As a pacifist, I used the Memorial Day post, which I could have let offend
me, I suppose, as a reminder to reflect on my contributions to strife in
the world and on how I too make unwarranted assumptions, at times,
especially when I perceive myself as part of a majority.
Thanks for reminding me to be more aware, as I respond, of protecting the
strength offered by this group's diversity.
Marie
-------------------
Marie Wilson Nelson
National-Louis University
mnel who-is-at nlu.nl.edu
respond > At 1:18 PM 5/26/98 -0500, (The Left Rev.) John Konopak
wrote:
> >Memorial Day: It is the day to recall the sacrifices of the (US war)
> >dead, beginning with the dead of the armies that ended slavery and
> >re-joined the (US) Union. I am a veteran (Vietnam), son of a veteran
> >(WWII), and grandson of another (WWI).
>
> John Konopak,
>
> I understood your personal context as a veteran (Vietnam)
> including your family history.
> Because of so, asking a foreigner such as Japanese to have
> US national memorial day of War as "reflective day" has
> a very specific, delicate meaning.
>
> For example, your first mail addressing to me says,
> "Enjoy Memorial Day--but DO remember, please!"
> But, how can I as a foreigner Enjoy your Memorial Day?
> What is the meaning of *but DO remember*?
>
> For me, these kinds of expression are still very strange.
> Maybe, your personal context as a veteran (Vietnam)
> including your family history is accounting everything.
>
> As Mike pointed out, this is international forum where
> there is much cultural variation and where we discuss the quite
> different issues. So, I think we should avoid the expression
> and the topic about each nation's Memorial days of Wars.
>
> The opposite case will make the meaning more clear.
> If I send you the line like "Have a reflective (Japanese)
> Memorial Day of War (for dead Japanese)!", it will be very
> strange and making too delicate meaning in this context.
>
> Let' s go back to the appropriate issue here without
> referring to "Reflective Memorial Day".
>
> Naoki Ueno
> NIER, Tokyo
>
>
>
>
>
-------------------
Marie Wilson Nelson
National College of Education
National-Louis University