topic Re: Happy Veterans day?! in Community Spirit

Happy Veterans day?!

happyroo_bunji — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 09:52:05 GMT

I am a member on a predominately American message board and as I was checking it out I came across a posting which was titled "Happy Veterans Day", now I know that November 11 has a different meaning in the US, but I actually felt offended (not sure if thats the right word). The person who made the post is young, so I really doubt they have any idea of what Nov 11 means in other countries.

I know this seems like a strange post, but I'm bored and the dog won't sit and listen to me,

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

green.fields — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:54:34 GMT

Not strange, I know what you mean, I often want to say to some American friends, "what's happy: about whatever they are saying it about. Work that one out. lol.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

crosbystills — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:09:46 GMT

Good point, but then again we say "Happy Easter", when there's nothing happy about crucifiction.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

jimmy*part4 — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 12:02:13 GMT

It is a tribute to those that served and also marks the end of WW1. So is seen as a happy occasion.

Memorial is a holiday to salute those who gave their lives.

I don't think I've ever heard Happy memorial day. Although they gave their lives for the freedoms of others I'd think they'd want us to happy for that.

And good point about Easter, applies to Merry Christmas also. I'd say the line above applies to them too.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

the_great_she_elephant — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:22:15 GMT

Happy Easter is OK because it celebrates the resurrection (Crist's triumph over death.) - Happy Good Friday might be a bit off though.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

happyroo_bunji — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 23:00:46 GMT

@*jimmeh* wrote:
It is a tribute to those that served and also marks the end of WW1. So is seen as a happy occasion.

Memorial is a holiday to salute those who gave their lives.

I don't think I've ever heard Happy memorial day. Although they gave their lives for the freedoms of others I'd think they'd want us to happy for that.

And good point about Easter, applies to Merry Christmas also. I'd say the line above applies to them too.

Jimmeh here Nov 11 was originally to remember those who died in WW1, now it is to remember those who have died in all wars/conflicts.

ANZAC day is our day to thank those who served.

Jimmeh, how would you feel if some moron said to you "Happy Sept 11" ?

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

lyndal1838 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 02:28:48 GMT

If you are posting on a predominantly American forum you should accept their take on holidays. If the 11/11 is a happy occasion for them then just accept it.

It is not as though they were "celebating" the same occasion as us in Australia so why be offended by it?

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

happyroo_bunji — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 04:08:28 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
If you are posting on a predominantly American forum you should accept their take on holidays. If the 11/11 is a happy occasion for them then just accept it.
It is not as though they were "celebating" the same occasion as us in Australia so why be offended by it?

I was actually suprised at how I felt when I first spotted the post. I really didn't think it would bother me the way it has. I believe its the wording of the title that has bothered me. How can remembering war and those who served in wars be a happy thing?

Maybe I am just over analysing this, as I said in my OP I was bored last night and when I'm bored I start thinking

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

jimmy*part4 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:13:00 GMT

@happyroo_bunji wrote:
@*jimmeh* wrote:
It is a tribute to those that served and also marks the end of WW1. So is seen as a happy occasion.

Memorial is a holiday to salute those who gave their lives.

I don't think I've ever heard Happy memorial day. Although they gave their lives for the freedoms of others I'd think they'd want us to happy for that.

And good point about Easter, applies to Merry Christmas also. I'd say the line above applies to them too.
Jimmeh here Nov 11 was originally to remember those who died in WW1, now it is to remember those who have died in all wars/conflicts.

ANZAC day is our day to thank those who served.

Jimmeh, how would you feel if some moron said to you "Happy Sept 11" ?

You said it was a mostly American site and here it means something different. It's for the survivors (a good thing, yes) the end of a war (another good thing). As much as we are alike in many things there are differences. Just because we speak the language (sort of, lol) I think a lot of you apply your morals and ways of thinking to us.

That can only create hostility. I've read here many times people saying about other countries, "it's a different culture and we should understand and respect that (death penalties for drugs, chopping the hands of thieves, ect.). Countries are like people and grow up differently.

How can remembering war and those who served in wars be a happy thing?

The happy part is that it ended.

Maybe I am just over analysing this,

Maybe not. I've never said it because it does seem a bit weird. There was a Happy Vets day thread on the US ebay and one person mentioned what you said (I think it was a Canadian....hard to tell, it was a sock). Everyone ignored it, so it's obviously acceptable.

Knowing how some if not all of you feel about it, I would never say it to any of you. Some cultures even celibrate funnerals, even here (New Orleans, Italians, etc) I've been to the Italian ones. Before my time they would lay the body out in the living room (living room lol) and then have a party on the roof....lots of food and drinking.

Jimmeh, how would you feel if some moron said to you "Happy Sept 11" ?

Big difference between people who died fighting and innocent men women and children being murdered. BUT....if someone said it not being a wise *** I'd explain why it's so offensive. If they meant it to antagonize me...are they a man and within arms length?

THAT is my longest post ever....any typos?

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

cherry*135 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:41:57 GMT

Funerals, in general, are more a celebration of the deceased persons life now, than the wearing of predominately black clothes, mournful occasions they used to be. Speeches by family members about the deceased.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

jimmy*part4 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:49:02 GMT

Funerals, in general, are more a celebration of the deceased persons life now.

Hello Am*3!

I think that's how these "holidays" are looked at here, focus on the positives. I never really thought about it till I saw the question here.

I am wondering, what do you all say when greeting (while giving a nod to the day) on this kind of day?

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

cherry*135 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:05:07 GMT

Hi jimmeh.

I am from New Zealand orginally and ANZAC Day, 25 April, is the national day of remembrance there. (which is a public holiday in NZ as it is here). Red poppies are worn on this day.

Remembrance Day in Australia is not a public holiday.

I found this interesting:

After the end of the Second World War, the Australian and British governments changed the name to Remembrance Day. Armistice Day was no longer an appropriate title for a day which would commemorate all war dead.

In Australia on the 75th anniversary of the armistice in 1993 Remembrance Day ceremonies again became the focus of national attention. The remains of an unknown Australian soldier, exhumed from a First World War military cemetery in France, were ceremonially entombed in the Memorial's Hall of Memory. Remembrance Day ceremonies were conducted simultaneously in towns and cities all over the country, culminating at the moment of burial at 11 am and coinciding with the traditional two minutes' silence. This ceremony, which touched a chord across the Australian nation, re-established Remembrance Day as a significant day of commemoration.

Four years later, in 1997, Governor-General Sir William Deane issued a proclamation formally declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe one minute's silence at 11 am on 11 November each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/remembrance/tradition/

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

*elizabeths-mum* — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:03:22 GMT

I don't know if we say anything. You can wear a poppy which gives a quiet acknowledgement. Maybe others exchange a greeting in other parts of Australia?

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

*elizabeths-mum* — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:15:23 GMT

It's interesting reading the history, am3. I grew up calling 11th November Armistice Day, despite being born years after the end of the war, and didn't realize that that was incorrect until now. I guess that came from my parents and grandparents and old habits die hard.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

lyndal1838 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:57:33 GMT

@am*3 wrote:
Hi jimmeh.

I am from New Zealand orginally and ANZAC Day, 25 April, is the national day of remembrance there. (which is a public holiday in NZ as it is here). Red poppies are worn on this day.

Red poppies are more traditional for Rememberance Day than Anzac Day. Rosemary is the tradition for Anzac Day and always has been.

I can remember as a child at school we were asked to bring Rosemary to school the week before the Anzac march for collection by the Red Cross. It was broken down into sprigs and handed out in the streets to marchers as well as spectators. It was very rare to see anyone without a Rosemary buttonhole on Anzac Day.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

cherry*135 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 14:00:34 GMT

NZ'ers wear poppies on ANZAC Day only, the first part of that post of mine was about NZ.

I saw rosemary sprigs in small boxes on the counter in our local Woolies on 11/11 this week (NSW), for customers to take if they wanted too. Maybe it varies from state to state, place to place.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

lyndal1838 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:17:13 GMT

Sorry, I did not realise you were talking about NZ with the red poppies.

The red poppies are quite recent here in Australia for Anzac Day....they were always associated with Rememberance Day. As far as I know all Australian states have the tradition of Rosemary for Anzac Day although it is definitely falling off since I was young. My grandmother's generation who lived through WW1 always had it growing in their gardens...the bushes all got a good pruning in time for Anzac Day.

Re: Happy Veterans day?!

*elizabeths-mum* — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:07:44 GMT

Our local primary school has a large memorial with the names of the fallen and a flagpole inside the front gate and is a focal point on Anzac Day for the community. When renovations were done, rosemary, tall and prostrate was planted around it.

My mother was born on Anzac Day and apparently everyone tried to convince my grandparents to call her Rosemary.