to be stunned by the reaction dh witnessed at the war memorial today

[Northernlurker]

(Sorry this is my second aibu remembrance day thread - I've got a cold, it's making me intolerant)

So dh went with my parents to the church service and wreath laying in a nearby village. I was laid low at home with myself (cold), dd2 (headache) and dd3 (slapped cheek - COVERED in spots) Two or three folks are always organised in yellow jackets to stop the traffic near to the memorial for the two minutes silence. Today this occurred and the driver of the vehicle stopped and SHOUTED 'D'you own the road??' He was politely asked to wait two minutes which he then did. Now fair enough that people could be caught unawares by the presence of 170 people in the village street but wouldn't you think when asked to wait TWO minutes you would just.....well.....wait - not shout? AIBU?

Maybe he didn't realise it was only going to be two minutes, was maybe worried he'd have to wait for the whole duration of a ceremony.

interestingly the whole "everybody stop for 2 minutes thing"
dates back to Blackadder 4
reinforced by Diana
reinforced by the Asian Tsunami
before that it was only those attending services who joined in
I used to go to Whitehall as a kid

on the positive side I think its amazing that the British Legion have reinvented themselves so well to support and be supported by the young

The ceremony I attended today involved a service in the middle of the road in a village. There was a road closure put into place (it's done via application to the council by the way, no police officer required) as it is impossible to gather around the memorial without doing so. Nothing to do with quiet.

Today's parade involved old soldiers, beavers, cubs, scouts, brownies & guides. It could not have happened without the road closure. Very moving.

No problems with irate drivers either, although there is an alternative route in and out of the village.

Where are some of the attitudes coming from on this thread? And speechless at the poster who did not actually know what this day is about.

Shouting out of cars etc - deeply offensive; I was very glad to have remembered to switch off my phone in church this am as an estate agent called during our 2 min silence.

However ... I have to confess to a suppressed snort when out of nowhere the congregation launched into God Save the Queen . We were at a different church as we've moved, it's not our normal for church - is it normal to sing GStQ in church? Ds1 also quite taken aback but thankfully ds2 salvaged some form of respect by standing very tall, shoulders back, singing with gusto.

There's too much of a fuss about 11/11 in my opinion and I don' honour it myself, but I wouldn't be annoyed about the traffic being held up. After all, where I live they are forever shutting the road because of football matches.

In Portsmouth, a whole chunk of the sea front is closed off for the naval ceremony - and the road doesn't even impact upon the cenotaph.

The sense of solemnity and respect is increased by silence, except for the sound of the sea, the gulls and the wind. Very moving.

Possibly this is the same person who last week clipped my 78 year old mother's walking stick as she was slowly crossing the village square, stopped, wound down window and shouted "This is a public highway you know", before driving off. Rude and aggressive drivers all year round I think, not just on rememberence Sunday.

"too much of a fuss" xmasbaby ffs

Xmasbaby in what way in your opinion is there 'too much of a fuss'?

giveitago: I observed the silence but I didn't really now what it's for (and I'm british and middle aged). I drove up my street and there was procession about to take place but I wasn't stopped. The two non nationals I was with seemed to think my explanation for the ceremony might be incorrect (quite possibly).

FFS!!! How can you NOT know what the silence is for???? It is to remember all those who gave their lives in the world wars and subsequent wars, including those happening today. You should be ashamed you don't know what it's for. Unless you're a troll, of course

Xmasbaby - your attitude is crap. Too much of a fuss? Idiot.

I'm fairly stunned by the 'too much fuss' comment as well. The Armistice Day silence and events are born out of one of the most traumatic events this country has ever endured. You may have doubts about war is a method for solving international differences - I have huge doubts personally - but even so you can respect the pain and loss that women just like us suffered so many years ago and are still suffering now.

Northernlurker I don't think you should make this a gender issue, it really isn't.

No it isn't but that majority of posters on this site are women and we should feel surely feel fellow feeling across the decades with women like us?

yes doesnt matter if you do or dont agree with war,i dont but it happens and if not for all those that died and those that fought and by the grace of god or who/whatever survived we wouldnt be say here at a pc/phone etc we wouldnt be free,a few minutes out of our lives to some a bit of respect,men & women are still dying so we can be sat here and not forgeting those that get caught up in the cross fire and get killed or hurt.

If people don't understand the point of the day, I wouldn't think it was worth trying to persuade them.

I wore a poppy and attended an armistice service.

I would though like to broach a growing feeling I have that our respect for, and thanks given to, those who have served and been through traumatic events is being increasingly manipulated in order to make the very questioning of the sanity these events seem somehow disrespectful.

'sanity of these events'

I was stopped on my way to work ... Village memorial cross surrounded by a big crowd spilling out onto the road and the procession just making it's way back to the Smithy, pulled over, sat and watched, gulped a bit, waved to DS and DP who were processing and went on my merry way.

Two bloody minutes for all those lives. It's got nothing to do with approving of war ... It's showing respect, that's all.

People like David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband and various royals are appropriating that respect for themselves. They are also very adept at creating a culture where political criticism of a war is deemed disrespectful to those who have died or been injured.

I help raise a bit of money for Help for Heroes. I'm getting mighty tired of the political choreography of remembrance.

I agree, but just because a bunch of sleazy tosspots try and score some cheap points out of the event doesn't mean the basic sentiment is flawed.

I agree, Feckless, which is why the basic sentiment - the simplicity of caring - is to me what matters.

You can even buy chocolate and eggs that donate to 'Help for Heroes.'