Isn’t it a little bit interesting how the proper nouns of holidays lack the apostrophe to make it possessive? It’s not commonly written as Veterans’ Day. Like we have some sort of aversion to possession when it comes to holidays—or maybe it’s just because it’s easier to write and think of without offering it to them. It’s in their honor, after all, not for them.
Today was originally named “Armistice Day,” when it was proclaimed into the public zeitgeist by President Wilson back in 1919[1]; however, the US Congress had other ideas and eventually amended the act that created the holiday to make it Veterans Day. The one that we celebrate now.
Interestingly, it’s probably only a bank holiday now. Especially with veterans pouring out of Iraq. A little weird how we treat our veterans, even during a time ostensibly when we’re not actually at war, but playing war anyway. Most workplaces don’t observe it, few people do, although I’m sure there’s a place for patriotic displays of flag waving and other puffed up ceremony like marching bands and parades—but none of this is designed in any way to highlight the staggering lack of proper funding for veteran hospitals and hospices, in spite of the wobbling mound of money thrown into our defense budget.
For those of us who haven’t had enough American jingoism for one day, how about I leave everyone with the best thing I’ve got: a video game developed in Japan about the President of the United States taking back the country from a fascist coup d'état—by the Vice President…
Believe in your own justice, Mr. President! Metal Wolf Chaos.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day#History
