperity of other countries, even of those close neighbors in the Carribean.  There are many reasons for these failures.  One of the more obvious is that of having centuries of ineffectual and often criminal governments with the accompanying numerous bureaucrats and officials who each take a share of whatever comes into the country.  This was manifested by the inability of dedicated recovery materials, donated free to Haiti for the benefit of the earthquate refugees, to clear the port and be utilized to help folks recover some semblance of comfort.  It wasn't until the CBS news crew mentioned this to the Haitian president that the materials moved.  Until that time, no Haitian had the gumption to do the right thing.

Our young soldier, on the other hand, comes from a country and an army which recognize the need for people to take the initiative.  In countless episodes, our military members, realizing a necessity, have done the right, and often heroic, thing without having to run the decision through the bureaucracy and make the right payoffs.  A great example of this occurred during the Normandy Invasion of World War II when, paratroops, scattered about northern France, regrouped into small fighting units and went about accomplishing the mission - to free Europe.

Two things come to mind:  I am constantly amazed at the quality of our military forces, especially the young men and women who carry the cause in Afghanistan and Iraq and I'm worried that our country may become like Haiti, at constant loggerheads where nothing can ever get done because we have constructed too many roadblocks in an ever increasing governmental bureaucracy.