Remembrance Sunday/Day

[HomoGleek]

Hi

Was just wondering how many people observe a minutes silence in remembrance of those who have lost their lives fighting for their country.

I know the UK has remembrance day with poppies, minutes silence, and special services, do other countries have the same sort of events?

[Pasdar]

Dying while raping and pillaging Africa and Asia? Or do you mean those dying killing Iraqi and Afghani families?

[HomoGleek]

Dying while raping and pillaging Africa and Asia? Or do you mean those dying killing Iraqi and Afghani families?
?? looking too start an flame war perhaps?

--- Wikipedia ---


Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day) (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day) – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War), specifically since the First World War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I). It is observed on 11 November (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_11) to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_with_Germany_%28Compi%C3%A8gne%29).) The day was specifically dedicated by King George V (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_V_of_the_United_Kingdom), on 7 November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during war; this was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_George_Honey) to Wellesley Tudor Pole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellesley_Tudor_Pole), who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917

[oxf]

Hi

Was just wondering how many people observe a minutes silence in remembrance of those who have lost their lives fighting for their country.

I know the UK has remembrance day with poppies, minutes silence, and special services, do other countries have the same sort of events?

I dont observe it for several reasons.

First there's this air of if you dont wear a poppy you are somehow scum or dissrespectfull. I mean look at the news presenters on the TV. From what I read the BBC essentially orders them to wear then on air. Even if I might nominally support the apeal/charity (and I have no issue giving help to service peope or there families some of whom are quite elederly) I dont wear something just because it's the "done thing"..EVER!

But a lot of people will wear them totally oblivious to the symbology. Essentially the red poppy has becoma a blind patriotic support for anything the troops /government might do. And that where it links to more current "conflicts" which I dont in any way support.

[oxf]

?? looking too start an flame war perhaps?

--- Wikipedia ---
it could become a flame war but unfortunately it's all very true...
sorry!

[HomoGleek]

Its like saying, one African raped a British woman, we must hate all Africans?
One teenager killed someone, we must hate all teenagers?

http://www.wikihow.com/Forgive

Weather you agree with the politics of it or not, dont you think you should still remember those who have fallen? My opinion anyway.

[The Funkbomb]

May I please ask that no one else responds to this thread?

Come on guys, we're a community here. Forget our differences and embrace the things we have in common.

[oxf]

Its like saying, one African raped a British woman, we must hate all Africans?
One teenager killed someone, we must hate all teenagers?

http://www.wikihow.com/Forgive

Weather you agree with the politics of it or not, dont you think you should still remember those who have fallen? My opinion anyway.

Yes you do have a valid point there and for the most part I agree!. I personally would be more supportive if it was solely to remember the fallen. Unfortunately I dont feel thats the case now.

[Sugz]

Yup, I always pay my respects every year.
Lest we forget

[SuperSonic4]

I dont observe it for several reasons.

First there's this air of if you dont wear a poppy you are somehow scum or dissrespectfull. I mean look at the news presenters on the TV. From what I read the BBC essentially orders them to wear then on air. Even if I might nominally support the apeal/charity (and I have no issue giving help to service peope or there families some of whom are quite elederly) I dont wear something just because it's the "done thing"..EVER!

But a lot of people will wear them totally oblivious to the symbology. Essentially the red poppy has becoma a blind patriotic support for anything the troops /government might do. And that where it links to more current "conflicts" which I dont in any way support.

There are also white poppies which symbolise remembrance and pacifism - the never again spirit of 1919.

As for the war in Afghanistan google image "9/11" if you want to know the reason why we're there.

I will be observing the two minutes silence on Wednesday and I observed a two minutes silence this morning at 11 as is the custom and remembering those who defended this country in her hour of need and who still fight to protect our borders from threats both at home and abroad

Don't just remember the fallen - for better or for worse they are gone - it is the families that are still here, that have lost their breadwinner or care for a young man/woman round the clock.

[Pasdar]

There are also white poppies which symbolise remembrance and pacifism - the never again spirit of 1919.

As for the war in Afghanistan google image "9/11" if you want to know the reason why we're there.

I will be observing the two minutes silence on Wednesday and I observed a two minutes silence this morning at 11 as is the custom and remembering those who defended this country in her hour of need and who still fight to protect our borders from threats both at home and abroad

Don't just remember the fallen - for better or for worse they are gone - it is the families that are still here, that have lost their breadwinner or care for a young man/woman round the clock.
Yeah, we Europeans and especially the Brits sure lost a lot on "9/11" :rolleyes:

[beercz]

Yup, I always pay my respects every year.
Lest we forget
I do remember, and I get my children to remember and pay their respects too.

I also think of those who have fallen on the other sides (not just the British) - those men had wives, girlfriends, families and so on.

[SuperSonic4]

Yeah, we Europeans and especially the Brits sure lost a lot on "9/11" :rolleyes:

67 for Britain and although that is less than the service personnel killed ~200 in 8 years is not much for a war but each a person like you or me. The only difference is they had a choice when joining the army and only a fool would not expect a higher chance of death.

We can also add some more of Al Qaeda's handiwork if you like - Bali bombings, London tube bombings, Madrid train bombs.

As Thatcher said "We do not negotiate with terrorists"

But I digress, this isn't about whether the war is justified or not, it happened like it or not and I see it as a sign of respect for the troops

[Paqman]

Essentially the red poppy has becoma a blind patriotic support for anything the troops /government might do. And that where it links to more current "conflicts" which I dont in any way support.

Offering a thought to those who've suffered has nothing to do with patriotism. For a start, wearing a poppy is about remembering the dead of ALL nations, not just your own.

Taking a moment to appreciate things on a little wider perspective than you own little world is never a bad thing.

[oxf]

Offering a thought to those who've suffered has nothing to do with patriotism. For a start, wearing a poppy is about remembering the dead of ALL nations, not just your own.

Taking a moment to appreciate things on a little wider perspective than you own little world is never a bad thing.

Please dont get me wrong and there really isnt the scope in a forum such as this to explore such issues properly but I actually agree with you on -both- counts! In particular the second point.

Maybe this topic should never have been raised here in the first place since its does injustice to the poppy appeal on the one hand, and the wider accademic considerations of government/media/symbology and patriotism on the other.

OK back to technical considerations....

[mister_pink]

I suspect this thread won't last much longer, which is a shame really.

I think people need to understand there's a big difference between supporting the troops and supporting the war. In the UK at the moment there's a big anti-war feeling, hardly anyone thinks we should be in Afghanistan or should've been in Iraq.

However the it was politicians that are responsible for the war, and so now our troops are there that doesn't mean we can't support them.

[overdrank]

Any topic or discussion that causes problems or drama will be closed Thread closed.