Kind of a rant....

[Qikdraw]

I was working yesterday, Veteren's Day, and while working was listening to the radio. I kept hearing commercials for Veteren's Day sales events. Its nothing new to me, I've heard them before, but this time I started to get offended. For some reason I don't thnk soldiers died so we could save 15% off a couch.

Is it just me that thinks that is a horrible way to honour your veteren's, to use it as a promotion gimmick?

Qikdraw

[Qikdraw]

I was working yesterday, Veteren's Day, and while working was listening to the radio. I kept hearing commercials for Veteren's Day sales events. Its nothing new to me, I've heard them before, but this time I started to get offended. For some reason I don't thnk soldiers died so we could save 15% off a couch.

Is it just me that thinks that is a horrible way to honour your veteren's, to use it as a promotion gimmick?

Qikdraw

[R.M.GREENMAN2]

I agree with you.....this society is built on commercialism. Look at Christmas, Halloween, Labor Day and the rest.

I bet if you asked 100 people what St.Patrick's Day was about....75 would say wear Green and drink beer!

As for an add, I saw one on television where they were offering a 25%- 50% off on items FOR veterans and thier family. I like that!
If a vet was having a drink with me at a bar, he wouldn't pay for one drink!

Hint Hint Nude Al!

[Bob S.]

And while you are shopping for that perfect couch, you walk past all of the Christmas Decorations. Every major holiday is an excuse for a sale. People do try to venerate the day with appropriate outings or activities, but you can't escape the crassness of our commercial culture.

The thing to do is to commemorate each holiday as you see fit. Spread the word of how you plan to commemorate the day and see who joins you.

Bob S.

[nudeM]

The true concept of holidays has, increasingly, being forgotten. More amd more people are just waiting for a holiday for the time off work. I find myself in that category myself at times. It's a shame the true meanings are continuelly being overlooked. Commercialism has virtually taken over.

This past holiday, Veteran's Day, was no exception. As always, I attended the annual Veteran's Day gathering at the cemetary, and it's hard to believe how much the drop in attendance has taken. The weather couldn't have been any more nicer, but there were far more fewer in attendance as in past years.

Some of the stores already their Christmas decorations set up, before Halloween. Wow, we need to back off on commercializing the holidays, and go back to the traditional ways of celebrating.

[NudeAl]

quote:

If a vet was having a drink with me at a bar, he wouldn't pay for one drink!

Hint Hint Nude Al!

I appreciate the thought Greenman but I wouldn't want you to go broke! lol

I used to get a little ticked off at the way we somehow turn every holiday event into a shopping spree but I figure there are more important things to get worked up over.

I'm just glad the American people do so much to honor our vets. To me there is nothing quite so depressing than to see all the homeless vets out there. Now granted some are just posing and some might be taking advantage of our good nature but there are some real hard luck cases out there.

I picture a young guy who went off to fight in some forgotten sh*thole of a war and had experiences that forever ruined his life. Those are the guys I would help if I could. I tell ya, we need to start thinking about all the tens of thousands of vets coming back home who are going to need major counseling to get re-adjusted. We are just now starting to see the tip of the iceberg on this issue.

[Nu]

Given that it has been 60 years since the end of World War II, Canada proclaimed 2005 as "The year of the veteran" and did some promotion.

This seemed to be effective as our local Remembrance Day service had a full house with people standing along the walls.

But, I agree with others in this thread.
The afternoon featured shopping in the stores.
Up until recent years, all stores stayed closed on the 11th, so that all people could take the day to reflect on the extreme sacrifices that were made by the many.

[Qikdraw]

If you want to help those currently in Iraq or Afganistan please visit:

Operation Gratitude

Books for Soldiers

In my current jobm in training, I met a few Iraq vets and they said both these programs were great and were very welcome. So please show some support by supporting programs like these. (there are many more like these out there)

Qikdraw

[missouriboy]

quote:

The afternoon featured shopping in the stores.
Up until recent years, all stores stayed closed on the 11th, so that all people could take the day to reflect on the extreme sacrifices that were made by the many.

Good point. Also... "Up until recent years, all stores stayed closed on SUNDAYS, so that all people could take the day to reflect on" their spiritual side, their family relationships, etc., without regard to commercial pursuits.

But, no more! Such major trends in general society have their bad points too, don't they?

[usmc1]

Yeah, I'm one of those that voted for the repeal of those "Blue Laws". I figured taht those who wanted Sunday as a day of reflection and etc, could continue to do so without preventing me from running up to Wal Mart for some duct tape.

Also, without trying to sound holier than thou, my spirituality and reflecting and all and stuff is a continous, ongoing, in the moment, thing that is not limited to Sunday..that's for FuBall. And duct tape gittin'.

[missouriboy]

Yeah, I prefer the open business on Sunday too. I don't go to church anyway. But the societal change is one I had never thought of before, and it seems to sort of parallel the one Nu was talking about.

[shãybare]

I never understood the "Blue Laws" anyway. They never made sense to me.

[MJ_KC]

I was very pleased to see the Blue Laws fade into history. It is better to be able to spread out our shopping over two days on the weekend, instead of everyone having to get it done in one day.

[Tara]

quote:

Originally posted by Qikdraw:
If you want to help those currently in Iraq or Afganistan please visit:

Operation Gratitude

Books for Soldiers

In my current jobm in training, I met a few Iraq vets and they said both these programs were great and were very welcome. So please show some support by supporting programs like these. (there are many more like these out there)

Qikdraw

Here's another great way to send stuff over to the troops, in this case, care boxes of things they are particularly looking for...

http://www.anysoldier.com - then click on "where to send" and choose a soldier from a branch of the military.

One warning, it is REALLY addictive. I got my office involved and we've sent hundreds of boxes. It's really rewarding; we've gotten a lot of responses from soldiers and you know the stuff they are asking for is often for lonely young men and women who really miss home. They often post pictures of themselves on the site as well.

[Stephen_B]

While I'm not deployed I am in the military and want to say thank you to you and the others here who have sent things or done what you can to support us.