Today's use of the term "Bataan Death March"

[friscohare]

Most of us know the story of the Bataan Death March... as well as the IMMENSE suffering that these soldiers had to go through. Suffering that most of us will never, ever know.

With that said, my biggest pet peeve is when contemporary writers use the term "Bataan Death March" to describe things that will NEVER compare to the suffering of these soldiers.

Here are some recent examples from news articles:

* "The Gingrich campaign faces a Bataan Death March for the next three weeks"

* "This was a game that only the winner could love, a Bataan Death March up and down the court to the free-throw line 57 times."

* "Not only did Carlos take a while to get acclimated, but he also became a casualty in SF's PG-version of the Bataan Death March,"

And quite possibly the worst:

* "The IKEA Death March... You mean the Bataan Death march store? How many poor 22-year-old guys will be forced by their girlfriends to walk the whole five miles?”

Sure, I acknowledge the fact that the term describes a prolonged period of intense agony.

However, in my opinion, the contemporary term "Bataan Death March" comes off as a joke. To describe one's suffering during events like a political campaign, a basketball game, even a trip to IKEA really, really PALES in comparison to what these Fil-Am troops went through. And many, probably most, forget that.

It trivializes that event. Instead, everyone should be honoring these brave and gallant soldiers.

Of course, that's just my honest opinion. I just wanted to share it with you all.

[labrador]

I guess you could say the same for Waterloo, Stalingrad etc. Time does that. What's important is people remember the original sacrifice and struggle...which is why reenactors, and sites like this one are around.

IKEA? Really?

[insurrectomad]

Wow! Bataan given equal status to Waterloo, and Stalingrad is a major advancement in acknowledgement of this heroic event. If this leads more of our young people to learn where Bataan is and when this Death March happened, so much the better! Alas we live in an age of excessive hyped language for even the most trivial event.

[betsy]

Thank you! My dad was there. I know as much as anyone who wasn't there could I think. 50 years later he would still sob about being rescued from a Japanese POW camp by American forces after the war ended. But he forgave. His story told through his father's journals and his memories: www.morethanlucky.weebly.com (Not a commercial site - totally dedicated to the memory of those who serve and their loved ones who wait at home for news.)

[VeeVee]

Betsy,

Thank you so much for posting that website. Amazing.