Patriotism vs. Hypocrisy

   I just don’t get it. So many people talk the talk when it comes to Patriotism, honoring Veterans, both living and past, honoring the country, the flag, but when it comes to walking the walk after talking the talk; I’m not convinced our town is very Patriotic on a consistent basis!! Case in point; what are the Patriotic observances we have here in the USA? Flag Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day/The 4th of July and Veterans Day. Sure, given the opportunity, folks jump at that opportunity to take the day off, have the long weekend, friends over for the BBQ, but from what I’ve seen in town over the years not many people really “observe” what the day has been set aside for! A handful of townsfolk show up down the lake for the Flag Day ceremony at the bandstand. Two handfuls of townsfolk show up at Rock Ridge Cemetery for the Memorial Day Ceremony, The parade uptown and the ceremony at town hall, Veterans day activities in November another handful. If it weren’t for the fireworks on the 4th, how many people would honor that sacred American Day?

    And please, don’t give me that “Oh we observe the days in the way we observe the days,” that to me is nothing but a smokescreen, cop out because of embarrassment when confronted! It’s every citizen’s responsibility to take an hour out of your ever so busy day, long weekend or family activity to participate in the observances. We should all be thankful for the fact we even have the freedom, the opportunity to observe such Patriotic days.  Pack the kids and kinfolk up in the car and take the opportunity to teach our children what each day represents and to be thankful to the people, both in the here and now and in the past, who fought and sometimes gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, so that we have the opportunity to observe. The least thing we can do is give them the respect of the hour or so of our time to have you family present and accounted for and represented at the dedication and ceremony to and for the cause. To show appreciation for what they did or are doing for our freedoms! In other words, To BE PATRIOTIC.

    It’s sad that in the year following the tragedy of 9/11 seems everyone had the Patriotic spirit to fly the flag, to chant U-S-A, U-S-A at every opportunity. Seems everyone jumped on that opportunity to be patriotic. Flags showed up on thousands of houses that never had them flown, on cars, backs of pickup trucks, front yards, but as the time from the event passes on, the flags become more sparse ….sad but so, think about it.. and chew on this for a bit;  Odds are, ten thousand townsfolk would show up if,  The Superbowl, World Series, Stanley Cup or NBA trophy came to town, but we can’t get 100 people to show up for Flag Day, Memorial Day or Veterans Day observances???...Pathetic!

    Speaking of freedoms we have, don’t even get me started in the lack of participation in “Town Meeting!!” The fabric that makes up our freedom to vote, to choose and something that directly affects EVERY Citizen of this town!! That in itself is another topic for a later time to rant upon!!! Job Swift is probably turning over in his grave here in town over that one!