Why We Shouldn't Be Thinking About Donuts Today

Written by Aaron Fullan

I have a request.

I guess you could even call it a plea of sorts.

Today, as you peruse through your various different social media feeds, please remember what today is really about.  Contrary to popular belief, this day is not about those wonderful, decedent pastries we all love and enjoy (a bit too much, I’ll admit). This day is not about eating a donut that goes in one end and out the other in a matter of hours. It goes much, much, MUCH deeper than that.

Sadly, I forgot what day it was until I checked Twitter and the very first post I saw was a picture recognizing those who had fought and lost their lives on this day, 71 years ago. How could I forget something so significant to our country’s freedom and current existence? Frankly, the fact that I forgot such an important U.S. anniversary frightened me. I even work for a company that is diligently working to make sure history isn’t forgotten and here I was, enjoying my Saturday morning without a thought of those who selflessly gave their lives for me (and countless others) less than a century ago.

A few current social media stats:

Tweets about D-Day?  41,100

Tweets about National Donut Day? 191,000

That’s right. There are 150,000 more tweets about donuts than there are about D-Day.

Granted, is there anything inherently wrong about donuts? Absolutely not. I love ‘em, you love ‘em, we all love ‘em. I just think the attention and focus on them today is a bit out of proportion.

71 years ago today, there were over 6600 American casualties on the beaches of Normandy. Many of these men knew the moment they left the boats that they would not make it out alive. Bravery and courage like that is hard for me to wrap my mind around. I am such a selfish person in comparison to these amazing heroes. These men had wives, children, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents (the list goes on) back home that they desperately wanted to have lives free of oppression and tyranny; so desperately, in fact, that they were willing to lay down their lives for that ideal. And here we are…71 years later, enjoying the very ideal for which they died: freedom.

Whenever I think of D-Day, I immediately think of the verse in John 15 that says, “Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” The American heroes of June 6, 1944 are perfect examples of this supreme exemplification of love. May we never forget their sacrifice on our behalf…even when donuts are vying for our attention.

May we also never forget the One who not only gave up His life for His friends and fellow countrymen, but also for His enemies; the One who not only died a horrible death for those who loved Him, but also for the ones who hated Him. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” [John 3:17]

My, we’re blessed beyond words, are we not?

So again, please take some time out of your day to remember those who have gone before us. To remember their sacrifice, their courage, their bravery, and most importantly…their love. We wouldn’t be here eating donuts without them.

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