tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464708.post7694384106960191151..comments2024-03-22T06:05:36.544-04:00Comments on Kids Prefer Cheese: Norman Rockwell and Independence Day 2011Mungowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02340064320347875601noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464708.post-40116309027427016662011-07-04T22:54:21.893-04:002011-07-04T22:54:21.893-04:00This is going to come across as cold, maybe even c...This is going to come across as cold, maybe even crass, so let me preface it by saying I too feel for Mrs Cathey and all the veterans and their families like hers. But ... am I just imagining it, or are we seeing a noticeable increase in soldier worship in recent years?<br /><br />Today, for example, in the regular media I viewed, such as the local and national TV news, the coverage of the holiday was along two lines: partying (fireworks, cookouts, hot dog eating contests, etc.), and the troops (how they're partying over there, paeans to how they're sacrificing for our freedom, a montage of soldiers singing the national anthem, etc.). I don't recall seeing anything actually about our independence, what it's founded upon, why it was (and is) important, etc.<br /><br />Today was just one example. It seems like many holidays have been coopted for soldier worship, extolling them for keeping us free, "Freedom isn't free" and all that. As another example, recall all the soldier Christmas greetings on TV each year--and it's not just here with our many military bases, but I've seen it too in central FL for instance.<br /><br />Now to be clear, I'm not begrudging anyone's Christmas greetings or anything. They're regular people too, after all. But it just seems something has become culturally unbalanced lately. Am I just imagining it?Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00417240489565721520noreply@blogger.com