Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veterans Day

I recently watched a video clip of a guy interviewing random people on the street. All of them could name the President of the United States, but when the man with the microphone asked if they knew the Vice-President, most of them were stumped. And despite the recent media coverage of health care reform legislation, not a single person could name the Speaker of the House who was instrumental in its twelfth-hour passage.

I try not to judge their blissful ignorance too harshly. Perhaps they merely experienced a moment of nervous memory loss when the camera and mic were shoved in their faces. Maybe they were foreign tourists who were unfamiliar with American politics. And if they truly didn't possess a clue who Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi were, I suppose there's a certain relief knowing that Americans are living their lives, busy and happy and unconcerned with the machinations of Washington, D.C.

Today, however, I hope my fellow citizens are a little more aware. More reflective. More grateful. Today is November 11. It's the day that our country has set aside to honor our war veterans. I hope you'll take a moment in your busy day to remember the price that has been paid so that we can wander our streets, shopping bags in one hand and ice cream cones in the other, oblivious to who was elected Vice-President last year.



Dinner last night: onion soup



3 comments:

Quadmama said...

I've actually been surprised by the number of my Facebook friends who had Veteran's Day references in their status... not surprised that they're honoring veterans, just surprised that so many people remembered the holiday. Makes me hopeful.

Stephanie Faris said...

Was that Jay Leno who interviewed the person and asked where the President lived and the person didn't know...but she knew where Spongebob Squarepants lived??? And this was a grown woman.

Anonymous said...

That's funny. I could have answered those questions and I'm not even American. I do take an interest in US politics though. There's probably a fair few Britons who think Spongebob Squarepants is the British Prime Minister! - actually he might do a better job :S

On a more serious note I've noticed Remembrance Day or Armistice Day - 11th November - being given more recognition this year than any other I can recall.