No Mint Juleps this Year
In years past I have always made a big deal over the Kentucky Derby. Even though I detest animals being used for human entertainment, the Derby was given a pass.
In previous years I would fry chicken, we would make creative and fun bets on our favorite horse and of course fresh mint was purchased for the traditional and required mint juleps.
This year none of that happened. I think the primary reason was the injury and death last year of Barbaro. At that point I could no longer give the Derby its pass. Plus this year, with the war going on and the visions in my head of what parts of Iraq look like, well it just seemed wrong somehow to play make-believe on that day. Reality wouldn’t allow it.
Mr. Pop wanted to see the race so we did watch it. Just before it began the cameras were panning the people in attendance. All the lovely hats and a drink of some kind in every hand. Beautiful faces smiling and enjoying life. That’s when for a second the visions flashed in my mind. People in Iraq living and dying in miserable conditions. Soldiers being blown apart. There were also the visions of the pictures I had seen that morning of the devastation in Kansas due to tornadoes.
I don’t know if Derby day will ever be what it used to be to me, but this year, it certainly wasn’t.
In previous years I would fry chicken, we would make creative and fun bets on our favorite horse and of course fresh mint was purchased for the traditional and required mint juleps.
This year none of that happened. I think the primary reason was the injury and death last year of Barbaro. At that point I could no longer give the Derby its pass. Plus this year, with the war going on and the visions in my head of what parts of Iraq look like, well it just seemed wrong somehow to play make-believe on that day. Reality wouldn’t allow it.
Mr. Pop wanted to see the race so we did watch it. Just before it began the cameras were panning the people in attendance. All the lovely hats and a drink of some kind in every hand. Beautiful faces smiling and enjoying life. That’s when for a second the visions flashed in my mind. People in Iraq living and dying in miserable conditions. Soldiers being blown apart. There were also the visions of the pictures I had seen that morning of the devastation in Kansas due to tornadoes.
I don’t know if Derby day will ever be what it used to be to me, but this year, it certainly wasn’t.
posted by pissed off patricia at 2:17 AM
17 Comments:
Seems more and more people are finding the same thing after being brainwashed from 5 yrs of gw and his war games.
I found it interesting he was going to help Kansas:
I suppose the same way he did the Gulf Coast a few yrs ago? ! : (
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yes, it does seem morally wrong to have fun when our soldiers are killing and wounding Iraqis, creating widows and widowers and orphans and childless parents.
I had a friend over and the race was one in the background while I was cooking dinner. I heard one of the horses was named "Wild and Crazy Guy". I immediately blurted out, that's the horse I want to win, becuase I like the name.
He came out of the shoot last and started in the back of the pack, but came around and finished fourth. That figures. Never bet on a horse that I pick, but at lest he wasn't last. Kind of sounds like my races, start slow, pass many, but never finish good enough for any of the awards.
Last year, 18 horses died at the Delmar Racetrack, which is here in San Diego County. I use to enjoy watching horse racing, but I just can't anymore because it would be "aiding and abeting" the harm to these animals. Perhaps if enough people boycott, the tracks will install the safer form of turf that's been developed, etc.
I don't think you should stop living because of the war, tornados, etc. Your depriving yourself of fun isn't going to stop the war or help those people in Kansas affected by the storm. If we stopped living everytime there was something wrong with the world, we'd never experience joy, because, you know, something bad is always afoot and someone is always suffering.
"18 horses died at the Delmar Racetrack, which is here in San Diego County"...i didn't know that, knox rover...i live here too, and although i don't pay attention to horse racing, i wonder how i missed that little fact.
i also agree that we can't stop living because of all the human tragedy happening in the world around us. we have to do our best to fight the powers responsible for it...but we also need to keep our own spirits alive (if only so we will have more energy to fight the powers responsible for inflicting pain and violence on others).
so do whatever gives you joy, Pop!
Don't give in to the hate and despair PoP that is what gives it strength. Just like giving in to the fear of some new attack by terrorists has empowered the worst of America and hurt us in so many ways.
Resist it with all your being but resist by using its power to energize your resistance. Imagine yourself a candle in the darkness using the love and joy that can still be found in abundance in the world to power your flame to be brighter and brighter, pushing back against the hate, evil and fear. There are two ways to survive in a rushing stream. One is to cling desperately to a rock and let the current tug and beat at you until you are exhausted. The other is to let go and flow with the stream using the power of the current to guide safely the shore.
dear POP,
it's hard for me to keep my spirits up sometimes. I really liked our protest on the beach last week because the beach was so nice! I canceled all my hobby magazine subscriptions because it didn't seem right to spend that money and time on reading about hobbies while the war is going on. i want my country back!
peace, peter
Things are going to get better.
I think many of us are in mourning - we mourn for so many and so much. I didn't realize it until recently that I have all the hallmark symptoms of someone going through a grieving process. As soon as I get it calmed down and am functioning again, another horrid story or photo comes and I start all over again. So wounded.
it was the same here PoP. but i was never a big fan of thoroughbred racing. they ruin hundreds of horses trying to find one magic mount. it is far too ruthless for this horselover.
The frying of the chickens was the most disturbing part of this post. I can still hear them screaming in my head.
We were in Litchfield, near Myrtle Beach,SC, for a family reunion, and I happened to be in the TV area when the Doiby wuz run. It struck me as the epitome of old white boy bullshit, and the sight of drunken fuckwads in stupid hats mewling out "My Old Kentucky Home", the lyrics to which are truly idiotic, was almost unbearable. Yet more of the same old same old pile of unearned privilege that is "Tradition." Let it sink.
It is incredible to me that "Survivor" is a program that anyone would want to watch, considering what the GIs are having to endure every single day. Who is there to offer THEM a million dollars? They're lucky to get medical care.
To say that we're just plain nutty, or in extreme denial.... hell, I don't know.
I agree with jollyroger... the fact that we can be obsessed by Survivor and Idol never fails to make me shake my head in wonder...
E
Ditto POP ;o/
Sorry I had to watch, though the juleps were drank the next day because the simple syrup was not ready.
Post a Comment
<< Home