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Original poster

Anyone Marking VE Day On Friday?

153 replies

BrandyandBabycham · 06/05/2020 18:32

Apologies if there is an existing thread for this. We haven’t planned anything but DH saw a programme somewhere that you can follow, including afternoon tea in the garden & a singalong of “ We’ll Meet Again”. Is anyone celebrating?

OP posts:
rosiethehen · 07/05/2020 12:34

Just another excuse for people to make a noise and be extra communal as far as I'm concerned.

Bargainhuntbore · 07/05/2020 12:35

Nope.

Angel2702 · 07/05/2020 12:36

Yes kids schoolwork today was making cakes and bunting. We would usually have a family party at my parents but will be joining in with cake on the drive etc instead.

MashedPotatoBrainz · 07/05/2020 12:41

We wont be marking it. I find it all a bit distasteful to be honest, hanging on to past 'glories' of war.

Papoy · 07/05/2020 12:52

One man's victory day was another ones "losing the war" day and not every country was in this war because they had relevant interest in the matter.

Both side lost lives and not all those poor kids wanted to be a soldier, some were forced to go to the war with no training no real understanding of what they were up against. Nothing to celebrate there IMO ! I don't do war related stuff regardless whether it is called a remembrance or celebration.

There are still wars all around the world... no one lifts a finger and after all that remembering we still vote for leaders who advocate war and nationalistic BS !

Davros · 07/05/2020 12:54

I don't get it. I regularly see threads on MN about people being "ashamed" to be British/English and we are very often told we mustn't forget our colonial history, involvement in slavery, historic atrocities. Yet when it's something actually more recent that should be seen positively we should forget it and "Be Nice". The personal testimonies of people involved in WWII are amazing (7pm BBC2 every day this week). My SIL was telling me only this morning what she remembers of VE Day. Of course people all over the world were brave, suffered and made sacrifices, but this is to remind us of what happened to this country and it's people. I'm not interested in 21st century political bullshit, sanitisation and revisionism. Who wants to tell Geoffrey Wellum and so many others that it's time to shut up?
I'll be having a scone or two with my German friend and neighbour amongst others.

Student58 · 07/05/2020 12:59

I'm glad other people find it odd. I have talked to eldest about what his great grandparents/great-great grandparents did in the war but thats it. One was a POW in Japan, I have some documents that show his details, capture and liberation date, he was in a camp for 4 months after VE day. I find the whole celebration idea vaguely inappropriate.

FlamingoAndJohn · 07/05/2020 13:20

I find the constant glorification of the Second World War really rather odd.
Yes we should learn about it, remember it learn from it. Which makes me wonder why 51% of the country decided to throw away the positive outcome from it.

eddiemairswife · 07/05/2020 13:25

I remember having rabbit pie, which was lovely. Meat was rationed, so rabbit and offal which weren't was very popular; I loathed liver (and still do) but stuffed lambs' hearts were very tasty. Also, you couldn't get salad out of season so we only had it in the summer, similarly with new potatoes.

PhoneLock · 07/05/2020 13:43

We wont be marking it. I find it all a bit distasteful to be honest, hanging on to past 'glories' of war.

Perhaps a visit to Auschwitz would change your mind.

Yellowbutterfly1 · 07/05/2020 13:46

No.

Davros · 07/05/2020 13:52

Phonelock quite. I don't sent brave enough to say it

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge · 07/05/2020 14:43

Perhaps a visit to Auschwitz would change your mind.

It certainly reminds us how hubristic nationalism, whipped-up fear and a nasty lurch towards right-wing authoritarianism can go appallingly wrong.

chomalungma · 07/05/2020 14:49

Perhaps a visit to Auschwitz would change your mind

Ironically - some people who are most definitely going to be celebrating this are some of the far right racist people who hate others, who don't understand why people flee regimes and who would be the first to have said that Jewish people wouldn't have been welcome in the UK when they were fleeing the Nazi regime if they had been around at the time.

Those people haven't learnt the lessons of Auschwitz.

MashedPotatoBrainz · 07/05/2020 14:56

Perhaps a visit to Auschwitz would change your mind.

I very much doubt visiting the site of the death of millions will change my mind into wanting to sing and dance and hang out the bunting. I find it very peculiar that you use an extermination camp to justify street parties. Very peculiar indeed.

FlamingoAndJohn · 07/05/2020 15:02

It certainly reminds us how hubristic nationalism, whipped-up fear and a nasty lurch towards right-wing authoritarianism can go appallingly wrong.

Every single word of this.

HeimdallSaysNo · 07/05/2020 15:07

My daughter is focused on WW1 in history and I don't want to confuse her.

I might have a bit if a moment of memory for my Grandad (who, family lore has it, joined the TA three days before war was declared 🤦🏻‍♀️). My friend is in the reserves so I'll drop him a text to see what he's up to, if anything. But that's all.

Davros · 07/05/2020 15:11

I think the point is, do we want to follow the "Lest We Forget" line and honour survivor testimony? Then is it acceptable to allow only certain parts to be considered important?
DH is Jewish, members of his family are still alive (in their 80s) who remember the War, his parents often talked about being Wartime Londoners. The few remaining are looking forward to it and no doubt will find it emotional as well as uplifting. Shouldn't that we allowed?

bellinisurge · 07/05/2020 15:13

Brexit inspired bollocks. Let's celebrate VJ Day instead if we have to celebrate.

TeenPlusTwenties · 07/05/2020 15:19

Davros I agree.

I'm not celebrating war, I'm celebrating peace, and remembering those who lost their lives keeping us a free country. Plus it is cheerful in these times to have flags and bunting up for a few days.

I do think VE Day I think was more momentous for most people, as that was the clear and present war to them. It was when they got peace, even though for a significant number their loved ones were still fighting in the far east.

And it has nothing to do with Brexit. If anything it helps us remember how we need to stay friendly and not at odds with each other.

Shoxfordian · 07/05/2020 15:19

Nope, not planning on doing anything

DrDreReturns · 07/05/2020 15:20

No I won't. Armistice Day is enough imo. This country is obsessed by the second world war. It wouldn't surprise me if they move the August bank holiday to coincide with VJ day.

chomalungma · 07/05/2020 15:21

In the Netherlands - which was occupied during the war, they have 2 days - a Remembrance day on May 4th and a Liberation day on May 5th. It sounds like they go to a lot of effort to remind people about the importance of freedom and not to take it for granted.

We also had the Channel Islands to think about - and how they suffered under occupation. They didn't get liberated until the end of the war and conditions there sounded awful in those last months.

TeenPlusTwenties · 07/05/2020 15:24

chom If you every go to Jersey you should go to see the occupation tapestry (actually 12+1 panels) and watch the films there. One of the films is now about how their remembrance of Liberation Day (May 9th) has changed throughout the years to keep it relevant.

blue25 · 07/05/2020 15:24

Yes, afternoon tea in the garden. Will chat with neighbours over the fence. Looking forward to it.