Memorial Day is a special day here in the USA which is set aside to remember those who died in military service.
Unfortunately it's also become a day of politically exploiting those who died in military service. I found this out the hard way when I opened my email this morning only to find this absurd rant about "Obama being the first American president not to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery." Because the email had been forwarded, there were several witty comments attached... everything from "Obama prefers to spit on the graves of dead soldiers" and "This just proves Hussein Obama is a commie dictator with no respect for American values."
Whenever I get an email like this, the first thing I do is go to Google News and see what Obama is actually up to.
Turns out he's in Chicago, and attended a Memorial Day event at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery where he laid a wreath of remembrance there (after sending VP Biden to lay the traditional wreath at Arlington). He tried to give a speech, but a lightning storm made it unsafe to do so. This was sad, but he had already posted a Memorial Day video, so no harm no foul, I guess.
After confirming that President Obama was NOT, in fact, spitting on the graves of fallen American soldiers, I clicked over to Snopes to see if they had an article about him being the only American President to not lay a wreath at Arlington. Not surprisingly, Snopes did have an article.
Turns out that President H.W. Bush, President G.W. Bush, and even President Ronald Reagan... the fucking Conservative Presidential Holy Trifecta... ALL did not lay wreaths at Arlington on Memorial Day at some time or another. Hell, President H.W. Bush didn't lay a SINGLE WREATH AT ARLINGTON DURING THE ENTIRE FOUR YEARS HE WAS IN OFFICE!
Heaven only knows I am not President Obama's biggest fan, but this stupid shit drives me insane.
How is spreading lies and cheapening the memories of American soldiers who paid for our freedoms with their lives a proper show of respect on Memorial Day?
I guess all I can say to those who died in service so we can carry on with our reprehensible behavior is "thanks anyway."
For some people, it's easier for them to spout propaganda and untrue bullshit then to actually tell the truth and/or research the truth. It's just really sad that the memories of our soldiers, past and present, have to suffer because of other people's biases.
I wonder if and when they discover the truth do they rock back and forth in a corner after they realize how dumb they sound? That would be my wish, anyway...
Thank you for calling out the insufferable morons. I hate the stupid crap, too, but it seems to happen far too often anymore. And very few people will take the time to find the truth - they just repeat the rubbish.
Posted by Capricorn Cringe on May 31, 2010 | Reply
Instead of posting hateful bullshit on the internet, if these people were really patriotic they'd actually go out and do something.
Every city has a VA graveyard. Go there. Find the graves with no flowers and add some. Read the names. Think about the soldiers and sailors buried there so they're not forgotten.
Go and find a homeless vet and buy him or her a really nice meal (NOT FAST FOOD YOU CHEAP FUCK). Let him or her know how much you appreciate what they've done and that they're not alone.
Or, sit at home on your fat ass and post lies on the internet. See which one actually makes a difference.
Posted by Peggy Archer on May 31, 2010 | Reply
Today at our picnic mt troglodyte (aka Republican) nephew was bemoaning the fact that our relative in the marines will probably going to Pakistan now that "the guy who wanted to end the war is going to escalate it." So I asked him, should we just walk out - and he said no - and I asked him should we not have been in Asia at all - and he said no, but Obama said he would end the war and he's sent more troops in. So, I mentioned, did he say we were just going to stop everything and bring everybody home - and he said he didn't know. All he knew was that Obama was a jerk. So there ya go.... haters. Lol... they're even in the best families. :-)
How ironic...
Hating is easy. Understanding takes effort. Some people spend their entire lives doing little to unravel the stereotype of the "Lazy American." Its so much easier to just forward ignorance than to research, read, educate yourself and find the real reasons why you do or don't agree with the President, his policies or his activities.
Those helpful chain letter emails are the bane of my existance. No research to find out if what's being mentioned in the email is actually true, just hit forward. Ugh, douchbags.
Posted by Kevin Spencer on June 01, 2010 | Reply
I appreciate this so much. I can deal with the facts whether they are in favor of my "side" or candidate or not, but I absolutely hate misleading bullshit like this. I wish we could all deal in reality.
Great post!
Posted by LongStoryLonger on June 01, 2010 | Reply
I read this post on my phone while traveling this weekend. Nice to know that someone like Dave is out there, posting the real facts.
Now wishing those that blindly forward emails to my account would read this post. I'm talking to you, Robert L Warren PhD, who floods my email box several times a week with this bullshit.
Posted by martymankins on June 02, 2010 | Reply
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