It always strikes me as odd when people say it.

It's also strange to me how so many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. You would think after people see the dates come and go for five or ten years, and hear the explanation of the meaning on the news, they would finally learn to distinguish between the two.

I know people's hearts are in the right place so it's hard for me to fault them.

I think it's a little odd, too. It bothers me more when people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. But I heard someone opine on the air that while we mourn the loss of those who died, we should be happy with the freedom they bought for us. It was an interesting spin on "Happy Memorial Day."

Probably most of the deceased veterans died so you could have a happy, healthy life.

I don't see a problem with it.

A funeral can be uplifting too. A celebration of a person's life.

Respectful yes. But it doesn't preclude happiness.

------------------------------------

I think it's weird for someone to say "Happy Memorial Day," but it doesn't really bother me. As others have mentioned, Memorial Day weekend is also a summer vacation time, and there are plenty of retailers that offer Memorial Day sales. While I don't think "Happy Memorial Day" is an appropriate greeting, I also don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying a three-day weekend or getting discounts that come along with Memorial Day weekend. Like Christmas, there is a commercial aspect to it that distracts from the original meaning. Also like Christmas, those who choose to will honor the true meaning while still enjoying other things in life.

quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:

quote:

Originally posted by airsoft guy:
Intent is key. "Happy" may be incorrect, but why is the person trying to do? What do they mean to say? Are they attempting to be polite and respectful?

Intent.

Agreed. Let's try to not be offended. Enough of that going around already.

This. JFC.

Honoring death IS celebrating life.

Don't let your sorrows steal your joy.

I used the term have a'Happy Memorial Day' yesterday and it seemed awkward to me even as I said it, but I couldn't think of anything else to say to express the day. Memorial Day is a holiday for most people and they use that day to remember past family. They also use that day as a day to dig out the grill, have friends over, get out and enjoy the day. Maybe saying,have a nice Memorial Day would have been more appropriate....I don't know!?

I'm surprised how many people confuse Memorial and Veteran's day, but I try and politely educate them where I can.

I cooked a turkey yesterday, like a typical Thanksgiving meal. I told my family that I am thankful that they don't have to honor me on Memorial Day.

I think it's a balancing act.

On one hand, it's weird to say/write "Happy Memorial Day." To me, it's the equivalent of saying/writing "happy anniversary of your parent/sibling/child/friend's death" on the anniversary of someone's death.

On the other hand, I do agree with ASG on intent as it's a unique holiday and people are accustomed to saying "happy [insert holiday name]" for every holiday.

On the other other hand, I do believe you can both remember the men and women who died in service of our country AND enjoy the freedom bought with their sacrifice by partaking in your favorite summer time activity.

I don’t know anyone that sits around all weekend in sorrow for all those that have passed nor would that do any good. As stated in another thread, remember why we are free and don’t forget those who died for our freedom. We can choose how we celebrate Memorial Day and I don’t let the little stuff bother me. Maybe you choose to mourn all weekend and other rejoice for the life they have been given by others. I’m sure there are others who haven’t given a second thought to what the day was for. None of it brings back those that have died. As a famous soldier once stated, “lighten up Francis”.

Saying "Happy Memorial Day" may be misguided but clearly the person who said it meant no harm and is simply wishing you well, so just get over it.

I'm sorry if this day is tough for you but not everyone knows your personal life story.

quote:

Originally posted by darkest2000:
Saying "Happy Memorial Day" may be misguided but clearly the person who said it meant no harm and is simply wishing you well, so just get over it.

I'm sorry if this day is tough for you but not everyone knows your personal life story.

Again, be kind to the morons. Be appropriate and never teach them, be considerate of them even though they have no consideration.
You get over it. Think of someone coming up to you at a relative's funeral and telling you to have a nice day. Get over it then.

at least they recognize its memorial day. I guess that is something.

Not everyone experiences the loss of loved ones the same. While the sacrifice of military members and their beloved families is especially acute, many of the public have not suffered it. They likely have lost members of their family and have various perspectives of that loss. I refuse to impose my sensibilities on others. No offense to any other but that is the mentality the Left uses to oppress others with pearl clutching sanctimonious political correctness. The more we engage in it, the more we legitimize our own PC captivity. I won’t do it. And if I reflexively do it, I’ll apologize for it. I hope you all passed a grateful Memorial Day.

What is all this "anal" nonsense? Yes, I'm familiar with the clinical definition of the term. Can we just ask and answer questions without that shit in it? Thanks ever so

Ah the annual Happy Memorial Day thread. Usually it’s a few days before Memorial Day. I thought we’d missed it this year.

As mentioned before it’s all about intent. A few years ago I wished a guy Merry Christmas in passing on my way out of a building. He started yelling at me about how not everyone celebrates Christmas and how I shouldn’t just say that to everyone. I replied that I hoped he had a fucking shitty Christmas then and that since he didn’t believe in Christmas it shouldn’t matter.

Christmas Day is a day. You don’t have to celebrate it to get well wishes on that day. I wasn’t trying to convert him to Christianity I just hoped he had a good few days off.

Same thing here. Do you really think people saying happy Memorial Day are celebrating the death of military members?

I obviously didn’t die during my service. But I sure as hell didn’t serve so that people could tell others how to observe a day. If you want to visit grave sites and spend the day in remembrance or even mourning, there’s nothing wrong with it. If you want to spend it on the lake with friends grilling burgers and drinking too much, there’s nothing wrong with that either. I don’t think there’s any issue with wishing someone well on any day regardless of how they spend it and I try to let others live their lives as free as they want so long as they aren’t stopping me from being as free as I want.

I don't think you are too picky at all. I cannot imagine saying anything more insensitive to someone who has served their country, or who lost someone to wartime service.

It is a day of remembrance and reverence, but I confess I don't know the right thing to say either. Maybe it is better to wish someone a safe and blessed Memorial Day?



.

Changed the title per Para’s request.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I see that some share the same opinions as I do, and I see a growing trend that most do not. Even a reply or two with a little vitriol mixed in. One with some pretty good irony! lol

Just to clarify a couple of things. I do not correct anyone who says this to me. I leave them be and move on. The last thing I want to do on a day like yesterday (and most days actually) is to lecture anyone on how they should feel. These are just my personal views, and like most here, I don’t try to impose my views onto anyone else.

I also did not spend all weekend in sorrow and despair, as a few posts have eluded. My OP may have come across that way, but it wasn’t my intent. My comment about being sad was because it seems that most people these days just associate Memorial Day as a three day weekend, and are missing the real intent of it. The same can be said about Christmas....most people (as a society) these days treat that day as a day of just giving and receiving gifts and no longer observe it for it’s original intent of celebrating Christ.

Just my own personal feeling on it:
I have people in the ground who got there defending our great nation so I'd say I have a little skin in this game. Every Memorial Day I feel is a celebration of the freedoms and happiness they fought to preserve so yes, I like to remind everyone to take great joy in whatever activity their free heart desires.
It's what they would have wanted for us.

Seems using this logic we would not be able to grill out, go to the beach, have a family get together, etc. Would you have us all sit home in silent memory all weekend?

I remembered those who gave their life in uniform, I toasted them and I sat in quiet reflection and had a cigar in their honor. I also had a cookout with my family and we swam in the pool. I guess you could say I had a "happy memorial day weekend".

It is the holiday that kicks off summer so I don't see a problem with someone wishing someone else a happy holiday weekend. I view it as a celebration of the freedoms we owe to those who made the ultimate sacrifice that we are remembering.