Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 18 - 24, 2022 UCW 27 D.G. MARTIN, Host of PBS-NC's Bookwatch. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. LITERATURE e next few weeks I bet you will be attending a graduation ceremony —yours or a friend's or a family member's. In an earlier column I shared my thoughts about the speeches given at those times. With a few changes, here is what I wrote. Can you remember anything said at your graduation? I mean anything other than your own name as you crossed the stage to get your diploma, shake the hand of a school official, flip your tassel, and head back to your seat thinking, "It's over. It's over. I'm all done with this." Come to think of it, how many speeches of any kind can you remember? If you are like me, not many. Can you even remem- ber your minister's sermon last Sunday? Can you remember the newspaper article or column that you read just before you got to this one? Be honest. And know that recalling what we hear and read does not come easy for any of us. It makes you wonder about those of us who like to give speeches and write news- paper columns. I guess we are arrogant enough to think we are different — and that people will remember what we say or write. In my mind I know that few will read these words, fewer still (if any at all) will remember, but my heart says, "Keep talking, keep writing, somebody will hear you say something that will be helpful to them." at must be what most graduation speakers think, too. And that is why there are so many long graduation speeches each spring. Fortunately, some speakers are different. For instance, former Greensboro mayor and president of the Joseph Bryan Founda- tion, Jim Melvin. Inspired perhaps by a similar one given by Winston Churchill, he once gave this speech at a Greensboro College graduation event. Never give up. Never, never, never give up. at was it. e entire speech. Too short? Maybe, but everybody who heard it will remember it. Is the message too simple? Maybe, but it is a strong message. Better to be too short than too long. ere is a graduation speech that most people in my hometown remem- ber — even though it was given 60 years ago. Dabney Stuart, 1960 Salutatorian at Davidson College, gave the following com- mencement address: Much has been written, And much said, And those who wrote, or spoke, Are dying, or dead. Jesus said, before he died, "Love one another." I have nothing significant to add. Some in the crowd were stunned. ey thought the short talk was disrespect- ful because it broke so radically from the norm. But today, looking back, that mes- sage seems right on point and memorable. Short speeches are hard to write. So are short columns. But short ones are better ones. Someone once asked President Woodrow Wilson how long it took him to prepare an hour-long speech. He said that it took about five minutes to prepare. en he was asked how long it takes to prepare a five-minute speech? "at takes hours and hours," the presi- dent said. It does take longer to figure out how to say something important or complicated in a few words. But those of us who want people to remember what we say or write had better learn how to do it. Wait. I know what you are thinking. "is guy has made his point. Why doesn't he stop? Why doesn't he follow his own advice and keep his column short?" You're right. I'm done. A good reminder for speaking engagements: Keep it short by D.G. MARTIN Patriotism invites consideration of pyrotechnics and PTSD by RABBI DOV GOLDBERG By and large, even where we find it difficult to understand, most people love their country. No doubt they will be critical of it at times. Certainly, others will level criticisms at it. e difference is that citizens' dissatisfac- tion with their nation generally comes from a place of love and loyalty, while outsiders may have a wide array of motives. Regardless of the degree of pride for achievements or frustration with perceived failings, most of the popu- lace will express their patriotism and affection through celebrating national holidays. In addition to unique customs, most countries will share common fes- tivities, such as parades and firework displays. For the past couple of years, most places scaled back their celebra- tions in the face of the worldwide pandemic. But, with the availability of vaccines, many places have been mov- ing towards a return to more typical celebratory events. Last week, Israel marked its 74th Independence Day, and some two dozen celebrations again scaled back or eliminated their fireworks displays across the Jewish state, but for a very different reason. is year, there was a concern about the impact that the loud explosions have on people living with post-traumatic stress disorder, which led to the downsizing of cel- ebratory pyrotechnics. Advocates struggled to educate offi- cials, and the public about the adverse impact booming fireworks has on many veterans and others struggling with PTSD. Unfortunately, it took an April 2021 tragedy to begin to galvanize greater PTSD awareness. Last year, just before Israel's Memorial Day (which is com- memorated the day before Indepen- dence Day) in protest, a veteran, frus- trated with his inadequate PTSD care, set himself on fire in the entryway to a military rehabilitation facility. Fortu- nately, he survived, and the nation has closely followed his slow and painful recovery. Such a wake-up call should not be needed anywhere, but the realities of competing priorities, inadequate budgets, bloated bureaucracies and political expediencies make this a reality pretty much everywhere. Indeed, in response to the events, the strug- gles of soldiers with PTSD almost immediately began to receive much- needed attention. What and how much will change remains to be seen. And we should not be surprised that there has been push-back from those who are disappointed with the curtailing of the traditional aerial festivities. No doubt, there is a complicated balancing act between the under- standable desire of a nation to cele- brate itself and concern for those who may be impacted negatively through certain forms of that celebration. We who live within the Fort Bragg area can especially understand these competing considerations. Obviously, every country has its own unique history and set of circumstances, so even if this issue were confronted globally, the particular calculus would necessarily and appropriately play out differently in different places. We are in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Month. I would suggest that taking note of this kind of weighing of values, wherever it occurs, is just the type of awareness-raising regarding the mental health issues that we are meant to engage in at this time of year. Photo courtesy of Pexels Jim Melvin, center. (Photo courtesy D.G. Martin) Dabney Stuart (Photo courtesy D.G. Martin) FAITH RABBI DOV GOLDBERG, Com- ments? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.