Veterans Day

[tlcya]

http://www.loc.gov/vets/sights.html

In just the short time since its creation, the Veterans History Project is amassing a remarkable collection of interviews and documentary materials spanning much of the twentieth century. Contained in these sources are compelling accounts of wartime service from men and women, civilian and military, representing many ranks, jobs, branches of service, and theaters of war. Their stories--told in their own words through letters, diaries, and oral history interviews--teach us, amuse us, and inspire us. They also sometimes sadden us, with tales of lost lives, lost time, and lost innocence, all in service to our country.

 

[tlcya]

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-73277502/

Ciecko calls himself "a crazy old Marine" who gets around in a wheelchair after he lost both his lower legs during his last mission in the Vietnam War. He feels that his military service and years working with a nonprofit group to help veterans work through the maze of government paperwork to get better benefits is a pay back to American soldiers who saved his family during World War Two.

 

[ScubaTwinn]

Thank you veterans for the service you gave.

 

[wfgodot]

Some really nice pictures here from across the nation, from Daily Mail.

Tears for the fallen: America gathers in remembrance as Obama marks Veterans Day with wreath-laying ceremony

I'd been to a couple national cemeteries but nothing can prepare one for the magnificence that is Arlington. It's a must-see.

 

[Nova]

Probably the most-used term other than "Japs" - the other term used in a derogatory sense - was based on Japan's being known, until the end of WWII, as Dai Nippon Teikoku.

Right. And that word obviously "crosses the line".

I'm trying to use euphemisms ("Hirohito and his pals") whenever I can; since the period loved its slang anyway, what's the harm in inventing some more?

And it is musical comedy, not realistic drama. So I have no problem with omitting the nastier words. And I've avoided using "Japs" as a rhymed word, since that tends to emphasize a word in our ears.

But that abbreviation of "Japanese" was so commonly employed, I don't know how to avoid it. Longer words like Japanese and "the enemy" don't have the right ring in a period that loved "hipster-speak".

What is your verdict, wfgodot? (I'm not making you responsible, but I am interested in what you would do.)

 

[Nova]

I had a Chinese friend in college who was very insistent that people were Asian, and things like rugs, furniture, art were Oriental.

There was good natured teasing with my dad about it...

I think "college" might be the key word there, Charlie. It's certainly where I learned that "Oriental" was outmoded. Thank you, Edward Said, for your book, Orientalism.

 

[Nova]

On Saturday we named a street in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Scott D. Porter 21 who was killed last year. His father asked the District Attorney if there was something we could do in his memory. The DA instantly said you got it, and immediately contacted the Mayor to get a street named in this fallen heroes name. Please read more.

http://douglasville.patch.com/articles/local-marine-killed-in-afghanistan

According to your link, his name was Scott D. Harper.

I hope they named the street "Harper Road" or even "Scott Harper Road".

They've been doing similar things with policemen killed in the line of duty here in CA and I am all for it. But naming a street "Marine Lance Corporal Scott D. Harper Boulevard" just makes it impossible to read at 65 mph on the freeway. Another choice would be to use the full title for the street's official name, but use a shorter version on road signs.

 

[wfgodot]

Right. And that word obviously "crosses the line".

I'm trying to use euphemisms ("Hirohito and his pals") whenever I can; since the period loved its slang anyway, what's the harm in inventing some more?

And it is musical comedy, not realistic drama. So I have no problem with omitting the nastier words. And I've avoided using "Japs" as a rhymed word, since that tends to emphasize a word in our ears.

But that abbreviation of "Japanese" was so commonly employed, I don't know how to avoid it. Longer words like Japanese and "the enemy" don't have the right ring in a period that loved "hipster-speak".

What is your verdict, wfgodot? (I'm not making you responsible, but I am interested in what you would do.)

I'd be sorely tempted to go with the Dai Nippon Teikoku variation - sparingly, of course. In its time it was no more derogatory, I don't think, than "Japs." (Of course, that's just the problem - "in its time.") There probably are inventive variations of terms such as geisha, samurai, ninja, shogun, that sort of thing, which - though in reality not used at the time - could be serviceable now in a musical comedy.

 

[Nova]

I'd be sorely tempted to go with the Dai Nippon Teikoku variation - sparingly, of course. In its time it was no more derogatory, I don't think, than "Japs." (Of course, that's just the problem - "in its time.") There probably are inventive variations of terms such as geisha, samurai, ninja, shogun, that sort of thing, which - though in reality not used at the time - could be serviceable now in a musical comedy.

That's a great idea. Whether authentic or not, referring to Japanese troops as "the samurai" certainly sounds like period slang.

Thanks for the suggestion! Feel free to sue for a share of the royalty; my BMI royalties run from $35 to $2K a year. LOL. (I tend to work in the non-profit sphere.)

 

[Reality Orlando]

Thanks to all our Veterans who have selflessly served our country.

 

[legalmania]

According to your link, his name was Scott D. Harper.

I hope they named the street "Harper Road" or even "Scott Harper Road".

They've been doing similar things with policemen killed in the line of duty here in CA and I am all for it. But naming a street "Marine Lance Corporal Scott D. Harper Boulevard" just makes it impossible to read at 65 mph on the freeway. Another choice would be to use the full title for the street's official name, but use a shorter version on road signs.

Here is a video of the sign and the speed limit is 45. His nickname was "boots" so I guess they dropped the Marine so they could fit in boots. I don't know what I was thinking to put in Porter.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/20058717/douglasville-street-renamed-for-fallen-marine

 

[Nova]

Here is a video of the sign and the speed limit is 45. His nickname was "boots" so I guess they dropped the Marine so they could fit in boots. I don't know what I was thinking to put in Porter.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/20058717/douglasville-street-renamed-for-fallen-marine

I want to be clear that I am entirely in favor of honoring our war dead in this manner. And the memorial sign is lovely.

I don't know how long a stretch of Douglas Boulevard was renamed, but Lance Corporal Scott "Boot" Harper Memorial Boulevard is a lot to put on every street sign.

 

[legalmania]

I want to be clear that I am entirely in favor of honoring our war dead in this manner. And the memorial sign is lovely.

I don't know how long a stretch of Douglas Boulevard was renamed, but Lance Corporal Scott "Boot" Harper Memorial Boulevard is a lot to put on every street sign.

This is a small town only about 30 to 40K, so we have the room. The mall is the biggest place around here, for this little town so it doesn't take up much space at all and the sign looks beautiful. I'm sure this wouldn't be feasible in a bigger town. Douglas Boulevard probable is about 5 miles long.