Take It Slow: 5 Ways to Have a Safer Pandemic Memorial Day
How was Mothering Sunday? You wished that you played the violin outside your home, and your mother would be startled, and then be delighted, at Beethoven's Symphony No. 3. She would prepare an omelet filing of zucchini, shallots, and chives. (All goat cheeses were not created equal, she once pointed out. She would prefer the fresh French chevre.) You once thought of Ma's Donuts, which baffled her. It was a good thing that Mother's Day fell on peak tulip time, and you also settled with chicken thighs. (You like to pour orange, with ginger and soy sauce, over it.) It would make you think of picnic on Memorial Day. Is it safe to do it? Maybe. Maybe not.
Memorial Day is observed during the last Monday of May, a fact that prompted you to ask your tutor about it. If May 31 falls on a Tuesday, if not any other weekday, you wonder if Memorial Day would be remembered at all. Your tutor looked at you sternly, for a second or two, and then told you about the origins of Memorial Day. One. More. Time. It was formerly known as Decoration Day, where fallen soldiers were remembered for their sacrifices. It shouldn't be confused with Veteran's Day, which would honor the veterans, dead and alive. Decoration Day was once held during fall, where rural folks went out for a picnic. The pandemic should be a reminder to take it slow this year, where a somber approach would make you appreciate what our servicemen have done. You could only wish about the pre-pandemic era, where Memorial Day kicked off the summer season. You can write an essay on Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage", but reading Leigh Bardugo's "Shadow and Bone" seemed more exciting. (You dreaded the ships passing by the Unsea while saddened at the soldiers who were attacked by the volcra.) You decided to ask your parents about Memorial Day. You also asked your buddies as well.
One of those you befriended in the university was a final-year student, an English major. It happened on Freshers' Week. He confessed that watching "HOMELAND" helped him finish his assignments on time, as well as kept him from getting isolated while preparing for an examination. You were taken aback. (You never imagined a huge fan of David Benoit saying such a thing.) Then again, the university could be compared to a battlefield. And President Joe Biden recently announced his plans of withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan on 9/11. Did Americans really learned from the World Trade Center bombings? Your father scoffed at comparisons between Joe Biden and Harry S. Truman on foreign policy, as he argued that Biden would end up like Lyndon B. Johnson. (You don't foresee another Vietnam War, but Alan Moore would make you think twice.) Your coursemates don't seem to be interested at all, as they rather talk about the latest twist in "American Idol". (They still haven't gotten over Hunter Metts's elimination.) One of your coursemates, who became antsy as of late, was curious about your summer plans. Traveling may be tempting at this time, but you don't mind to do something you haven't done before. This came to mind after attending an unusual online exhibit, where artists posted things of loved ones who succumbed to Covid-19 complications. You don't want to compare it to pieces of clothing, if not black-and-white photos, of (deceased) soldiers, but the exhibit gave you a deja vu feeling.
Memorial Day in Popular Culture: How to Remember our Soldiers
Does reading help at all? You saw "Northwest Passage" on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), which your professor lamented that this Spencer Tracy film wasn't a faithful adaptation of Kenneth Roberts's classic. You're aware of how the sacrifices of soldiers are often disregarded, if not forgotten, but Roberts's narrative seems to have more substance than Oliver Stone's films on the Vietnam War. (Your roomie, a film junkie, thought that Stone needed a shrink, and the moviegoers might not be enough.) Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" could be another recommendation, as well as that thoughtful biographical film on Sergeant (Alvin) York (starring Gary Cooper). The setting of these stories may have happened during bygone times, but it wouldn't be hard to relate it to current events. You were thinking of medical workers, one of whom was your father's younger sister. (And she couldn't believe at how some Americans becoming more impatient about the new normal.)
If you happen to live in District of Columbia , if not decide on passing by , then ... you must not miss Arlington National Cemetery. Your parents could like the idea of visiting it. (And mass tourism won't be an issue at all.) It shouldn't be compared with Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the most visit necropolis in the world (and the site of three World War I memorials), as your visit is your way of paying tribute for the soldiers and their heroics. If watching "HOMELAND" had taught you anything, it would be a bitter truth about heroism.
It's time to show your concern on foreign policy . During a recent Zoom conversation, your coursemate wondered if history could repeat itself. There's no doubt about it, and recent events in the Middle East deserve more attention. It should remind you of the worst case of mob mentality, which was shown during the fourth season of "HOMELAND" (and how your jaws dropped after Saul Berenson, the acting director of CIA, revealed his views on religion). Is the total withdrawal of America from Afghanistan a wise decision at all? Your tutor, who is interested in the history and culture of Central Asia, believes that Afghanistan is the so-called graveyard of empires. Our servicemen, who have been stationed in Kabul for some time, would sigh a relief. But it's hard not to shake off that nagging feeling.
There are soldiers volunteering in an area near you . We're at war with the coronavirus, so it shouldn't be surprising to see servicemen assisting health workers these past months. And your tutor was happy to see some of them delivering oxygen tanks and medical supplies to India. Times might have changed the way we perceive the world, such that jingoism won't pose a threat. But...
Your old man gave his two cents on " The Longest Day ". Your father enjoyed watching "The Longest Day", which you have reservations; you never saw such enthusiasm and fun on the faces of soldiers while awaiting orders on the liberation of the French populace from the Nazi. Must it be an epic film? Did John Wayne deserved top billing? Have you imagined James Bond in the trenches? Your tutor looked at you amusingly. (Does showbiz deserve serious treatment?) You might settle with Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan".
You've Been Warned, But You Chose to Ignore It
You might be one of those Americans who couldn't wait for the new normal, as you told your parents about your summer plans. It would include outdoor dining, prompting your mother to suggest grilled burgers on Memorial Day. It should be a good idea to invite your friend to a backyard picnic. (And you could compare your different approaches on how to cope with stress during the final week of the term.) More Americans are vaccinated later this month, which would mean the easing of restrictions. Keep in mind that some areas will reach herd immunity before the others. If your hometown is still on the red zone, then watching another war film would be better than wondering what might have been...
You wanted to know your tutor's opinion on Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now". He haven't seen it, which left you speechless.
