Friday is Veteran's Day. It's the day the country honors the citizens who have either risked their

[cherokeeprogressive]

lives or GIVEN their lives in defense of the Constitution and all it stands for. Every "Occupy" protest in EVERY city in the US needs to mark this day. Every "Occupy" group OWES their right to protest to the people we honor on Veterans Day.

For everyone who protests in the name of the OWS movement, I'd ask that they honor those who made their protests possible.

Put up hundreds of tents in dozens if not hundreds of countries as a means of protest and wind up incarcerated if not TORTURED AND DEAD.

Give PROPS on Friday to those people who made your protests POSSIBLE, and who guarantee you'll be able to protest in the future.

[evlbstrd]

1. Ironically,

Banks are closed. Most vets don't get the day off.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. I'll be working on Friday. Not the point.

[evlbstrd]

8. I know that.

But it was my point.

[MADem]

3. Well, Memorial day is more for the dead. Veteran's Day is mostly for the living.

It is a day to thank/honor vets for their service to the nation.

Memorial Day is when we honor those who died in war.

Veteran's Day was originally "Armastice Day" following the War to End All Wars (famous last words...).

Interesting factoids, here: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/veterans-day

[SoDesuKa]

4. Thanking the Veteran for Our Freedoms

America goes to war whenever there's an opportunity to do so. It has nothing to do with preserving American freedoms; in fact support for the military usually means not being allowed to criticize government policy. The effect of all this aggressive militarism is a diminution of American liberties, certainly not an enhancement of them.

America's actual relationship with veterans is simultaneously patronizing and uncaring. Nobody knows better than veterans the extent to which Americans don't want to hear from them. Civilians are happy to designate one day a year as Veterans Day; it makes it easier to ignore veterans the other 364.

Throwing crumbs of "gratitude" isn't the same as actually engaging veterans. As a group, veterans are mostly relegated to the shadows. Signficantly, veterans are taking their own lives at an astronomical rate, figures that don't include deaths from alcoholism, drug addiction or reckless behaviors so extreme that they suggest giving up on life.

Instead of thanking veterans, Americans really ought to think about apologizing to them. That would be an enormous cultural change for our warlike society, but it's not likely to happen any time soon. There's never a penalty for starting a war, even a dumb one. It's far more likely that America will continue to say to its veterans, Don't bother us with your troubles.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Ironically my local has many vets

so they get it, more than you probably understand.

But good point, I should be there on Friday, given that my husband, a Vet, will not get the day off from the USPS.

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Friday would be a good day

To go up and volunteer at the VA hosptial. Normally I go on Saturdays, but I am sure they wouldn't mind me doing Friday instead.

[mwrguy]

7. Thanks for all that Iraqi oil

Good job, bros.