Next Monday we celebrate (or not) a unique American holiday, Memorial Day. It used to be one of our traditional holidays celebrated on May 30th. Congress in its wisdom changed many of our holidays to the most convenient Monday. Now our beloved Congress thinks that the magic is gone from Memorial Day. It's just another 3-day week-end. So, what do we do about it? We set up a friend in a cush job and tell her to think about how to make us more interested in the holiday.
"Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., a longtime friend of Carmella LaSpada's who sponsored the legislation to create the commission, said he's still committed to its mission, but he laughs when he thinks about the logistics of actually pulling it off." [Emphasis mine. Hell, it's only a few million bucks of public money.} Meanwhile she gets $150,000 a year in salary and perks.
"LaSpada has been repeatedly criticized in annual federal financial audits for blurring the lines between her tiny federal agency and No Greater Love, a nonprofit agency LaSpada founded 30 years ago, which operates right next door and has a similar mission."
What's the best idea LaSpada's group has come up with yet?
"A tiny White House commission has spent the past five years and $1.5 million trying to bring a new American tradition to Memorial Day's barbecues, parades and sales: A moment of remembrance, a sigh, perhaps a prayer. Just a 30-second pause."
"The results, so far, are mixed."
"The White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance does have a theme song donated by Charles Strouse, creator of the musical "Annie." There's a logo, pens and coasters, prewritten news articles and television spots. There have been events, like a sand-sculpture display inspired by D-Day."
"And a few towns, businesses and organizations have paused silently at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day."
"In general, though, the commission's hyper-energetic executive director, Carmella LaSpada, has been somewhat frustrated by the lack of interest." And true to her Republican roots, who does she blame? The Media.
"We're a little disappointed," she said. "What has been the problem is that we haven't gotten the support that we would like to have from the media."
Nice work if you can get it.
Posted by: ellen | May 25, 2006 at 09:05 PM
Geez.... where do I sign up for THAT cushy job?
Posted by: Lab Kat | May 26, 2006 at 07:04 AM
Well duh, I just realized my comment is exactly the same as your title. How original, huh.
Posted by: ellen | May 28, 2006 at 12:30 AM
FYI, Ms. LaSpada is a democratic--I know her personally. So, can I equate your inferred incompetence with the fact the Commission was run by a Democrat? It was also signed into law by ... yes, another Democrat, William Clinton. That's the problem you run into when you lift an AP story and distort the context.
Posted by: Magnum | January 12, 2007 at 04:16 PM
And the fact that she's a Democrat makes the farce less far fetched? I don't think so.
Posted by: Houston | January 12, 2007 at 07:44 PM
Absolutely, Houston. But the implications from the previous postings needed a response.
Posted by: Magnum | January 24, 2007 at 05:48 PM