This Tuesday, it's that time again
Nov. 9th, 2008 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thatcrazycajunThe eleventh day of the eleventh month, the laws of both this country and the one just north of us have decreed, is set aside each year for the honoring of those who choose to serve wearing, and those who have died wearing, the uniform of their country. (This country honors veterans on two days; Memorial Day in May specifically honors the dead, while Veterans' Day is meant to encompass all who have served.) In the north, it has become widespread custom to call for two minutes of silence at the eleventh hour on this day, to remind everyone of the solemn occasion.
Nine years ago on this day, a blind singer/songwriter named Terry Kelly was in a drugstore in Halifax, Nova Scotia when he heard one churlish fellow customer refusing to honor the two-minute silence, demanding that a cashier break the silence to serve him. Terry's own desire to not be as crass as this person kept him from saying anything at the moment...but his anger and indignation led him to write a song about the incident that became an anthem for people throughout his nation. Many in this nation as well have discovered the beauty and power of this song, and the magnificent music video that was made for it.
Every year at this time, I have made it my own custom to provide a link to the YouTube posting of the video so that others who may not have heard this moving song can experience it...and be reminded not only of the need to honor our veterans who have died, but also of the obligation to do better by the ones who are still alive and in need. As always, I thank my dear friend![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wcg for hipping me to this video two years ago...and now, once again I offer it to you with the suggestion that two days from now, we all try to observe this small but important ritual wherever we are, whatever we are doing, if at all possible, and encourage others to join us. And if it is not possible at that precise moment, to set aside some time somewhere in the day to honor those who have earned much more honor than this...some with limbs or even their lives.
Terry Kelly's "A Pittance of Time"
Nine years ago on this day, a blind singer/songwriter named Terry Kelly was in a drugstore in Halifax, Nova Scotia when he heard one churlish fellow customer refusing to honor the two-minute silence, demanding that a cashier break the silence to serve him. Terry's own desire to not be as crass as this person kept him from saying anything at the moment...but his anger and indignation led him to write a song about the incident that became an anthem for people throughout his nation. Many in this nation as well have discovered the beauty and power of this song, and the magnificent music video that was made for it.
Every year at this time, I have made it my own custom to provide a link to the YouTube posting of the video so that others who may not have heard this moving song can experience it...and be reminded not only of the need to honor our veterans who have died, but also of the obligation to do better by the ones who are still alive and in need. As always, I thank my dear friend
wcg for hipping me to this video two years ago...and now, once again I offer it to you with the suggestion that two days from now, we all try to observe this small but important ritual wherever we are, whatever we are doing, if at all possible, and encourage others to join us. And if it is not possible at that precise moment, to set aside some time somewhere in the day to honor those who have earned much more honor than this...some with limbs or even their lives.Terry Kelly's "A Pittance of Time"