why are we spending millions on memorials for the dead?

Question

why not spend those millions on the 23 million starving children here in the usa?

Answer 1

Very Good Question!!! Apparently Americans are so vulgarly affluent, and superficially compassionate, that we feel more compelled to build memorials to dead people who will never see or appreciate them, rather than spend the same money to help living people who would definitely benefit from it. It's a Waste Of Money, people!!! Can't emphasize that enough.

Answer 2

so that insensitive people like you will know why and how the country is the way it is. We honor our fallen soldiers and even those still alive because of their meritorious efforts and to let them know we appreciate what they've done. We also celebrate the opening of a new memorial because that memorial recognizes someone or something good that has touched someones' lives. I don not see there a being a problem with feeding the poor and hungry but memorials give people a reminder of what we're here for. Also, congress and the house allocate how much money is allowed to be spent on any given thing. If we spent any less on the memorials people are obviously complaining abiut, I can assure we'd get a "Why are we spending millions on feeding starving children instead of honoring the dead?" kinda question on here. Not everybody can be content.

Answer 3

Vagrancy has been a criminal offense in very practically any and each village, city, and city as a results of fact the initiating of the twentieth Century !! between 30% and 50% of the Federal funds is going to shelter the "damaging and disenfranchised" by way of Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare and preparation. The Obama funds will somewhat develop that !! l. a. has each and every appropriate to have a vagrancy ordinance... as in addition they spend very a great number of Federal, State, and city money to furnish shelters and such. yet there are in ordinary terms some homeless who chosen to proceed to be on the streets... the two as a results of psychological or criminal themes. l. a. did no longer spend the money on the MEMORIAL... that develop into money spent to make certain the protection of the individuals attending the memorial, the protection of assets in the section (in case of a insurrection), and assorted site visitors themes. I say l. a. ought to end calling themselves "a sanctuary city" and retaining / hiding unlawful extraterrestrial beings... deport those individuals and there are extra jobs, fewer homeless, and much less of a drag on the Social centers.

Answer 4

Could be totally off, but I don't think he meant we should spend money on memorials for 23 million dead kids... I think he meant use that money to feed the 23 million kids...

Also, 9inches, I don't think there's a person in this country who can honestly say that "enough goes to charities to feed others, etc." without being a callous jerk. In A Christmas Carol, one of the most offensive things Ebenezer Scrooge says is "Are there no poor houses? Are there no orphanages?" His claim that the government takes enough of his money to provide these places, and that they should go there if they're poor, and when he's told that many can't, and many would rather die, he responds "Well then, perhaps they'd better get on with it, and decrease the surplus population." No, "enough" money is not going to charities. I don't think it's up to one person or another to decide what should go so that there IS enough money going to these charities, and I think it's up to each of us to give what we can. If the guy who asked the question feels that strongly about it, he should make out a will in which he donates his estate to the Red Cross or something, with only the bare minimum going towards funeral costs (there are going to have to be SOME funeral costs, for health and sanitary reasons for the rest of us).

Anyway.....

Having a memorial is physical evidence that a person lived and had an impact on SOMEONE.

I strongly suspect that memorials are really more for the people left behind than for the dead themselves. A lot of people feel a sense of closure, or almost like justice done, when a deceased loved one is memorialized. Physical memorials (monuments, headstones, statues, etc.) allow those of us here on earth to feel like we're in some way reconnecting with someone we miss.

It's important to remember the things people who have died before us had done, or accomplished. You go to Amsterdam and walk through the office and warehouse building where Anne Frank lived in, and you are doing more than just walking through rooms. You're remembering that girl, the life she lived, the millions of people she's touched, the hatred of the people who were responsible for her spending her teen years in tiny rooms and dying before she turned 16 years old.

Or if you go to the memorial at the World Trade Center, you're remembering the day our country, for maybe the first time in at least half-a-century, was united in anger, fear, and patriotism. If you don't remember the past, then it won't affect your future, and if it doesn't affect the future, why did it ever happen at all?

On a much much much smaller level, families and loved ones have memorial services, funerals, and erect headstones more for themselves, to help them with their loss. Who are you to decide that that's a waste, or that it's wrong? When someone dies, you don't just forget about them. Having a tangible memorial to let you feel closer to them is totally normal and healthy. If you disagree with that, I would have to wonder if you've ever in your life lost someone who meant a lot to you.

I'm not saying 23 million children starving is not a monstrous problem. I know it is. But just because *you* feel like memorials "for the dead" (when it's really for the benefit of the living) is the biggest waste really means nothing. I want to know why millions of people will spend enough to smoke two packs of cigarettes or more a day, basically paying money to die of cancer or emphasema, stink and offend those of us who like breathing real air... I want to know why that money is not going towards feeding 23 million children starving in America. I want to know why in a lot of these families, the children are hungry and the parents have enough money to drink, use drugs or smoke.

I accept that I have no say-so in those issues. Some people consider it their "right" to die long, painful, smelly suffocating deaths, so let 'em light up.

In the same way, you need to realize that you have no right to dictate how another person grieves.

Answer 5

because we love and miss them and so future generations will know where there family is buried. I have a question for you...why does the US. send millions of dollars to help foreign countries yet not help their own? Why does it give millions more to all the illegals here who have never paid into anything and can't even speak english while the people of this country are losing their jobs and going broke because of it?

Answer 6

To ensure that the dead can rest in peace,with satisfaction of knowing that their families love and miss them too much by spending millions on their funerals. as for the children,there are too many of them and having an expensive funeral for each child (if they die)can really cost a giant hole in pockets.

Answer 7

Memorials for the dead are actually for the living. It gives them a way to say "Good Bye" to their loved ones. It is to show that they won't be forgotten. Even monuments or statues to the unknown ones. Unknown sailor, Unknown Solder (Who is now know). Are a way of not forgetting those many that have been killed in the line of duty for their country.

Answer 8

Lighten up! We all need to celebrate what is best in our people. What better way than to remember the brave soldiers who died for this country and all it stands for. Life is not perfect and we should always strive to help every American citizen, especially those in need, but that does not mean we should stop holding up in high esteem those things that motivate us to reach higher and continue improving!

Answer 9

because they died serving for there country tooo, insure your freedoom and mine, if you were kileed in a act of war wouldent you want somebody to pay your last respects hons?? and enough goes for chariety causess in this counry etc for, food stuff

Answer 10

To encourage the living people that if you act like a hero you will be celebrated even if you DIE!!!