Memorial Day IS (and isn’t)
This weekend is Memorial Day in the U.S. as most (if not all) of you know. When I was a kid, this was (next to Xmas) one of my favorite holidays. I helped my dad several times build floats for the Memorial Day Parade, I went with him on the Sunday two weeks before to help raise money for Disabled American Veterans, and on the Sunday before to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with American Flags. I’d help sell (well at least I thought I was helping) Poppies. I’d run and collect .30-06 shells from the rifles used for the 21 gun salute and several times I got to march with him and his War Veterans Post in the Memorial Day Parade.
But I must admit, it has been a long time since I have really enjoyed the holiday. People talk about Xmas losing its “meaning” (don’t get me started on that one), but I don’t know if any holiday has lost more of its true meaning than Memorial Day.
What is Memorial Day? Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) is a day set aside to Honor and commemorate those that lost their lives defending this country in a time of war.
Now I am not saying that people need to sit around and mourn or be solemn on this day. I actually think and like the traditions of Barbecues and festivities that often take place. Think of it as a giant Irish Wake to celebrate the lives of these brave men and women that have given their lives.
What Memorial Day ISN’T.
It isn’t JUST the “unofficial start of summer.” While you are enjoying those burgers and cold drinks, don’t forget to remember those people that gave their lives so that you could enjoy those things.
Just as importantly (though some may not realize they are doing this), Memorial Day is most definitely NOT a day to use the military as your political pawn. It is not a day to try and tell people how much more patriotic you are than somebody else.
It is not a day to make a statement about policies you would like to see enacted (or repealed).
Using these brave souls as a tool on this day is a disgrace to their memories… but yes, you do have a right to do it if you want, thanks at least in part to their sacrifices.
Remember those that have died in defending our country.
Celebrate in their honor.
Thank those living that continue to carry on those missions.
Leave the rhetoric until Tuesday… don’t worry, it isn’t going anywhere.
Will Miss You Hannah… Beat it Miley
I’m sure some will see me as harsh, and even suggest things like “look at it from her perspective” or “she is just a kid” but in all honesty, right now I don’t care. Destiny Hope… excuse me… Miley Ray, I think forgot who put her where she is today, and gave her what she has. The young teen and tween fans (well really… us, the parents of those fans), the one’s she is now discarding because she “knows who she is” according to her latest write up in Parade Magazine.
’ My job first is to entertain and do what I love, and if you don’t like it, then change the channel. I’m not forcing you to watch me. I’m not forcing you to talk about me. I would do that pole dance a thousand times again, because it was right for the song and that performance. But, dude, if you think dancing on top of an ice-cream cart with a pole is bad, then go check what 90% of the high schoolers are really up to. It’s funny. I don’t know if a lot of parents remember what they were like as kids. But I’m like, ‘Dude, as if you were an angel!’”
She sighs. “I’ve learned I can’t live for what people are going to say. People are so judgmental—especially parents.
That is right Miley, we are judgemental. We are the ones that decide what concerts our children go to see, and what music they buy, and we decide what they watch because we are concerned parents. And, if you don’t like that… then fine, I am taking my child AND my wallet and going home.
Yes, it is true that you are just a kid (despite what you probably think right now, being a rich, snot nosed teen), and of course you are going to make mistakes. But, treat the people that spent the Billions of Dollars on you… and make no mistake about this… because Disney packaged you and sold you perfectly, those people are not going to be there after you keep up the “I don’t care about you attitude.”
Now, some of my anger is probably not Miley’s fault really. I remember sitting with my little girl, excited that a new episode of Hannah Montana was coming on. The songs didn’t make my ears melt (like Jonas does now), the acting wasn’t awful (unlike That’s so Raven) and I actually liked and felt I understood Billy Ray’s caring and worrying about his little girl. I was on some level able to connect with the show almost as much as my daughter. And having those times together is something I will always cherish.
But time does move on. My daughter outgrew the show… I guess. Either that or she (like I) realized that the show now stunk and was no longer entertaining. Of course, I had placed most of the blame on the writer’s strike thinking it took the show out of its rhythm. Little did I know, it was thanks to the fact that you had turned into a prima donna that “hated” being a popular actress in a hit television show, because you didn’t like the outfits you had to wear. It is called acting. Not all your roles (assuming you get any more), are not going to “allow you to be who you are.” I had a point.. oh yeah… time moves on, and it was time for the show to say good-bye. And I will fondly remember the 1st two seasons, and the time I spent with my daughter watching Hannah Montana. For that I say Thank You, and Hannah… you will be missed.
But Miley, you are now the pompous ass people have been saying you are turning into. Something I refused to believe originally, when people were comparing some of your indiscretions into the same sort of self-implosion that marred Britney Spears. I fought and defended you, certain that your parents would be able to help you navigate your way through and avoid the big headed pompous attitude that ruins so many people that get fame too fast and too early. But apparently, you know better since your parents “aren’t stoked” about your choices, but you don’t care.
I hope, for your sake I am wrong, but if you are paying attention, you are already starting to fade. Disney is going to get whatever last bit of juice they can squeeze out of you with this stint as a “mentor” on American Idol. I know you “don’t care” what people think, but you just might want to take a peek at the Entertainment magazines and just find out how much of a joke the general public and entertainment experts think of this idea. But Disney might get a quick boost of viewers for Idol like they did with Dancing with the Stars when they milked your fandom multiple times with you, your dad and Cody Linly.
In one of those conversation you have with you dad, you just might want to ask him how fleeting stardom is. Without Disney, you would just be the best singer at the Tennesee State Fair, and if you don’t mind you business and fans a bit better, that is where you might be again. Good Riddance Miley… not that you care.
20 people that think being bigots toward gays is OK
Embarrassingly, yesterday the New Jersey Senate voted down the Same Sex Marriage Act, because with an incoming, proud bigot coming in as Governor, it became OK to hate “teh gays” again I guess.
State Senator Sean Kean (R), who lives in what he calls “the gayest district in New Jersey” voted “No” on gay marriage. I guess, voting in a way that represents the people of your district isn’t important in his and others eyes in the Senate.
I just want to make sure I have it on record, the 20 people that voted no, the 20 people that think that being bigoted is OK, that think “all men are created equal… except those faggots.” This way, when election time rolls around again, and they say they want to represent the people of New Jersey, we can return the favor and say “NO” to them.
The Republicans that Voted NO:
Bateman, Branchburg
Beck, Red Bank
Bucco, Denville
Cardinale, Demarest
Connors, Surf City
Doherty, Washington Township, Warren County
Haines, Springfield
S. Kean, Wall
T. Kean, Westfield
Kyrillos, Middletown
Oroho, Franklin Borough
O’Toole, Cedar Grove
Pennacchio, Montville
Singer, Lakewood.
The Democrats that added to the embarrasement by voting no
Girgenti, Hawthorne
Madden, Washington Township, Gloucester County
Rice, Newark
Sacco, North Bergen
Turner, Trenton
Van Drew, Dennis
Can’t blame the moon
Often when weird things happen, the immediate (and folklore-ish) way to explain it is to fall back on blaming a full moon. Well, the full moon is certainly not ocurring now, and yet this weekend seemed to be filled with the weird and bizarre.
The weekend started out, with the news of a college student that committed suicide “live” via webcam, while some audience members either egged him on, and others tried to talk him out of it. While my thoughts go out to the family, I have to admit that the immediate speculation of potenteial lawsuits I find bothersome. It is a tragedy to be sure, but speculation that you could blame the web host just smacks of opportunism.
Here in my home state of New Jersey, and actually not terribly far from me, only a couple of towns over, came an incident where a man drove across the country to confront and then shoot is estrange wife and two other victims in a Clifton, NJ church. The woman recently moved from California to New Jersey to escape her estranged husband and even had a restraining order against him. He drove… drove! That is what, five days worth of premeditation? He is still currently at large, but when they catch this clown, my only regret right now is that New Jersey has suspended the death penalty here in New Jersey, because if anybody deserves it, it would be an animal like this.
Then we have the sword weilding maniac that was shot and killed at a Scientology Church in California. Apparently, he never saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones shows quite well what happens when a man with a sword threatens a man with a gun.
Cannot end well
I certainly hope my cynical side is just coming through, and part of me is sympathic for her reasons, but the fact that a a Roseville woman has resorted to a pellet gun to solve her rat problem makes me… well… nervous.
Like I said I can sympathize, or at least empathize. I know the sight of just a little field mouse can send TheWife, normally a relatively tough and not easily scared woman, scurrying up onto a table, counter or chair. So when dealing with a rat infestation problem, which of course brings the fear of all sorts of diseases, I can’t fault anyone for being willing to take extreme measure.
But a pellet gun? Well, I can see the Red Ryder BB Gun jokes/comparions coming along when somebody gets their eye put out in an unfortunate accident.
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