I’m a monger, he’s a monger, she’s a monger . . . wouldn’t you like to be a monger too?

Happy Armistice Day!  Don’t know what that is?  I can’t say as I am surprised.  For most of us, our high school history lessons fell short of the mark in more ways than one and that of course is presuming that you were paying attention to begin with.  Let me enlighten you if your memory is a bit fuzzy.  On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice (cessation of hostilities), was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War.  So why don’t American’s care?  Why are you all working today when your fellow brother’s in arms are taking the day off?   That is a very good question.  One for which I think I have an answer.   Armistice Day actually became a federally recognized holiday in the United States in 1938.   So what happened to it?  Do we not care about the global impact of the First World War anymore?   Are all those that died no longer of national importance?  Sadly, the answer may be yes. 

The truth is, the United States is a country of “mongers”.  Don’t know what that is either?  Geez, were you paying attention in school at all?  A “monger” is a dealer in a specific commodity.  In the history of our great nation, short though it may be, that commodity has sadly been WAR.  Armistice Day was replaced by what we call Veteran’s Day in the aftermath of The Second World War and the Korean War in an effort to consolidate the recognition of those who have died for our country into a single day.  I guess the theory being that we have simply been in too many wars to recognize each on their own special day.   As such, we treat the young men and women in our armed forces like cannon fodder and lump their accomplishments and sacrifices into but a single day that hardly seems to do a single one of them the slightest justice.   In my humble opinion, if your ass presumes yourself to be a flag waving American patriot, you should know about Armistice Day and why we no longer recognize it.

I must admit that the remainder of this post hit the editing room floor at the request of my wife as I tend to lose control once I find myself atop my soapbox.  And yes, as you can also see, Jack is back for the foreseeable future by way of a not so subtle request from my lovely bride.  Truth is, we had a very nice hour long conversation on our way to tour a local castle (I know, weird way to spend your free time, but they don’t have a lot of castles where we come from).  From this conversation I came to a realization that I need the blog more than the blog needs me.  These days, I live my life in relative social solitude.  Long days spent alone in an empty house with very little contact with the outside world and a sizable language barrier to face when I leave my front door make for a feeling of relative isolation.  That being said, in a Chuck Noland epiphany, I feel perhaps I should once more endeavor to change the name of this project to Wilson 2.0.  It is Wilson who sees me through the loneliest hour and somehow keeps me sane when rough seas begin to close in on my deserted island abroad.   Perhaps you understand that metaphor and perhaps you don't.  Let's just say that I am thinking of taking a sharpy marker to the front of my laptop.  That is all I have for today.  If anyone would care to read my rather lengthy and somewhat raw outtakes from today’s episode, please leave a comment with your email address and I would be glad to send it along.  Take care for now.  Chuck Noland.