Cyndi's Two Cents

Preserve the culture

Commentary.

Not unlike school kids anxious to be released into the “wilds” of summertime, I am counting the hours until my vacation begins.  Memorial Day week-end is upon us and there is much to do before the picnics and parties.

It is sad to think that there are many people who have little to no comprehension of the significance of Memorial Day. Although “Decoration Day” began as a day to remember so many who died for our freedom, for most of us today it is a time to visit the gravesites of all family members and friends – whether they served in the military or not – and to decorate them with flowers and flags.

Like many other significant holidays, the true meaning of Memorial Day has taken a backseat to our good time.  Memorial Day has become more about a day off from work, an excuse to drink too much beer and eat too many hot wings and hamburgers. It is for many, the official beginning of summer. School is out. Memorial Day week-end means the first sunburn of the season, the first time to take the boat out on the lake this year and the first picnic. Recreation takes precedence over honoring the boys and girls, men and women who fought and died for these freedoms we enjoy.

The culture in America has changed greatly since those early days when paying our respects to those who died in service to the United States of America.  One definition for culture is “the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.”

I am disappointed about much in the culture in America today. I know this sentiment is shared by many. If we don’t like it, we need to go to work to make some changes in our local communities and probably, too, in our own homes. We need to exercise our right to vote, but there is more we can do if we really want to improve the quality of our culture today and for generations to come.

Before you begin your long week-end of playing or working over the Memorial Day holiday, please remember our fallen war heroes. If you do nothing else to honor those who fought for our freedom, please take a few minutes to pause and reflect upon the meaning – the purpose – of the day. I hope you will take a moment to remember the terrible price of all wars and the ultimate sacrifice made by so many some one’s beloved spouse, child, sibling, parent or friend.

Most importantly, be sure that those who represent the next generation of Americans have a clear understanding of the true meaning of Memorial Day.  America’s culture is passed and preserved through language, material objects, ritual, institutions, and art, from one generation to the next.