913, They were like us really...

[Drawbar]

Just thought I would say this as we settle into the holiday weekend. As we go about our yards mowing lawns, having barbeque's, drinking beer and remembering those that are no longer amoung us, try and remember the 913 farmers who in the 1980's decided that suicide was better then losing their farm.

They really were no different then us. Just mere workers who liked beer, barbeques, their kids and their wives, but most of all they loved their tractors and their land.

Many no longer remember the plight of the American Farmer of the 1980's with indebtedness, low crop prices, droughts and cost of living increases. Suicide was said to reach epidemic proportions with suicides tripling among farmers from 1981-1988.

Its a sad fact now that 1% of this nation feeds the other 99%. In turn they provide food for the barbecue, barely and hops for our beer, and milk for our children among just a few things. I realize it could be said that changing their practices might have changed the outcomes of their farms and their lives, but let me ask you this...

What other occupation would become so upset at NOT being able to work, that they would take their own lives? Its even ironic that so many people beg, lie, cheat and steal from the Food Stamp System just for a free handout while the very people that put it there, were literally dying because they could no longer work.

Well I remember anyway and I am sure many people on here remember as well. This weekend, lets remember the American farmer huh; past, present and future!

[sbemt456]

Amen to that Drawbar, people forget where that food in the grocery store comes from until it isnt there any more. I feel bad for most of the younger generation that has no idea what is involved in getting milk in a jug or steak on their plate. I am the daughter of a hard working honest farmer and damn proud of it. As the saying goes, they just dont make em like my daddy anymore. We have the small farm I grew up on and with 4 generations it has never been at risk from debt, but we always had plenty to eat and what we needed, not rich but debt free. I thank God for my raising and say God bless the ones who continue to feed the world.

Have a safe holiday weekend and God bless!

stella

[Drawbar]

Actually I don't think I should have made that post, at least not this weekend.

In my family we always defined Memorial Day as a special day to remember the two fallen veterans in our family:

Frank Johnson: World War II B-17 over Germany
Thomas Black: Revolutionary War Valley Forge

but also the veterans who served, and the rest of the loved ones. I was reminded on another forum that Memorial Day should only be for the Fallen Veteran's and I think they are right.

I think they make some good points so I will apologize for my post. I certainly meant no dis-service to any military folks that's for sure.

In our family we always remember those two, but we also remember all the family members that are gone. For instance My Great-Grandmother (Susan) made my Grandmother (Wilma) promise her that she would put flowers on her Dad's grave. Now that my Grandmother can not longer get around, I took up the cause and for the past few years always chose Memorial Weekend to do that, along with placing flowers on my Grandfather, and of course my sisters grave.

I guess over the years our family has kind of changed the meaning of Memorial Day. In checking with Wikpedia this Weekend is indeed intended for Fallen Veterans Only so our family's tradition of including the entire family, is kind of wrong.

So as I said I do apologize. This was NOT the weekend to make this post even though it was well intended. I would actually ask the moderators to delete it, but I think this is actually good. I think a lot of people have made this weekend include all the loved ones in memoriam, so by having clarified that it is just supposed to be for fallen veteran's, is something more people need to be reminded of.

But while we are on this subject I will say this, Veteran's Day is a BIG deal in my family. That day has,and always will be reserved entirely for Veteran's. What really makes me mad about that day is how society has really changed it. It seems most places do not even recognize that day, instead they require people to work, and then magically place it the Friday after Thanksgiving so workers can have a 40 hour week still and yet get a 4 day weekend. Not only does that make 11/11 another work day, the Friday after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday where the entire nation is worried about starting the holiday season off by shopping. In my opinion that is a huge disservice to Veteran's.

[MotherCharlotte]

Thanks for explaining what those holidays are all about. I am Canadian and I have always wondered what Americans are talking about when they refer to Memorial Day.

We don't have a Memorial Day but we do have Remembrance Day, to remember our own veterans, on November 11th. Most people do have to work that day, which I agree is a shame. The idea is that everyone will have a moment of silence at 11am but in most places that never happens.

[wy0mn]

913 potential new subdivisions... 913+ kids calling someone else Daddy...
I hope that if I ever feel the need to cancel my subscription to the rat race it'll accomplish more than that.

Memorial Day for me is remembering my Uncle Junior, a WWII vet who served on the USS Natrona and passed away last year; also my baby brother who by all accounts got a Silver Star in Bushs War and is still serving.

[msta999]

Thanks Drawbar,
I remember many farmers loosing thier farms and there were quite a few farmers, who's wifes devorced them, back in those days too. Those were real tough times for the farmers. I was told, most of it was because of the Carter administration telling the farmers to go in debt and produce more than they should have...rent/buy more land get bigger and then the farmers couldn't make any money on what they sold, so many went broke. I use to work for a farmer, who farmed 2000 acres, most of which was leased, and he lost his farm, but he was lucky, his kids were already grown and his wife didn't leave him, when he lost it.
I wasn't aware of the suicides. Thanks again for the info.

[walls0stone]

As a young man, I had supper with a recruiter from Philly. He spent the dinner saying how their was nothing in my area to do, but get into trouble. it had been a long day, longer than normal on the farm... After some time had passed, I said to the man, "I put in 12 hours today, after we eat, I have more to do....I don't have time to get into trouble."
His response, "well that's all fine and good, but what did you do when you were 18 y/old?"

" I turned 18 two days ago"

We ate quietly for a time, then he looked at me and said... "well son, how do you intend to serve your country?"

I asked him in reply..."did you eat today?" He could only say yes, we were eating together...
"What is the difference if you die in battle, and I'm killed by the bull or chopped up in some machinery?....when the game is done, the king and the pawn go in the same box".