A piece in the Glens Falls daily Post-Star on the local Loyalty Day parade began:
Apparently, 27 people in the Glens Falls region are loyal to the United States.
Though I've been critical of The Post-Star in the past, I haven't been as harsh against it as many people in this area. However, it's been a long time since I've read garbage like this in a purported news article.
Loyalty Day, officially May 1, was created as a counterbalance to the communist and labor celebrations of May Day. Loyalty Day became a legal holiday in 1958, shortly after the McCarthy witchhunts.
"The Russians and the Communist Chinese had taken over May Day, made it into a show of weapons and military force," explained one marcher. "The VFW wanted to do something separate, to show a rededication to flag and country."
To counter this show of weapons and military force, a parade was created where most of the marchers are in military uniform.
Organizers insist that this holiday is solely designed to re-affirm national loyalty and pride in the flag. Though one marcher ranted, "We're being sold down the river by the Legislature and the press... The politicians are making up their minds for their own benefit, and the press is making things up completely. Why don't they ask the people if they're in favor of the war on terror?"
Organizers also bemoaned the lack of turn out. "It's very hard to understand," said one ex-Veterans of Foreign Wars' post commander.
It's very easy to understand.
After reading this in the paper, I turned the page to another article which talked about how some 200 people showed up at the local community college to participate in a March of Dimes fundraiser walk.
Maybe people in this area believe that doing something to actually help others is a better use of their time than yet another macho expression of militarism and nationalistic fervor.
Fortunately, people in this area seem to realize that beating your chest incessantly about this country's greatness is less important than actually doing something concrete to make it better. Talk about how great America is or try to make it great? Actions speak louder than words. Bravo to the March of Dimes walkers for realizing this.
It's reassuring to know that once in a while, good deeds can trump pointless jingoism.
Update: As one reader pointed out, there is already a holiday called Flag Day. There is also Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. So it's not like there's a lack of holidays on our calendar for those who like flag-waving orgies.
3 comments:
I just wiki'ed "Loyalty Day," and discovered that it was meant to counterbalance the communistic-origins of May Day. I never even heard of Loyalty Day, but I can understand the desire for some people to march 50 yrs ago on this date as a show of strength against Communist marches. (I've seen pictures of those rallies, and those were more about anti-communism and discussing the evils of the Soviet empire.) But man, it's 2007, the Soviets fell a few years back. Hell, even the name of the day is incredibly lame to say in the least, though that "Apparently, 27 people in the Glens Falls region are loyal to the United States" line is even more of a joke. I hope the paper is flooded with letters.
(One marcher explained,) "The VFW wanted to do something separate, to show a rededication to flag and country."
Apparently that "loyal" American is unaware that there already is such day. Its called Flag Day & is on 14 June.
... to say nothing of Armed Forces Day or Independence Day.
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