Yay! It's Memorial Day! For lots of people in America, that simply means a day off from work, closed banks and time to barbecue & drink. For others, it's a time to reflect on the many men and women of the Armed Forces and any other service branch such as Police, Firefighters, etc. who have made the choice (and sometimes the ultimate sacrifice) to defend our great nation. Which ever thought process mimics your own, enjoy it however you feel necessary (as long as it doesn't endanger anyone else or infringe on other folks happiness). This brings me to the point of annoyance that led me to my computer to discuss such a holiday; people are allowed to have their own thoughts and feelings therefore, they are allowed to express themselves in many different ways.
Some people choose to express themselves by retweeting or posting a simple Facebook status saying "Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all the men and women who serve our great country!" Others may choose to volunteer at the local Vet Center, commit to helping with a program like The Wounded Warrior Project or even visit veterans in a hospital or convalescent home. None of these choices are wrong, they are personal preference. With that said, why are so many people condemning others for posting well wishes on a social media site or saying that whatever offers or tokens of appreciation are not enough? Some people don't even acknowledge the day, why aren't you angry with them? Think about that. It's not required for anyone to acknowledge our country's service men and women (that's a whole different topic for another day) so why not consider any acknowledgement as icing on the cake? How many times have you ignored the little birthday indicator on Facebook? Yeah, uh-huh. Sucker.
I'm not saying, err, typing any of this to ruffle any feathers (because honestly, I don't really care if you get upset. No one is forcing you to read my blog.) I say this because it seems like its far too easy to find something to nitpick and tear others down when the action was well-intentioned. Some people are offering a genuinely nice gesture and are getting ripped apart for it. To me, that's not cool. If you're one of the people doing such a thing, take a moment and evaluate why the idea of a gratitude offering makes you fly off the handle and become unnecessarily rude to someone who is attempting to be emotionally supportive in their own way. Not everyone is going to swing a hammer with Habitat For Humanity to build a home for veteran. Not everyone feels comfortable sitting in a hospital and talking with a stranger about his or her war experiences. Not everyone has the same comfort levels and expectations as YOU might have so don't judge them based on what YOU might do. Go thank a serviceman/woman. Offer them a beer, a rib, a Slurpee, a cupcake, a helping hand at the market, a warm smile, a kind gesture or maybe a cookie. In turn, be kind to those who recognize the struggle/sacrifice and DON'T BE RUDE! So, if someone says Happy Memorial Day, just smile and say thank you. It's the polite thing to do and it takes less time and energy that chewing folks out with a bitter, political rant. Now go, your barbecue is getting cold.
EDIT: For the record, I know that that Memorial Day is to remember those that served and died. But honestly, they can't hear you. The living veterans that fought and served with those we remember can hear you and appreciate your gratitude for their partners.
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