Today is the traditional date of Decoration Day, the day when we remember those who’ve given their lives in war. It is not the ersatz denatured Monday holiday that was named Memorial Day about forty years ago. Long weekends are great but societies are kept together with shared traditions and rituals, not by long weekends.
One of the ways in which traditions are preserved is by telling and retelling the stories and Callimachus at Done With Mirrors has told the stories of eight Americans, both soldiers and civilians, who gave their lives in the war in Iraq. Their life stories, beliefs, and reasons for being in Iraq were as diverse as America is herself.
I was moved to tears by this great post as I think practically anyone with a heart in his body will be.
译文:
讲述故事
今天是传统的勋章日，是我们纪念那些阵亡将士的日子。40年前把五月的最后一个星期一定为国殇日，从当初定立这个纪念日的初衷来看，这个纪念日的性质至今仍未发生改变。有三天周末长假固然很好，但是我们必须明白是那些我们共同拥有的传统把整个社会连系在了一起，而不是长假。
我们可以通过讲述和复述一个个故事来保留我们的传统，卡利马库斯在《迷失在镜中》（Done With Mirrors）讲述了8位美国人在伊拉克战争中牺牲的的故事，他们既是士兵又是公民。这8位阵亡将士的生命事迹、信仰以及参战伊拉克的原因与作为本身的美国是不同的。
我被这条帖子所感动，泪水不住留下，我相信任何有同情心爱心的人们也一定会为之感动。