h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have mixed feelings about poppies and Remembrance Day

Being a pacifist I don't want to make propaganda for anything military.

On the other hand I appreciate that mankind has always fought wars and armed conflicts and police actions (insert euphemism of your own choice) and it would be ludicrous to believe that we would stop any time soon. You can't live in peace if your neighbour won't let you.

And of course the people who fought for our freedom and died along the way - or came home legless, armless, blind or insane - must be respected. Deeply.

Same goes for their mothers, fathers, partners, children, other family and friends.

Let us not forget the people on the other side either. Many of whom fought for causes they never believed in themselves. Only because they had no choice. Being a borderline kraut (Danish/German) I have met a few.

Last but not least let us also remember deserters and conscientious objectors. Many of whom were executed during WWI only because they believed in a man who 2000 years ago told us to love one another and stop fighting.

With some relief I can say that Remembrance day has not been imported here. Quite successfully I've managed to keep my ignorance, so I don't even know which soldiers and their families we should honour.

We've only had one so far in Denmark. A few weeks ago. But then we hadn't been fighting wars for 150 years till we sent our boys and girls to fight in Ex-Jugoslavia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan

All those places where we fight for our independence and self-determination.

In the US this was first called Armistice Day
one website mentions World War I ending.
However the most significant armistice was signed at 5 a.m. on the morning of 11 November 1918, and came into effect six hours later at 11 a.m. (hence the oft-quoted 'eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month').
The Disabled Veterans of America are using the day to remember those who have died in Iraq and AfganIstan. also those who returned from these wars with Post Traumatic Stress Ddisorder (PTSD).

There are so many this day and that day throughout the year... I think they all lose importance. Although I disagreed with Fifa's initial decision about the English team wearing poppies, I did it because it was inconsistent, as they allow advertising.
I think this should be up to each individual to decide whether or not they observe the day. However, it isn't. If you live in the UK, you *have* to wear a poppy (or else you're considered a traitor of the case), you *have* to observe the two minutes silence.

As long as there is war, and as long as the UK, the USA and other western countries are involved, I think it is hypocrite of the politicians to observe that day. I'm not talking about the citizens, they're not the ones fighting the wars.

A653924

?

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/brunel/A653924

I've seen that link first time you posted it.

I'm just not sure why you posted it. All of us are aware of the history, but not all of us think we need to observe that day.

As Pierce correctly pointed out, where's the day when those Shot at dawn are being paid their respect?

A34945338

To me, this all seems hypocrite, I'm sorry.

Why are you sorry if that's what you believe.
The link was posted because it seemed that some people were not aware of the significance of the event. I posted it again because I failed to understand the simple '?' you posted.
I feel the time and nature of this thread is inappropriate.

I agree, Bel. To me, it sort of glorifies war They do go on about their "glorious dead", even, like it's a good thing...

I feel that it is fine to remember those who died in a war, however, who mourns all the people in countries the British/Americans/Germans/Italians/Portuguese/Spanish.... occupied and where they slaughtered the natives?

>>I feel the time and nature of this thread is inappropriate. ok


>>I feel the time and nature of this thread is inappropriate.<<

Why? Because other people question this custom?

<>

A34945338

If you read the last para, you'll see that they were pardoned in 2006. All are now remembered during the two minutes' silence.

I don't glorify war when I bow my head, I am remembering those who had no choice (like my father, who came home with a bullet embedded in his lung) but he was lucky. He survived to have a nice family and a good long life.

I buy my poppy each year to raise funds for the wounded soldiers and dead soldiers' widows & families.

I wish war didn't exist but there's causes we all need to fight, I am glad I don't have to weild a weapon to kill someone or be killed.

It's been a while since I read your entry (I linked to it above because I remembered that you wrote it).

I still think people EVEN in the UK should have a choice of whether or not to observe the day. By the looks of all I have read so far, they don't. That cannot be a good thing.

We are also honouring those who gave their lives that we might live in freedom today. I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to honour them, but it's NOT compulsory, I haven't noticed anyone forced to buy (or wear) a poppy.

There's the social pressure which is enormous. Even on this website.

Whatever reservations I have about war (and I have many), I do not for one minute want to abandon the wounded and slain veterans of those wars. Some were drafted, some enlisted, but all the survivors deserve caring, expert medical services after they come home. I always cringe when I hear about cuts to VA hospitals, or government bureaucracies that try to deny care on some pretext.

It has raken decades for shell-shock and post-traumatic stress syndrome to be recognized as the valid phenomena that they are. Thousands of soldiers suffered social and governmental stigmas before the powers that be wised up.

They should be taken care of, but is it enough to think of them once a year? Wouldn't it be better to care for them all year round?

and some were impressionable enough to sign up to something they couldn't understand even if they was old enough.

http://images112.fotki.com/v106/photos/1/1529911/8170439/MemorialShotAtDawnComp_hfcopy-vi.jpg