Busy morning today, so no time to chat. Here’s this, though, an interesting story about the struggle over a memorial plaque for a dead soldier in his hometown:
In the quest of politicians and veterans to find the appropriate heading on the existing township monument, they considered titles like the Global War on Terrorism, the Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism, Operation Iraqi Freedom and War in Iraq. The Board of Trustees eventually settled on simply: Iraq.
Some years ago, a friend of mine — OK, it was Lance Mannion — noticed the military’s “branding” campaign. “Operation Overlord was a code name,” he said. “Operation Desert Storm is marketing.” True. And so now we’re engaged in a war that even the bereaved don’t know what, exactly, to call it.
The result is still the same, regrettably.
I’ll try to be back this afternoon, but maybe not. Last night at writing group someone made the comment that everyone in the world has shoplifted something, at some time in their lives. I raised my hand: “Uh, no.” So they all said for next week I need to write a piece of short fiction on shoplifting, something I’ve never done in my life. I guess I need to start researching the topic.
brian stouder said on August 10, 2005 at 10:03 am
‘Wynona Nall’ – hmmmmmm…..well, it’s still alliterative!
When you get caught, and claim “research for a role” (or article, or whatever), and they give you 80 hours of community service, maybe you will get to run a lawn mower at the Court House, like the bug-eyed runaway bride, eh?
286 chars
Claire said on August 10, 2005 at 10:18 am
I’ve never shoplifted a thing in my life, either. I remember when those lip smackers and Mabelline lip potion lip glosses came out in the 70’s. Girls I knew slid them into their pockets when we’d go to the store.
I was scared to death. Both scared of getting caught and, if not, that God knew and He said, “Thou shalt not steal!”
I think fear was the primary motivator that kept me from doing so rather than “good character.”
Oh, also, I just have to tell people that my sister (age 41) is coming back from Iraq today for her “r&r”! She arrives this afternoon at Detroit Metro. The good news is we get to see her as she has been gone since last December. The bad news is she has to go back again in two weeks…
718 chars
brian stouder said on August 10, 2005 at 10:33 am
“my sister (age 41) is coming back from Iraq today for her “r&r”! She arrives this afternoon at Detroit Metro.”
Claire – excellent news!
143 chars
Nance said on August 10, 2005 at 10:44 am
Does she get to fly first class? The last few times I’ve seen soldiers flying on civilian airlines, they all either got courtesy upgrades of had first-class tix in the first place.
Great news. Make it all count.
214 chars
Claire said on August 10, 2005 at 11:34 am
Thanks you guys. I’m not sure about the first class accommodations; I’ll find out in a few hours though. As family members we get special permission to be able to meet her right at the gate! It will be interesting to hear from her what it’s “really” like over there (a soldier’s perspective) and how she feels about the War, their mission, what the locals tell them, etc.
371 chars
alex said on August 10, 2005 at 12:10 pm
I’ve never shoplifted either, Nance. Well, once, actually–when I was three years old. On the way home from the grocery store my mother noticed I was munching on Brach’s hard candies. “Where did you get that?” she demanded. “That’s stolen candy. You can’t eat stolen candy.” She took away the handful I’d grabbed from the bin in the store on the way out.
It was a few years later that Brach’s candies were offered to me at a relative’s home. “That’s stolen candy,” I said to my aunt. “They’re very bad and my mom doesn’t let me eat them.”
541 chars
brian stouder said on August 10, 2005 at 3:28 pm
>>It was a few years later that Brach’s candies were offered to me at a relative’s home. “That’s stolen candy,” I said to my aunt. “They’re very bad and my mom doesn’t let me eat them.”
You gave me my laugh of the day! I bet your Aunt raised her eyebrows at that statement!
I’ve been thinking of this G-SAVE thing. If we’re going to market the war, why not
Global Struggle to Promote Order and Tranquility?
422 chars
Dorothy said on August 10, 2005 at 3:38 pm
I’d almost forgotten about the time I stole a Chunky candybar and my mother made me take it back. (I had not eaten it yet). Taught me a valuable lesson. She stood with me, and made me apologize, and the store owner was stern but understanding. I never took another thing in my life. I wish more people handled kids this way these days. No one wants to admit to wrong doing any more. They try to shift the blame everywhere but where it belongs – right on their own shoulders.
Claire – enjoy your sister for two weeks! My brother-in-law is in Kosovo, which seems much safer than Iraq. But we worry anyway.
614 chars
brian stouder said on August 10, 2005 at 4:03 pm
I don’t remember stealing anything as a kiddo, although to be honest nowadays I think nothing of going home with a company pen in my pocket, or running copies of personal items on the whizz-bang copy machine, and so on.
When I was a teenager, I worked at a supermarket. People generally don’t clean up to go to the supermarket, the way they might before going to the mall. But one time a very (very) well-endowed woman, who was wearing a tight one piece very-green dress with a plunging neckline (call it a navel line!) and nothing else came into the store, and almost literally strutted around. Being a red blooded young American boy – I stopped whatever I was doing and ogled her! Later I learned that she was the distraction part of a shop-lifting team.
But what the hell! – she was a righteous distraction!
816 chars
blue girl said on August 10, 2005 at 4:04 pm
Hi Claire! Have fun with your sister and tell her that we all think of them over there and pray for them too.
blue girl
124 chars