Thrill Seekers

Such a divisive and negative essay for Memorial Day. Why not simply a tribute to those who died so that freedom may live?

I think this is a fantastic essay!

When our "leaders" actively seek to (let's be kind) shade the truth, or be less than forthcoming, as routinely happens, this essay becomes essential reading.

Thanks to the author!

Now, all, read this, from the essay:

The strength of our democracy depends on the strength of our vigilance. If we asked more of our politicians, not out of partisan suspicion, not as liberals or conservatives, but as a thinking American citizens who have been endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, we would get better leaders. Demand better because you deserve better. Be informed about he actions of our government. Feed the burning desire to self govern that exists in every American soul. Feed it with knowledge, information, and the search for truth. Because when the questioning flame within us dies, democracy dies with it. Make sure you are heard, and the bright promise of our nation will be realized. Make sure you are heard, and the flame of the American spirit will endure.

A partisan call to non partisanship. It has little to do with what is remembered on memorial day, well written oratory, but misses the mark on content.

You don't bring people together to respectfully remember the fallen by calling some of them liars and implying that their actions and values are not in the spirit of American Ideals.

Divisive, sad really, but certainly par for the course and predictable in Montclair.

Hi to all...The new episode of Inside Montclair is now airing

Join me as I walk around town visiting our neighbors.

We feature a few segments called, " Eating in Montclair "...featuring:

A walk on Walnut St., welcoming to town Restaurant Passionne', and we'll see Chef/owner Michael prepare a soft shell crab delight...then we go to the Church Street Cafe, as Greg introduces their Chef, with two special meals made just for us..and a stop over at Spice It Up, where owner Larry, gives as some BBQ tips.

Also in this episode, we say hi again to our neighbors Loren and Lori, of Little Cricket Antiques..and we end the show with a brief look at Sunday's Tour de Montclair.

Air time schedule - Mon. Wed. Fri. at 8:00pm.

Enjoy the show, and have a safe & Happy Holiday.

Wayne Robbins Producer / Host of Inside Montclair.

Celebrating our 9th. year on Tv - 34.

carya,
The essayist says, "Feed it with knowledge, information, and the search for truth. Because when the questioning flame within us dies, democracy dies with it." yet includes parroting of uninformed and untruthful assertions that have grown to be unquestioned facts among the fashionable.

Her essay is inappropriate for this holiday.

The reason for this holiday is to honor the nation's war dead.

Her essay would strike all of the right chords for July 4th cause it captures the independent spirit that drove our Founding Fathers

Imagine the opposite bias (always a valuable exercise). If the author had said the following would liberals feel like putting partisanship aside for a respectful remembrance?

What we see today is the flame of the American spirit dying down. We see failures of the opposition party on colossal scales. We see partisan irrationality in the highest levels of our political parties contributing to the propagandization of the biggest natural disaster our country has seen in a century. We see growing defeatism and an attempted deception of the American public about the causes and imperatives of the Iraq war. We see an attempt to cast the deaths of over 2,000 valiant young men and women as "in vain". These are failures of partisanship, but also failures of democracy--failures of vigilance of individuals that made our nation so full of promise so many years ago.

Excellent essay, but as the iceman pointed out, appropriate for Independence Day, not Memorial Day. There is a lot of talk about the founding fathers and political philosophy that our country was founded on, but not one word about those who died defending it.

I think her essay is wonderful - Memorial Day is NOT just for remembering of those that gave their lives.

I found this online and thought it was appropriate- written by:
Robert L. Jones
VP, Health Association for Service Disabled Veterans

http://asdv.org/PNOL/pnolpub.cfm?AutoNum=69

"I hope that we can all realize that it is our solemn responsibility to never let the sacrifices of our dead fade with the passage of time. It is our duty not only to pay tribute on Memorial Day but it is also our responsibility to pledge that we will educate the youth of today about the human cost of freedom.

Let us all carry forward the lesson from this brief poem written by Moina Michael who was inspired by “In Flanders Field.”

We cherish too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.”

That was the day's founding purpose Pat.

http://www.usmemorialday.org/order11.html

If you know the day's history you know that it was founded long after the custom of remembrance was started in the South.

Decoration Day,is a day to decorate the graves of all family members, and it is not reserved for only those who served in the military.

I'm not sure what you point is.

I still think the essay is excellent and it's on YOUR town's web page.

You should be proud.

Part of it is a partisan attack and as such I don't actually think it belongs on the town's website.

It's well written, it's obviously an opinion. But I daresay if my rewritten version were to appear on "YOUR town's web page" you'd have a problem with it, and so would I.

Pat,
The point is not that the essay is well written. The point is the appropriateness of the content.

ROC sweetie,

time to call the town manager and register your complaint.

i'm sure he'll listen to you since you are the current regime's biggest supporter.

Decoration Day was originally founded to honor the Union Civil War dead by General Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic, who was was impressed by the way that the South honored their dead. After WW I it was expanded to include the dead from all wars.

The "Promise of America" was purchased and is maintained at high price, and Memorial Day is the day that we honor those who paid it.

'pissant the marginally memorable...maybe'

Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued the 1868 proclamation declaring the first Decoration Day. He credited his wife, Mary Logan, with the suggestion for the commemoration. But the idea had its roots in the decoration of the graves of Civil War dead by women, going back at least to 1864.

On April 25, 1866, in Columbus, Mississippi, a women's association decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. In a nation trying to find a way to move on after a war that split the country, states, communities and even families, this gesture was welcomed as a way to lay the past to rest while honoring those who had fought on either side.

marginally is better than un

So, it's a day for honoring those Americans who died fighting each other.

KEWL!

Didn't this essay win an American Legion contest? I mean, come on, you can't get more red white & blue than that.

It's not Red White and Blew enuf for LaserROC

The Iceman is going to the Meadowlands Flea Market this morning. Oh, boy.

buy something patriotic you'll need it to put on those graves that you're going to decorate for memorial day.

Back to Thrill-seeking...

Tonight (Saturday), Dalien 13 Hands will be performing live outdoors on Church Street. Show starts at 7:30.

Isn't is great to live in a country where anyone can say pretty much anything they want on any medium, without having to use their real name?

I hope everyone takes a few minutes away from the blogs this weekend to come to our Memorial Day ceremony in beautifully restored Edgemont Park.

Ed,

Troop 12 will be there.

"beautifully restored Edgemont Park"

Oh Mayor Ed,

You should learn to set the bar higher.

What part of the park has been restored?

Do you call the hacking down of the ten foot arborvitae and replacement by cheap 18" shrubs RESTORATION!

Maybe it's the island where this big massive green wooden shed now sticks out like a sore thumb? You mean THAT restoration?

Anyone know why and where the fireworks were last night (Saturday, May 27) in Bloomfield? We live up by the Brookdale School, and this were south of there - maybe Foley Field - but we could see them -- they were great. Just curious.

"... this WAS ..." Sorry. Not enough coffee yet.

They were at the Glen Ridge Country club. Not sure what was being celebrated.

It was a wedding.

they certainly spent enough. the fireworks were better than those on the 4th of July in town!

Sorry we missed it. Look's like it may be the only fireworks we see in Bloomfield until they resolve Foley Field's issues.

The Country Club has announced that they are also having fireworks for July 4th--9pm

Another Pedals for Progress used bike collection will be held in our community this week end:

June 3rd, 2006
1 PM – 4 PM
Brookdale Baptist Church
1350 Broad St (near Shoprite)
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973)489-8476 Stephane

Spread the word, and bring your old bikes.

Pedals for Progress is a wonderful organization redirecting used bikes from our landfills to people in less developed areas. There a bike is a life changing item for people who can only afford to walk to work, market, school, hospital, etc…

www.p4p.org

There are opportunities for volunteers to help condition the bikes for transportation: straightening handlebars, removing pedals, lowering saddles and loading in the truck.
Or just fill in the tax receipts and cheer the team.

If you can spare some time on Saturday, please contact me beforehand:

(w) 212-902-3783
(h) 973-509-5328
(c) 973-489-8476

Thank you.

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