AIBU to think there is something a bit 'wrong' about the D-Day commemorations

[KittyC4]

I really cannot put my finger on exactly what it is. However, there just seems to be something really wrong about the way the Normandy Landings are being commemorated.

I have utter respect for the veterans and I can share the sense of loss for all the people (military and civilians) who lost their lives on both sides. Yet, the whole public spectacle of the events seems to be at odds with theme of remembrance.

It could be that the context of Brexit, President Trump's visit and the Anglocentric focus of the events is making me interpret the events as a sad reflection of this country's obsession with past 'glories', but am I the only person to feel there is just something wrong about the way this event is being 'remembered'?

oh scary, i remember 3 yrs ago when your posts were about turkey joining and us not having a veto- glad youve moved on since then.

mellongoose, agreed- no one should be losing their vote on age grounds! - and the war-time generation are almost as pro-eu as milenialls - its the 60 somethings who are most anti eu.

My dad was one of the soldiers who landed on the D Day beaches. He was 22 years old. He'd been fighting in a war since the age of 18 and seen his friends die in front of him.

So I disagree with you. Our 18 year olds have tremendous opportunities and freedoms. We should remember why they have them. It's not about past glories.

Incidentally my dad never ever talked about his war experiences. He said he did the job he was asked to do and life was for looking forward. I regret that while he was alive I never thanked him for what he did.

And here we have it. The thread that was bubbling under all along. Don't worry these brave men and women will soon all be dead and we won't need to be troubled by their inconvenient stories and tears. We can have tasteful art installations instead.

Love the way people on here are jumping to conclusions about what the OP said rather than reading what she said.

I went to visit my DF 93 in his nursing home today - the residents lounge had been turned into a DDay commemoration and it was very moving
He did fight for our tomorrow and was badly wounded twice had also suffered from depression most of his adult life - these days it would probably have been diagnosed with PTSD
Other home residents had known people involved in DDay or had worked in aircraft or ammunition factories - one lady I spoke to had been a land girl

Most in the UK are looking at the 'freedom from war' from a UK perspective, and American, where neither country has been occupies (apart from the Channel Islands) for over 900 years.
Yes the UK was bombed, and I am not suggesting that is not terrible, but when your country is occupied absolutely everyone is held in a constant state of fear. If you manage to kill or seriously injure an 'occupier' around 10 of your family members would be rounded up and executed. This is a whole different mindset to the possibility of being bombed.

Queen Kubau it was nothing to do with trump really dont see how you can say that

Well if we're talking about looking at things from a non UK perspective what about asking the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki how they feel about the end of WWII? Bet they wouldn't have the same ideas about good and evil that we've heard all week.

I agree with you OP, I don’t know what it is.

I think I find some of it a bit pat - it almost seems insincere and celebratory and like other people are trying to get some of the glow that is on those who gave so much.

By the way, whether your grandparents fought or not doesn’t give you the right to shut other people up. In a way that’s slightly what it is.

My apologies, I never intended to shut people up just because my dad fought. We are all entitled to our opinions and they are all valid.

My dad was far from sentimental about the war and would never have taken part in remembrance services, veteran parades etc. But whilst there are still people alive who fought for our freedom I think it's important that the remembrance and recognition is there for them if it's what they want.

I understand what the OP is saying and I don't think people should assume disrespect to the veterans themselves if the way the media and politicians have orchestrated the commemorations is questioned. I think remembrance and respect is important for all involved, but beyond that I think there should be another purpose - to learn lessons from the past to create a better future. It is the learning lessons from the past bit that I think has not been so well done. Whilst we continue to invade other countries to protect our financial interests, killing civilians and destabilising other people's lives, we really have little right to wallow in the warm bath of remembrance.

World leaders are there as elected representatives. We may not like them but they were democratically elected to represent us. They dont represent me at all - but I live in a democracy and that's how democracy works. Fortunately I also live in a country with a monarchy that keeps out of politics and shows how commemoration can be done properly.

I have been reading what the OP said - and now we can see their motivation. They wanted the commemoration to be about Brexit. The OP is upset because the commemoration was largely about remembering the dead - and they wanted it to be more of a political statement. Keep your political spin out of it.

I thought the TV coverage did surprisingly well.

It was refreshing to watch thought-provoking first person accounts: definitely a time to listen to memories.

I thought the Queen's "Thank you " was the most forceful thing I've heard her say.

I also saw Macron, Merkel amongst others involved in official line ups. Macron did other services in France naturally, one to commemorate the Resistance for example. Naturally the Canadian prime minister took a role too. None of the participation seemed uneccesarily shoehorned in or forced.

I think op is unreasonable to see all through a prism of the current changes in the UK / EU relationship, but that's her choice.

Is remembrance "a warm bath"? Hardly.

I've only listened to radio representation and it was focused very much on the human cost of what was achieved which is entirely correct, particularly as this will be one of the few occasions left where veterans can come together to acknowledge their experiences.

There was reference to the support of the women and other nations, but it is logical that British media will emphisise the British contribution, as other nations will focus on their experiences.

I totally get what you mean op. Of course we should commemorate and honour the bravery and sacrifice of all those that fought and continue to fight in war. I find it distasteful that all that was given by that generation is being honoured by people who are making money out of perpetuating further wars. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/09/tory-government-quietly-sponsoring-worlds-largest-arms-fair#amp
My grandparents and their generation sacrificed so much to defeat fascism and we’ve honoured a fascist sympathiser and draft dodger with a state visit and made him a part of the commemorations. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2019/4/26/18517980/trump-unite-the-right-racism-defense-charlottesville
I think all those who fought the war deserve better than that

The state visit and participation was for the USA president as head of state. No honour was given to the person. If it had been a few years earlier it would have been Obama.

Is remembrance "a warm bath"? Hardly. It can be if it is used to pat ourselves heartily on the back over other people's sacrifices. None of us are veterans of WW1 & 2 and we shouldn't co-opt their sacrifice to big up ourselves - I am a bit impatient with the posters who use the fact they had a father or grandfather in the war as if it gives their opinion extra legitimacy.

It does upset me that it feels as if we have learned nothing from the suffering of previous generations.

I think we probably all mostly agree that remembrance and commemoration is important - (not just to express gratitude to veterans but to inform people now of what happened...)

Those who didn't think it was well-done, in an ideal world, how should the commemorations take place? What would we like to see more/less of?

I think I get what you mean OP. Your second post clarifies your thinking. Yes, the presence of Trump was jarring. The Queen’s speech was perfect, I thought and only those who lived through it can fully understand what it was like.

I do feel that it’s impossible to discuss this because people will always assume you are somehow besmirching the memory of soldiers who fought and died. You, OP, are not doing that. You have made that clear. Remembrance should be about remembering those that fought and died and those lives cut so short. It shouldn’t be about “they died so you could have freedom”.

At the outbreak of WW2 Britain only managed to raise an army of about 900,000. That was nowhere near enough hence conscription. About 1.5 million were forced to join up. The horror of WW1 was still fairly fresh.

This 75th commemoration is hugely poignant because those veterans will not be here anymore for the 100th. The current right wing upsurge just goes to prove that we have learned nothing from the colossal loss of both World Wars. That is the real tragedy.

citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki how they feel about the end of WWII

Hardly anyone says this about Germany wrt Dresden, it’s like they forget that Japanese were committing straight up genocide in Asia. The Rape of Nanking and Unit 731 were downright depraved shit. They should do more than feel sorry for themselves, they also need to remember all the crimes they committed for decades in China, Korea and Southeast Asia.

They still won’t really apologize for kidnapping women in conquered territory and forcing them into sex slavery as comfort women.

hiroshima has many events of remembrance and the dome of peace and peace park.

in ypres, ww1 is remembered every evening at Menin Gate...

@PoorAnnie - I didn’t mean you - you were raising valid points and weren’t at all shutting up other people, it was people earlier on who were saying things like ‘my grandfather fought for your freedom of speech’.

To be honest TheNavigator has put what I think much better.

Its probally just as well the atomic bomb was invented and dispite its enormous destructive power the Japanese goverment weren't going to give in that easly, a lot of the military still wanted to fight on!, one can wonder about just how many lives would have bene taken if that did happen.

Also what if that had come along before the Germans gave in on europe VE day?, oft wondered if the Amercians would have given us a few to sprinkle over Germany?.

Any country that has engaged in 'empire building' has terrible things in their background. The UK did not 'rule' nearly half the world by asking nicely. Rape, torture and wholesale slaughter are 'tools of the job'.