Memories come rushing up
Pink Floyd had a greatly overlooked album in the 1980’s: The Final Cut, (Requiem for a post war dream). Most of the album dealt with war and its effects. One particular cut seems appropriate today. It’s Memorial day, and “the Gunner’s Dream” stands out, lyrically, for the occasion. Memorial day asks us to remember those who have fallen in defense of our country. The line “Memories come rushing up to meet me now” and the general feel of the song encapsulate what Memorial day is about. You may have feelings about the use of military force (Roger Waters definitely does). But, the dream of what our soldiers fought for is undeniable: “A place to stay, enough to eat/Somewhere, old heroes shuffle safely down the street”.
Memorial day in America started shortly after the civil war. But, the meaning has become lost over the decades. People think of it as the unofficial beginning of summer. Barbecues and celebrations abound. There are sales on everything from air conditioners to xylophones. And, everyone puts a flag out to drive commerce. This is so far from the original intent of the day. However, it is one of the rights that our soldiers gave their lives for. They fought for freedom and unity. So, they deserve a little more than a 10% off coupon. The whole day, as its name implies is about remembering. It’s a time to share those memories and honor the fallen soldiers.
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When you see a picture, Memories come rushing up
Chances are, you know someone who served in the military. It may be a father, brother, uncle, sister, mother, aunt, grandparent, or friend. Some are no longer with us. If you look at a photo of that person, you can’t help but feel a sense of loss and reverence. We feel sad that they are no longer with us. And, we feel pride for their service. If that person died in service to our country, we feel gratitude. Sometimes, we feel anger that they gave their life. What was it for? Could it have been prevented?
In reality, there are few reasons to die for a cause. Most wars start because politicians can’t let go of pride. They didn’t do their job. And, there is usually an economic component. Our US civil war fought over slavery. To the confederacy, it was about cheap labor. To the union it was about human rights. Instead of negotiating an economic solution, Jefferson Davis and company decided to fight for secession. Putin ceased Crimea and is attacking Ukraine because he wants their resources and ports to control commerce. And, of course, we can’t forget the Gulf wars referenced by Roger Waters in his album “Amused to Death” (a bit of a follow up to the Final Cut). That one started when Iraq wanted Kuwait’s oil.
The original Memorial day celebrations were about the US civil war. Despite the economic incentive, it was also about Keeping the country unified. Sadly, our current political situation is deteriorating what those brave men who gave the “last full measure” fought for. States’ rights are trumping federal standards. You have different rights depending where you live.
How Civil was the Civil war?
When you hear the word civil, you think of civility, which is Quiet and peaceable behavior. But, the civil used in the term civil war relates to of, for, and by the citizenry. It dates back to the Roman civil wars in the first century BC. Still, when we study the US civil war, it does show some level of decorum. The letters written at the time are poetic. The honor and respect that leaders on both sides had for each other is something we don’t see today. And, there were no chemical or biological weapons attacks. Despite the underlying politics, the fighters on both sides felt they were fighting for the sovereignty of their homeland.
The South fought against what they perceived as authoritarian government that threatened their way of life. And, the North fought for the preservation of the Union. If the south had won, the US would look more like Europe. Instead of one massive country, each state would be its own nation, like France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany, etc. We are a far greater nation because the North won the civil war. And, that’s why we celebrate Memorial day. Brothers took up arms against brothers. And, the result was, we are still family. We learned to be Civil with each other. But, again, that civility is currently under a lot of stress. So, let’s take this opportunity to remember how we got to have the greatest Nation in the world. We need to preserve the Union, and resist self interest over the greater good.
More than Decoration
Memorial day was originally called Decoration Day. The First official national ceremony happened in 1868. The actual first memorial day is disputable. But, one celebration stands out. In 1866, women in Columbus, Mississippi Went to put flowers on the graves of Confederate soldiers. When they saw that the graves of Union soldiers were bare, they decided to decorate them as well. This” decorating” became so popular that the day was actually called Decoration day for some time (and still is in some places). Originally, It was specifically about the civil war. After WWI, Other wars would be included in the ceremony. Congress declared Memorial (or decoration) day a national holiday in 1971, changing the date from May 31 to the last Monday in May.
But, what is the purpose of this decoration? It’s intended to help Memories come rushing up. We are supposed to remember those who gave their lives for a cause. But, lost in that memory of the soldier is the learning that should happen as well. These brave souls died because politicians didn’t do their job. And, ironically, it’s politicians who use Memorial day as a photo op to show how much they care about the military. The military is supposed to be a deterrent, not a weapon to be used lightly. Instead of just mourning and lauding the sacrifice, we should learn to prevent it from happening again. the philosopher George Santayana is often quoted and paraphrased in the saying “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” and “Only the dead have seen the end of war”.
When Memories come rushing up, It’s time to learn.
We “celebrate” holidays all the time. But, do we ever learn on those days? Thanksgiving is also national Maize day and Native American Heritage day. When the Pilgrims settled in Massachusetts, they learned a lot from the indigenous people. And, they were thankful. Unfortunately, within a couple generations, the hospitality and invaluable lessons of that initial meeting were forgotten. Subsequently, the European invaders tried to eradicate the indigenous population. And, we still have problems with people disrespecting native culture and not learning from the past. In the words of Glum from Gulliver’s travels, “we’re doomed”.
Photo courtesy of https://medium.com/@klrpdx/relentless-solution-focus-or-how-to-make-your-team-and-boss-love-you-87d4079c79af
So, what to do about this lack of learning? There are people who spend their entire lives studying war. Unfortunately, most of them only want to learn how to win wars, not prevent them. An inability to negotiate in good faith is the basis of all conflict. Why do we go from a simple disagreement to using force and weapons? When is the last time you had a fight with someone and resolved it by shooting them? Worse than that, You had your friends, family, and neighbors fight and kill each other over your dispute? Edwin Star sums it up pretty bluntly in his song “War, what is it good for?” “Absolutely nothing.” It’s not hard to see.
So, how do we “celebrate”?
War and death are not something to celebrate. It is a time to memorialize. We can be thankful for the freedoms we have, and that these people (mostly men) lost their lives defending our rights. Many people are critical of the fact that we observe memorial day by barbecuing and partying. And, there is something inappropriate about that. But, eating for the soul of the departed is a custom in many cultures. So, having a barbecue is fine. Just, tone down the music and revelry. When is the last time you went to a funeral or memorial service and boogied down on the dance floor? Although, in some places that is acceptable and shows reverence. Look at New Orleans’ funerals.
So, when you go about your memorial day, enjoy the freedoms that the departed soldiers protected. But, give them their due respect. Above all else, Try to respect the lesson to be learned. As, Santayana said, “Only the dead have seen the end of war”. Mick Jagger cried out at Altamont, “why are we fighting?” There is no reason we can’t all get along. We can have disagreements. But, it comes down to this: When Memories come rushing up, It’s time to learn. So, let your politicians know, we should work together to make the world a better place instead of fighting each other. All that comes from fighting is death destruction, and injury. So, stop electing “fighters”. Vote for smart, reasonable people who want to work together.
And, now, it’s time to eat, drink, and memorialize.
Lemon Garlic Chicken with Fiddlehead and Chick Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
- 2 Tbsp Garlic, Chopped
- 3 medium Lemons
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Marjoram
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Parsley
- 1 Cup With Wine
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Fresh Shallot
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Ground Corriander
- olive oil to taste
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- For Fiddlehead Salad
- 1 Lb Fresh Fiddleheads
- 2 Cups Cooked Chic Peas
- 1 Cup Diced Fresh Sweet Onion
- 1 Cup Diced Fresh Bell Pepper
- 1 Cup Diced Fresh Tomato or grape tomatoes cut in half
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Basil
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
- 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
- 1 Cup Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Zest 1 lemon And squeeze out the juice. Slice the other two lemons. Set aside one for garnish. Whisk all the other ingredients together. Split into two containers. Place the chicken breasts in one. marinate for 3 or more hours.
- While that is marinating, make the fiddlehead salad. Whisk Lemon Juice, olive oil, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper together to make a light dressing.
- Thoroughly clean the fiddleheads. Soak in water, get out all dirt. Remove from the water and resoak a couple times. Then, Boil some water on the stove. Lightly salt it. Dip the fiddleheads for a few seconds to bring put the color. Immediately, Dip them in an ice bath or under cold water to stop the cooking.
- Toss the fiddleheads and the rest of the ingredients in the light dressing. Refrigerate until ready to use. Do this within an hour of service time, otherwise the lemon will discolor the vegetables and break them down too much. You want them to be fresh and vibrant.
- Preheat a grille and a 400 degree oven. Grille the chicken to put nice marks on it. Then transfer to a baking sheet. Top with the extra marinade. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Brush more of the reserved marinade on top and platter with the fiddlehead salad on top.
Ginger Key Lime Mimosa
Ingredients
- 16 Oz Champagne or other sparkling wine
- 16 Oz Orange Juice
- 4 Oz Lime Juice
- 2 Oz Honey
- 2 Oz Candied Ginger
- 4 Oz Ginger Liqueur
- 2 each Limes and oranges for garnish and muddling
- A mixture of 5 parts turbinado sugar and 1 part ginger powder to rim the glasses
Instructions
- Mix your sugar and ginger to rim the glasses. Cut slices of limes and oranges. And, put a slit in the slices so they can garnish the rim.
- Take a lime and moisten the rims of your glasses. Dip the rims in the sugar to create an even coating. Set aside.
- In a large pitcher, Muddle the candied ginger with 4 slices each of orange and lime. Then add in the honey, ginger liquor and Juices. Mix well with a spoon. Then add the Sparkling Wine. Strain into the rimmed glasses and garnish with lime and orange wheels. Drink and enjoy your day.