To the Editor:
There’s something dignified and noble during Memorial Day, in our recollection of those who died in public service, that’s entirely missing in the next holiday remembrance for those who died; those who lived in service to God.
The actual day to honor them has all but disappeared — to pay respect to the saints, the hallowed, the holy — only tattered remnants of its meaning in inverse images linger in the night preceding.
As much as we appreciate the efforts and sacrifice of our military and police and other civil servants, and do them homage to hold them up as heroes and role-models, to keep their duty and sacrifice alive as something we all should emulate; so too, recognition should be held for those who remained true to their principles, paid heed to their conscience, and stood against evil; in most cases, paying the ultimate price with their lives.
On the eve of the hallowed’s day, when remembering the impending brush of mortality that will hold all of us to a time of accountability, do not dismiss the lessons imparted and passed down through history to us; and ignoring their meanings, surrender to the attractions of frivolity and mockery towards the realm of death.
There is no balance when our culture is subsumed in this macabre dance with death in the direction of vampires, undead, and rapacious aliens; where the icons of the day are painted in tones of murder, mutilation, and horror.
The media’s deluge of demonic themes is not feeding anyone’s soul. Much like the lack of nutrition in the sweet, empty, transitory candy of the season.
So the question would be, from whence would we get our noble examples, the righteous and the honorable; to counterbalance the mocking of terror and agents of chaos by imitating them in cartoonish fashion?
When it’s “all in good fun” and “in the spirit of costuming and pretending to be something that you aren’t,” don’t forget to balance that with icons and celebrations of good — it is our children we are indoctrinating with this predominance of icons of evil.
Mocking or not, death will come; and heaven help us if doesn’t look like to me that we’re setting ourselves up for what we may face in our spiritual future.
Newcastle
