tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post7350316907745023280..comments2024-03-28T21:31:13.672-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: About Memorial DayJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71973087346135806142020-05-26T14:17:06.428-04:002020-05-26T14:17:06.428-04:00As horrible as this virus is it does not compare t...As horrible as this virus is it does not compare to those who willingly died in wars. Civil war= 755,0000. WW2= 405,399. WW1= 116,516. Revolutionary War=2500...plus there are many other "smaller" wars like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Previous flu epidemics have also cause significant numbers to die: annually on average in the US between 12,000 to 56,000. So yes, we face a nasty enemy...and we need to keep it in perspective. Stats come from general searches online for "American flu deaths by year" and deaths by "US military casualties by war".Jane Sharkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958305322889446640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67338407215648187632020-05-26T06:05:45.730-04:002020-05-26T06:05:45.730-04:00Thank you, Rhys.Thank you, Rhys.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14749926583614114272020-05-25T18:30:01.632-04:002020-05-25T18:30:01.632-04:00As someone who lives alone and hasn't seen fri...As someone who lives alone and hasn't seen friends and family for over 2 months, this has been getting to me. However, I'm not going crazy and ignoring the rules. And I resent the fools who do and maybe go to my grocery store and infect me! <br /><br />Glad to hear you all talk about Decoration Day. I remember my grandma and her sister putting flowers on family graves but not just military. I was wondering if I was crazy. My other grandma had brothers who fought in World War II but we don't have military in our family. My dad worked on airplanes because his sight was bad, and other men worked on the railroad. <br /><br />I hope next year we have a better Memorial Day, Stay safe and well.Sally from PAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649707016754971847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64163001592381481032020-05-25T18:03:13.886-04:002020-05-25T18:03:13.886-04:00Thank you for the eloquent post, Rhys.Thank you for the eloquent post, Rhys.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45024210959616323052020-05-25T13:08:01.054-04:002020-05-25T13:08:01.054-04:00Eloquently said, Rhys. Thinking about our ancesto...Eloquently said, Rhys. Thinking about our ancestors who fought in many wars, including the First and Second World Wars. Thought of the novels by Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd.<br /><br />No Memorial Day parades because of the COVID 19 pandemic and the shelter in place, I think.<br /><br />Diana<br />Bibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85719306033993887552020-05-25T12:27:07.902-04:002020-05-25T12:27:07.902-04:00Peace to all, everywhere, and blessings on those w...Peace to all, everywhere, and blessings on those with the courage to keep others safe -- which, these days, simply means staying home. How easy we have it compared to soldiers in other wars, in other times... Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17975933690463168906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76632353279656186082020-05-25T11:16:10.535-04:002020-05-25T11:16:10.535-04:00I have never been able to grasp that phrase, Happy...I have never been able to grasp that phrase, Happy Memorial Day. It’s like wishing someone a good time at a funeral. I also didn’t care for moving its date for observance to a floating Monday so people could have a long weekend. It seems like we’re ruled by convenience and commerce these days. Pat Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732230586783432052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7721315780526778302020-05-25T10:52:45.485-04:002020-05-25T10:52:45.485-04:00Oh, Ann, that's scary. Please let us know how ...Oh, Ann, that's scary. Please let us know how you two are. Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30888405552695078782020-05-25T10:51:31.380-04:002020-05-25T10:51:31.380-04:00I also come from a military family, Annette, and I...I also come from a military family, Annette, and I've been thinking of the same thing. And our civilian grandparents and great-grandparents lived with rationed flour, sugar, meat, gas, rubber, etc. etc, and observed blackouts and raised victory gardens and put their money into war bonds. And we think "freedom" means the right to go to $5 margarita night at Applebee's.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68356350765555184702020-05-25T10:43:11.782-04:002020-05-25T10:43:11.782-04:00I also remember Decoration Day when I was a little...I also remember Decoration Day when I was a little girl in Alabama. We were also in the Army, so it was always a serious observance wherever we were posted.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87324878704938664802020-05-25T10:40:12.814-04:002020-05-25T10:40:12.814-04:00Flora, I love the image of you and your sweet cat....Flora, I love the image of you and your sweet cat. Thank you for that.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31377121663234325382020-05-25T10:39:27.389-04:002020-05-25T10:39:27.389-04:00Amen to that, Gigi. I fear we're doomed to rep...Amen to that, Gigi. I fear we're doomed to repeat the path of the 1918 influenza, which was more widespread and deadly in the fall of '18 and winter of '19 as people let their guards down.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29412649668294465732020-05-25T10:37:41.026-04:002020-05-25T10:37:41.026-04:00Deana: yes, what do you say on Memorial Day? It...Deana: yes, what do you say on Memorial Day? It's meant to be somber, but it's also become a joyful start-of-the-summer weekend, which has happened in my lifetime - when I was a girl, Memorial day was the 30th every year, regardless of the day of the week.<br /><br />I usually compromise and wish people a "Happy Memorial Day Weekend."Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17818735122307429212020-05-25T10:31:54.873-04:002020-05-25T10:31:54.873-04:00Memorial Day became an official holiday, replacing...Memorial Day became an official holiday, replacing Decoration Day, in 1971.Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57358891132506309142020-05-25T10:20:41.752-04:002020-05-25T10:20:41.752-04:00I expect most of us have seen the comment: on 9/11...I expect most of us have seen the comment: on 9/11 3000 people died and the whole country mourned. Three thousand people are now dying daily and people demand a haircutAuthorrhysbowen@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844065473614874365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76251907331715373902020-05-25T10:15:59.652-04:002020-05-25T10:15:59.652-04:00I so agree, Karen. It’s hard to come up with a “ j...I so agree, Karen. It’s hard to come up with a “ just “ warAuthorrhysbowen@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844065473614874365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9815810865222100042020-05-25T10:13:55.671-04:002020-05-25T10:13:55.671-04:00That’s what is so worrying. We can be super carefu...That’s what is so worrying. We can be super careful and the one brush with a mask less idiot... I think actually you’ll be fine outside.keeping fingers crossed for JulieAuthorrhysbowen@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844065473614874365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76251624217211772632020-05-25T10:13:43.967-04:002020-05-25T10:13:43.967-04:00Amen. Well said, Rhys.Amen. Well said, Rhys.Cathy Akers-Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08291140883625021188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83044205008610221592020-05-25T10:04:53.381-04:002020-05-25T10:04:53.381-04:00I was struck by Judi's comment about Memorial ...I was struck by Judi's comment about Memorial Day not being a holiday in NC when she taught there. I thought Decoration Day started as a southern event where families gathered to clean up the sites of their buried families, in the family plots. They would clean and spruce it up, bringing food and drink to get them through the day. Maybe it didn't start out with an actual date, just a day set for the town to gather, when the weather was good and fair. Of course I may be wrong. <br /><br />As a child, my mother usually had a party the day after Memorial Day but sometimes, if Memorial Day happened on a weekend, the party might be the day before, on May 30. Until the Monday Holiday Bill putting Memorial Day in the fourth Monday in May, it was always the day before Mom's birthday. Images, memories get kinda fuddled when you are a small child. I wonder when we started putting "Happy" before the words Memorial and Day? <br /><br />Thank you for the words and thoughts,Rhys. May all our memories be of peace and health next year when this battle is, too, at bay.Deana Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093854261937772980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45612326164312699612020-05-25T09:40:26.397-04:002020-05-25T09:40:26.397-04:00I remember it being Decoration Day, too. It was ch...I remember it being Decoration Day, too. It was changed to Memorial Day in 1971, Judi. <br /><br />We lived across the street from the big public cemetery, and my grandfather was the sexton for the Catholic cemetery, so he lived in the caretaker's house on the property. My entire childhood centered around this kind of event. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64274755080994152772020-05-25T09:13:59.597-04:002020-05-25T09:13:59.597-04:00From your well chosen words I breathe and turn als...From your well chosen words I breathe and turn also to Ecclesiastes "There is a time..." . We who have been in war zones, we who have supported and mourned with the warriors, we stand with today and remember and honor. Thank you again all who are part of JRW's. May today bring the right words, and also bring peace. Coralee Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06691335135691119400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61572326558287994002020-05-25T09:02:31.308-04:002020-05-25T09:02:31.308-04:00Thank you.Thank you.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07810307017440257313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45422522637562061522020-05-25T08:57:25.888-04:002020-05-25T08:57:25.888-04:00Thank you, Rhys, for your elegant tribute to the d...Thank you, Rhys, for your elegant tribute to the day, but here are some facts to put it in perspective. Scholars estimate that between 650,000 and 750,000 soldiers died during the American Civil War. Countless civilians, caught up in the battle, also lost their lives. That's a heavy toll, but not too steep a price to pay if it means liberating human beings from slavery. <br /><br />Ending slavery and preserving the nation were noble causes. Having the chance to get back into the bars and down a few cold ones with your friends? Not so noble a cause to risk your life and the lives of others. Reds and readers know that I have a special fondness for the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, and local news reports say that Deep Ellum bars were packed on Saturday. Few masks; a lot of drunken revelry. I fear for the Dallas coronavirus statistics in the next two weeks.<br /><br />Be smart, everybody. Stay safe. We don't want to lose any of your precious voices.Gigi Norwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495357787099352860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6488455501782532622020-05-25T08:54:18.033-04:002020-05-25T08:54:18.033-04:00Well said, Rhys. Well said, Rhys. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54945005434966995692020-05-25T08:50:40.551-04:002020-05-25T08:50:40.551-04:00Amen, Rhys. My dad, as I have noted here before, s...Amen, Rhys. My dad, as I have noted here before, served in that necessary war, WWII. What did it cost him, as a man, to kill? He was called 'a soldier's soldier' by his commanding officer. Yet, this was a man called upon for the rest of his life, by the dying, for spiritual comfort. What a price we pay for the political messes of our times. It breaks my heart. I feel like weeping for all 100,000. (And there is an orange tiger cat in my lap, one paw on my arm as I type, yellow eyes on my face. He offers comfort sorely needed this morning.) Bless you all and may you all find some peace today and stay safe with all those you love.Flora Churchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289148096894506235noreply@blogger.com