I stopped by the Visitors Center at Manassas Battlefield Park last month and was struck by a quote capturing Georgia private B. M. Zettler’s reaction to being enmeshed in the battle of Bull Run:
“I felt that I was in the presence of death. My first thought was, ‘This is unfair – someone is to blame for getting us all killed. I didn’t come here to fight this way…’
An excellent sentiment – one that should not be forgotten on Memorial Day. It would have been fairer if the politicians had been in the front lines on both sides at Manassas.
Sheldon Richman, the editor of the Freeman, proposes renaming Memorial Day as Revisionist History Day. General Patton said that an ounce of sweat can save a pint of blood. Similarly, a little reading and thinking this time of year can save a heap of grave digging in the future.
Sacralizing the war dead usually results in exonerating the politicians. Rather than parades, it would be better to celebrate this holiday like the British used to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day – by burning politicians in effigy, or a reasonable facsimile.
Too harsh?
Read the Pentagon Papers – and recognize the proper fate of all the politicians and political appointees who hatched and perpetuated that sham.
Likewise for the Iraq war.
Actually, burning politicians in effigy is probably not harsh enough.
It used to be that Memorial Day was to honor dead soldiers. In recent years, we are asked to also honor veterans (who already have a day) and active duty members of the armed services. This may be an indication that the politicians feel there aren’t enough dead soldiers.
I don’t think Memorial Day should be renamed Revisionist History Day – I think there should be a Revisionist History Month instead. One day just isn’t enough time to ponder the myths peddled to us as fact.
I think Memorial Day should simply be renamed Tombstone Day and people should decorate their yards with styrofoam tombstones like they do for Halloween. True-believers might even consider a few flag-draped coffins made of cardboard and maybe hanging dismembered arms and legs made of rubber from their trees.
Tom, if you can get Hallmark to embrace this idea, “Tombstone Day” might really take off.
Wait a minute buster, I thought Memorial Day was a celebration of the inventor of the Weber Grill. Why do you guys always have to talk about all the downer stuff like war, spying and torture? You musta not got yer Patriotism Merit Badge in the Explorers who are now righteously engaged in mock fire-fights and knee-in-the-back arrests of the wogs under the fine instruction of the Glorious Department Of Homeland Security. I hope they shake down a couple old ladies while they’re at it.