Posted on 11/11/2005 11:19:02 AM PST by USMC-EOD
Once again, Google has chosen to disrespect our veterans by not offering any sort of acknowledgement of their service on their home page. Google decorates their home page for every holiday known to man, including some off-the-wall ones, like Kwanzaa and the celebration of certain individuals birthdays like Einstein and DaVinci. While I don't mind this, you'd think that they'd celebrate the people who have given them the freedom to make the ungodly amount of money that they have made, and given them the freedom to do what they want. Especially considering Sergey Brinn, one of the co-founders of Google left the Soviet Union to come to this great country to make his billions.
I noticed this last year and emailed their public relations department. I received the following reply:
Thank you for your note. We're glad that you appreciate Google's holiday logos and would like to explain why we didn't post one for Veterans day this year. Please be assured that the decision whether to display a special logo for a holiday does not reflect any judgment on our part about the holiday itself. Google's special logos tend to be lighthearted in nature. If we were to commemorate Veterans Day, we would want to express reverence, rather than mirth. This would be a particularly challenging design. We would not want to, in any way, create a graphic that could be interpreted as disrespectful. In light of the mail we've received about this, we're actively considering designs we could display on this day next year. We welcome any suggestions you may have. My response to them was simple. Merely post the logos for the four major services, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy, and be done with it. A simple design, but still shows respect. Another symbol could have been the rifle, muzzle in the ground with the helmet on the butt of the rifle, with the boots in front of it. That is a symbolic gesture, honoring dead soldiers and Marines. But did they take any suggestions? Nope.
Bottom line, I'll be looking for another host for my blog, as Blogger is owned by Google. I'll also be removing the Google tool bar from my browser. If they're going to be ungrateful cowards, they can do it without me.
This site is a PERMANENT tribute to veterans. PS I am not one,a heart murmur kept me out, but I thank God daily for their sacrifices.
This one is being used by both Google UK and Google Canada today. Someone should send that in and ask why it is not on the Google US page. It's appropriate and respectful.
On one hand, a retract post feature would be great.
On the other hand...it keeps me from posting many, many things that may rush through my head, but are stopped before they reach my fingertips because I know that once I postit's on the record. ; )
So, in the end it's probably a good thing.
Hmmm....I looked, but I didn't see it.
Kaiser Permenente had gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, trans-gender diversity on their website for a whole month and nothing, not even one day on Veterans Day.
Old Henry is probably spinning in his grave!
You will always see British people with this symbol of remembrance throughout November.
It is entirely appropriate.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Veterans Day used to be known as Armistice Day in the USA as well. Just as in Great Britain, the Commonwealth countries and France after the WWI "Armistice". The USA fought in WWI you know. To the bloody count of about 4.3million men in uniform, 126,000 killed and 234,000 wounded. The British like to claim that America showed up with too little, too late, but it was welcome nonetheless and compelled the Germans to sue for peace. November 11th. was henceforth known as Armistice Day in the English speaking world until WWII.
After WWII, "Armistice Day: was a bit of a euphemism considering that it wasn't an armistice at all, but only a cease-fire. This point is brought poignantly home when visiting the UK. In many English town squares can be seen an original WWI, or "Great War" Memorials with the memorial of those lost, 20 years later in WWII, added atop the first as a sad amendment. Now, Armistice Day is "Remembrance Day" for Brits, Canucks and ANZAC's.
It is "Veterans Day" in the US, for the living and the dead, because we have a "Memorial Day" in May for the dead and the living.
I stopped using Google about a month ago. I now use A9.com. The results are just as comprehensive as Google's and I get a small discount on Amazon.com purchases. Google has become arrogant, letting their anti-American agenda flourish.
difference is... we do it here EVERY DAY!!! they can't seem to do it even on Veterns Day.
Yup. I prefer the yellow ribbon myself, but Americans ought to know what the poppy symbolizes.
On the other hand, this is Veteran's Day, not Memorial Day. Armistice Day in UK and Canada is somewhat more similar to Memorial Day in tone.
In any case, Google could change the 'l' to a yellow ribbon, it's not hard.
"Everybody vote with your feet, errr, mouse. I have replaced Google with Dogpile"
I'm gonna take that suggestion, also. Maybe Google'll (say that 10 times, fast) hear the sound of a lot of doors closing.
Think I'll let Google know why I'm leaving, as well.
Yup, my new home page is Dogpile.com. Sent off a note to Dogpile thanking them, too. Also added my rant to the google forum where lots of folks are complaining.
"Memorial Day" was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery."
In regards to the Red Poppy's:
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
"She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium."
So you see, the Red Poppies of "Remembrance Day" originate with the American Civil war and subsequent traditions that came out of that conflict. Not Canada and Europe.
"GOOGLE" should have "poppied" their logo in the USA after all.
Google is a loser site.
Happy Halloween - October 31, 2005
Celebrating Google's 7th Birthday - September 2005
Anniversary of Lunar Landing - July 20, 2005
Independence Day - July 4, 2005
Happy Father's Day - June 19, 2005
Frank Lloyd Wright's Birthday - June 8, 2005
Mother's Day - May 8, 2005
National Teacher Day - May 3, 2005
Earth Day - April 22, 2005
Leonardo da Vinci's Birthday - April 15, 2005
National Library Week - April 10, 2005
Google celebrates Vincent van Gogh's Birthday - March 30, 2005
World Water Day - March 22, 2005
Happy St. Patrick's Day - March 17, 2005
International Women's Day - March 8, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day - February 14, 2005
Chinese New Year - February 9, 2005
Happy New Year! - January 1, 2005
Would you be so kind as to tell me which of these are the INTERNATIONALLY celebrated holidays???
No poppy on the logo where I am.
I don't think the coast guard gets enough credit for the good job they do.Thanks for pointing that out.
Former Marine,Vietnam Veteran
My bad.
I knew as soon as I posted it that I'd get grief about the Coast Guard, but that old 'retract post' thing bit me. I know I should have posted an addendum, and for that I apologize.
Semper Fidelis to all my Marine brothers, and thank you my Coast Guard brothers for your service as well.
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