At the end of May there is a holiday known as Memorial Day. It is a day that we all ought to remember our country, our service people, and the sacrifices that were made to create this society that we enjoy. I wonder, though, if many people really honor this holiday, or do they just like it because it is a day off from work. Everyone likes a day off from their labors but there should be some thought given to the reason for the holiday. Back in the days before the world wars there was a feeling of pride in one’s self, in one’s job, in one’s life, and in one’s country. Things were meaningful back then. If you attacked our country, hoss, you would have to fight us all. Today there is so little meaning in the lives of most people that it is a rare thing, indeed, to find real pride in anyone. Most people are too wrapped up in trying to make a living or trying to make ends meet. We can’t even take pride in our leaders; they are more cartoon characters than real people. Their antics are a source of embarrassment. Before this country gets completely ruined it would be nice to see the silent majority – the real people of this nation – speak out on the many issues that need addressing. Following are a few suggestions for improving things.

1. Learn to have pride in real things. Start with yourself. Find something inside of which you can be honestly proud. Are you a good, honest worker? Are you an honest person?

2. Look for things in your life and in your community that are noteworthy. Are the community leaders honest or corrupt? If they are corrupt, do you feel the need to do something about ousting them? If so, then you are a worthy person and an asset to the community. Try to find the good in your neighbors and service people. When you find good people, congregate with them to enhance the good in all people.

3. Learn to care about things and people. Most people these days don’t even care about themselves, let alone their friends, neighbors, or community. Without caring, life slows, and eventually stops. It would be a good beginning to learn what caring is, before applying it to one’s life and surroundings. The word itself has lost almost all its contextual meaning.

4. Once you have developed a working knowledge of caring, pride, and awareness, you will find yourself getting more interested in your community and in your country. A meaningful life starts inside the individual and then it spreads outward to others. It is easy to spot other caring people once you know what to look for in yourself. Then you gain strength from congregating with each other and then you can start to ask questions as to why your country is going in a certain direction.

5. Don’t stay the "silent majority", start educating yourself about what’s really important. Wake up, smell the coffee, and appreciate the world around us. Then we can put some real meaning in Memorial Day.