John Dunlop wrote (in reply to the tribute to our veterans):

> Umm, there's a place for this stuff. In my personal opinion this ain't
> it!

I'm don't agree with this John.  First of all, Tim did designate the message
as "off topic".  This list has a tradition of accepting off-topic ideas and
messages.

If your concern is over the fact that this is an international list, let me
assure you that the holiday has traditionally been celebrated in many more
countries than just the US.  It was at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the
11th month that the "war to end all wars" (WW-I) ended.  The holiday was
originally created to honor those veterans.  When WW-II was over, the
holiday declaration was ammended to honor those vets as well.  As it has
been continuously since (with Korea, Viet Nam, etc.).

If your concern is over the political implications of honoring veterans whom
you do not respect or admire, that is your perrogative.  However, this is
not a politically motivated holiday, but a holiday created out of gratitude
by a grateful world for a job well done at the time.

I personally feel that the world owes the veterans of this world a
tremendous debt of gratitude for the freedoms that most of us enjoy.  I
grant that not every war ever fought was fought for the best of reasons, but
the veterans who fought did so with pride and gallantry.  The holiday is a
tribute to both the living and the dead.  The number of years that we have
left to honor living WW-I and WW-II veterans is fast diminishing.  I truly
think that we should be reminded of this as we approach this historical day.

I urge everyone, everywhere to honor not only the US servicemen who fought
and died, but to honor servicemen everywhere who have gallantly given of the
best years of their lives - and in some cases their very lives - to defend
and preserve the freedoms that we now take for granted.  One day may we all
live in peace and freedom.

Glenn