On Veterans Day and a radio host I have to give a nod to....
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JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Alluded to a little in this article: While out for dinner...., but following up in more depth here.
I know a few others have posted some Veterans day related articles. For that I am glad, even without reading them all yet. I would hope we all remember what Veterans day is, why it exists, and why we should not forget it.
I happened to be listening to WTEM, SportsTalk 980, from the D.C. area a while ago, and got to catch Tony Kornheiser's appearance on the evening drive show there. He had apparently gone on a rant earlier in the day on his own show, or perhaps in his columnette in the Washington Post (where he used to have a regular column, but has cut back his work load since he also does P.T.I. on ESPN, has the radio show on WTEM, etc.) and was following up on the rant when one of the afternoon hosts asked him about the earlier rant about Veterans day.
Kornheiser gave a great spiel about Veterans day, the importance of it, and why it should not be forgotten and then lamented about how it has become less and less significant over time while other holidays get much more attention. Holidays like Halloween (not really even a holiday, just a day we all know, a reason for stores to have sales of buckets and bags full of chocolates and other sweets), Thanksgiving, and others get far more attention and recognition.
The host and his partner discussed it a bit, with the partner (as usual) sticking his foot in his mouth with the idiotic statement that Veterans day is less significant because it isn't one of the holidays that is celebrated on a Monday like President's day or some others might be and isn't like Thanksgiving which is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of the month of November, no matter the date. To that Kornheiser was quick to remind that Christmas always falls on December 25th, and July 4th always falls on that day also and yet they are never forgotten.
People that have read my comments in the past may recall me ranting a bit about rarely agreeing with Kornheiser's political side. I enjoy his sports columns, find him amusing on the radio and when I occassionally catch his TV show, also enjoy hearing him discuss sports material. On politics, he's unabashedly on the left. He is friends with Gov. Bob Ehrlich of Maryland (golf buddies actually), but he most likely pulled the lever or put the check mark next to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's name on the ballot in the last Governor's race in Maryland.
With that all said, his rant in support of Veterans day, at least the one heard in the afternoon today, was one that makes me proud, and for which I have to take off my cap and salute or nod to him for. He lamented well how Veterans day is finding itself lost among other days in our crowded calendar, but shouldn't be. He reminded listeners that the day was picked for a reason, the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of the year. And he went on to remind listeners of the debt they all have to veterans in this country, even as he stated that he's no vet himself, is against the war in Iraq, or at least questions why we are there. On Iraq, he clearly thanked our veterans, reminded listeners that there are people coming home to Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center with limbs gone forever, or with other injuries that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. People that are just doing the job we've asked them to do, all of whom deserve great thanks, and most certainly deserve for us all to take at least one day, if not two (Veterans day and Memorial day) or more, to remember them and the contributions they've made to our freedom and liberty, and to that of others around the world.
I don't claim to be a vet. I was but a reservist in the Army. I never served overseas, or fired off a shot in anger or in defense of a piece of property. I didn't have to worry about being in an enemies sights, and never went long camped out waiting for orders on where to be next. But I know the effort it takes the great people that serve and have served this country, and I appreciate all they have done. I also appreciate those that help to remind all of us of those people and what they have done, and for that I have to /nod Tony Kornheiser.
Have a great Veterans day everyone, and may you all remember what the day is really about.
I know a few others have posted some Veterans day related articles. For that I am glad, even without reading them all yet. I would hope we all remember what Veterans day is, why it exists, and why we should not forget it.
I happened to be listening to WTEM, SportsTalk 980, from the D.C. area a while ago, and got to catch Tony Kornheiser's appearance on the evening drive show there. He had apparently gone on a rant earlier in the day on his own show, or perhaps in his columnette in the Washington Post (where he used to have a regular column, but has cut back his work load since he also does P.T.I. on ESPN, has the radio show on WTEM, etc.) and was following up on the rant when one of the afternoon hosts asked him about the earlier rant about Veterans day.
Kornheiser gave a great spiel about Veterans day, the importance of it, and why it should not be forgotten and then lamented about how it has become less and less significant over time while other holidays get much more attention. Holidays like Halloween (not really even a holiday, just a day we all know, a reason for stores to have sales of buckets and bags full of chocolates and other sweets), Thanksgiving, and others get far more attention and recognition.
The host and his partner discussed it a bit, with the partner (as usual) sticking his foot in his mouth with the idiotic statement that Veterans day is less significant because it isn't one of the holidays that is celebrated on a Monday like President's day or some others might be and isn't like Thanksgiving which is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of the month of November, no matter the date. To that Kornheiser was quick to remind that Christmas always falls on December 25th, and July 4th always falls on that day also and yet they are never forgotten.
People that have read my comments in the past may recall me ranting a bit about rarely agreeing with Kornheiser's political side. I enjoy his sports columns, find him amusing on the radio and when I occassionally catch his TV show, also enjoy hearing him discuss sports material. On politics, he's unabashedly on the left. He is friends with Gov. Bob Ehrlich of Maryland (golf buddies actually), but he most likely pulled the lever or put the check mark next to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's name on the ballot in the last Governor's race in Maryland.
With that all said, his rant in support of Veterans day, at least the one heard in the afternoon today, was one that makes me proud, and for which I have to take off my cap and salute or nod to him for. He lamented well how Veterans day is finding itself lost among other days in our crowded calendar, but shouldn't be. He reminded listeners that the day was picked for a reason, the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of the year. And he went on to remind listeners of the debt they all have to veterans in this country, even as he stated that he's no vet himself, is against the war in Iraq, or at least questions why we are there. On Iraq, he clearly thanked our veterans, reminded listeners that there are people coming home to Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center with limbs gone forever, or with other injuries that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. People that are just doing the job we've asked them to do, all of whom deserve great thanks, and most certainly deserve for us all to take at least one day, if not two (Veterans day and Memorial day) or more, to remember them and the contributions they've made to our freedom and liberty, and to that of others around the world.
I don't claim to be a vet. I was but a reservist in the Army. I never served overseas, or fired off a shot in anger or in defense of a piece of property. I didn't have to worry about being in an enemies sights, and never went long camped out waiting for orders on where to be next. But I know the effort it takes the great people that serve and have served this country, and I appreciate all they have done. I also appreciate those that help to remind all of us of those people and what they have done, and for that I have to /nod Tony Kornheiser.
Have a great Veterans day everyone, and may you all remember what the day is really about.
