Remember to Honor our Veterans
November 11, 2012
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” If you are Facebook friends with a military veteran, you have probably seen this quote at some point.
With the emergence of social media, people of many backgrounds can now meet in one place, share ideas and offer opinions. On the surface, this hard-hitting sentence is a criticism on civilized society, taking a jab at people that enjoy the freedoms that veterans help preserve. But at a deeper level, this quote may express feelings that result from societal miscommunication. There are two questions that come to mind when I read this quote: 1) Who said it? and 2) Why is it relevant?
Rudyard Kipling, Winston Churchill, George Orwell and Theodore Roosevelt are among the many people that have been credited with having said it, but it is difficult to find a record of when and where it was actually said. In fact, when you Google the phrase it is listed as a ‘misquote’.
A study by Quote Investigator reveals that it was first penned in 1993 by Richard Grenier, a film critic and essayist for the Washington Times in an attempt to paraphrase a concept that these famous leaders collectively shared in different ways throughout the years.
So why is this misquote considered so relevant that it can be found repeatedly posted on social media and inscribed on military buildings?
Let’s look from the serviceperson’s viewpoint: we send young Americans away to perform a job that can be lonely, exciting and sometimes confusing. They perform their duty for a sense of honor and they are told that society appreciates their service. When they come home, they want to feel normal again, looking for both appreciation and human interaction as they struggle to sort out their recent experiences.
It seems that while most Americans want to connect with returning veterans, they are uncertain of etiquette, wondering ‘Can I ask _______?’ or ‘What is appropriate to say?’ In the wake of these uncertainties, people often choose to avoid conversation about the veteran’s service altogether.
This behavior strengthens the notion that society doesn’t care or understand, further solidifying the idea that Jack Nicholson so convincingly declared in A Few Good Men when he said, “You can’t handle the truth!”
To maintain any relationship, one party must make an effort to understand the other’s perspective. As Americans, we benefit from our veterans’ service and collectively bear the responsibility of making the effort to bridge the communication gap.
This weekend we celebrate Veteran’s Day – the day that our country has set aside to remember and honor those that served. Over the years, we have learned that this weekend will likely contain a marathon of classic ‘manly movies’. So after you’ve watched reruns of The Dirty Dozen and enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep, please make an effort to appreciate someone that has served. Whether you buy a friend a beer, listen to an old story, or simply say ‘welcome home’, understand that your small gesture can make a difference.
Article by Mike Murphy
Thank you to the Daily Tribune for publishing.
With the emergence of social media, people of many backgrounds can now meet in one place, share ideas and offer opinions. On the surface, this hard-hitting sentence is a criticism on civilized society, taking a jab at people that enjoy the freedoms that veterans help preserve. But at a deeper level, this quote may express feelings that result from societal miscommunication. There are two questions that come to mind when I read this quote: 1) Who said it? and 2) Why is it relevant?
Rudyard Kipling, Winston Churchill, George Orwell and Theodore Roosevelt are among the many people that have been credited with having said it, but it is difficult to find a record of when and where it was actually said. In fact, when you Google the phrase it is listed as a ‘misquote’.
A study by Quote Investigator reveals that it was first penned in 1993 by Richard Grenier, a film critic and essayist for the Washington Times in an attempt to paraphrase a concept that these famous leaders collectively shared in different ways throughout the years.
So why is this misquote considered so relevant that it can be found repeatedly posted on social media and inscribed on military buildings?
Let’s look from the serviceperson’s viewpoint: we send young Americans away to perform a job that can be lonely, exciting and sometimes confusing. They perform their duty for a sense of honor and they are told that society appreciates their service. When they come home, they want to feel normal again, looking for both appreciation and human interaction as they struggle to sort out their recent experiences.
It seems that while most Americans want to connect with returning veterans, they are uncertain of etiquette, wondering ‘Can I ask _______?’ or ‘What is appropriate to say?’ In the wake of these uncertainties, people often choose to avoid conversation about the veteran’s service altogether.
This behavior strengthens the notion that society doesn’t care or understand, further solidifying the idea that Jack Nicholson so convincingly declared in A Few Good Men when he said, “You can’t handle the truth!”
To maintain any relationship, one party must make an effort to understand the other’s perspective. As Americans, we benefit from our veterans’ service and collectively bear the responsibility of making the effort to bridge the communication gap.
This weekend we celebrate Veteran’s Day – the day that our country has set aside to remember and honor those that served. Over the years, we have learned that this weekend will likely contain a marathon of classic ‘manly movies’. So after you’ve watched reruns of The Dirty Dozen and enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep, please make an effort to appreciate someone that has served. Whether you buy a friend a beer, listen to an old story, or simply say ‘welcome home’, understand that your small gesture can make a difference.
Article by Mike Murphy
Thank you to the Daily Tribune for publishing.
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