Reinventing Memorial Day: Beyond the Mattress Blowout Sale

Why has Memorial Day, like so many of our national holidays, been reduced to appliance sales, fast food specials, and vacation deals?

With the recent near-collapse of our economy, the ways in which we understand and celebrate national holidays seem particularly challenged. This erosion of meaning is just one of many examples of the growing gap between the promise of America–freedom and opportunity through sacrifice and unity–and how people experience Brand America. Like any brand, America will have to close this gap to thrive in the future.

Remembering Memorial Day is not about believing in war. It’s an opportunity to reconnect the American Experience with its core promise, and reinvigorate the nation’s signs, symbols, myths, and metaphors with authenticity and relevance. The following is the first in a series of thoughts exploring how design thinking might help do this.

Read The Rest AT: Orwell's Dreams