an observance of Armistice Day, a day of reflection, and a time to teach peace rather than war.
I'm a Latin teacher. On the day before the 11th, seizing the teachable moment, I always do a reading of Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est, which draws its title from the second of Horace's Roman Odes.
I go over the derivation of 'armistice', from arma, and sto, stare, to stand still, to cease.
And then I play Eric Bogle singing "And the Band Played Waltzing Matila". It's not Latin, of course, but it makes everyone think a bit.
Lest we forget. Ne obliviscamur.
Posted by Davis X. Machina at November 11, 2005 02:20 PMAs a Disabled Veteran, thank you, pessimist, thank you! On Veteran's Day, I want to hear the truth, not a bunch of fucking lies!!
Posted by bbtb at November 11, 2005 04:18 PMI just wanted to say thank you to bbtb, tempus, Bagley, and everyone who served.
And pess, thanks for reminding us all that this day's original intent was as an observance of peace.
Posted by dorita at November 11, 2005 05:01 PMnational propaganda radio did a bit on veterans day today that gagged me - made me wish that i could jump into my car speakers to appear on the other side of the mic and strangle the commentator and the editor who let it air.
it started with a speech by the notorious draft-dodging warmonger dick'em cheney and i turned it off when the marine asshole, peter pace, spewed his bits of deceit.
i was a marine. as a smedley butler, david shoup marine, peter pace is a dishonor to the corps.
time to abandon npr. try pacifica.
peace and freedom.
Posted by albert champion at November 11, 2005 05:14 PMSnarkyShark, I was remiss. Please accept my heartfelt thanks to you, my fellow Texan.
Posted by dorita at November 11, 2005 06:11 PMWell, Canada calls it "Remembrance Day", and it is all about honouring those who fell during the savagery of WWI, "the war to end all wars", and is poignantly evoked here:
REMEMBRANCE DAY
For our king and our country, and the promise of glory
We came from Kingston and Brighton to fight on the front lines
Just lads from the farms and boys from the cities
Not meant to be soldiers, we lay in the trenches
We'd face the fighting with a smile ... or so we said
If only we had known what danger lay ahead
The sky turned to grey as we went into battle
On the fields of Europe young men were fallin'
I'll be back for you someday - it won't be long
If I can just hold on `til the bloody war is over
The guns will be silent - on Remembrance Day
There'll be no more fighting - on Remembrance Day
By October of `18 Cambrai had fallen
Soon the war would be over and we'd be returning
Don't forget me while I'm gone far away
Well, it won't be long `til I'm back there in your arms again
The guns will be silent - on Remembrance Day
There'll be no more fighting - on Remembrance Day
One day soon I don't know when
You know we'll all be free and the bells of peace will ring again
The time will come for you and me
We'll be going home when this bloody war has ended
The guns will be silent - on Remembrance Day
We'll all say a prayer - on Remembrance Day
... on Remembrance Day ...
... say a little prayer ...
... on Remembrance Day ...
Well, the guns will be silent
There'll be no more fighting
We'll lay down our weapons
On Remembrance Day
... on Remembrance Day ...
(Bryan Adams, "Into the Fire", A&M 1987)
To peace, on this day of remembering, this day when peace was made.
paz, mir, I wish I knew more.
Posted by dorita at November 11, 2005 09:28 PMMy Uncle, who was in WWII (Military Police), is one veteran who would spit in this pResident's face, and enjoy it.
Posted by Judith at November 12, 2005 07:40 AM