Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What fresh hell is this? National VE day

842 replies

wetpants · 03/05/2020 10:07

This has popped up on my local FB page, villagers are all up for it too. Apparently it’s a nationwide incentive??

The thing is, most front gardens are tiny or non existent here. There’s no way you could be 2m away from your next door. Also these villagers who are up for this are the same people who few weeks ago cried about a lone bloke sitting on a crass verge, well away from any pedestrians. How is this any different?

I’m not British (have lived here a long time though) so maybe I’m just not getting the fervent VE day misty eyeness Confused

And don’t get me started on 9pm nationwide singalong Shock WHO comes up with these things???

What fresh hell is this? National VE day
OP posts:
Peregrina · 03/05/2020 18:58

The War has become part of the national myth: because we were on the winning side 75 years ago that means we don’t need European cooperation now, we don’t need to listen to experts, we can piss off all our neighbours and cripple our economy.

I feel much the same. Then it was, 'we must never let this happen again' with moves towards international co-operation. Now, "it's we don't need you". Hence the debacle about PPE equipment - we don't need to be part of an EU supply chain, because we are not in the EU. Followed by a bunch of lies and excuses.

Alsohuman · 03/05/2020 19:00

60 000 people have died and more will die from covid

The average monthly death rate pre Covid was between 40 and 50,000. Nobody ever suggested that it was inappropriate or disrespectful for people to have celebrations then.

godhelpusall · 03/05/2020 19:04

Isn't this just another PR exercise to distract us from the tens of thousands of people we allowed to die as part of our experiment in herd immunity? Like the near death experience and the new baby? Call me cynical...

chomalungma · 03/05/2020 19:05

Nobody ever suggested that it was inappropriate or disrespectful for people to have celebrations then

That's just the regular death rate. What normally happens.

We are in the middle of a pandemic, with many more people dying than usual.

But I guess you knew that.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 03/05/2020 19:08

And 70 million died in the war.

Commemorate them won't be disrespectful.

Alsohuman · 03/05/2020 19:10

*That's just the regular death rate. What normally happens.

We are in the middle of a pandemic, with many more people dying than usual*

I know that. And your point is? Presumably people whose deaths aren’t caused by this virus don’t count?

maria860 · 03/05/2020 19:11

Why does everyone like their neighbours mine stole my wheelie bin (recycle one) filled it with rubbish last week then stuck it outside my house. So no I won't be sitting in my garden with bunting celebrating with the cunts next door

Roussette · 03/05/2020 19:14

17,000 a year die from the flu in UK. This is an unprecedented, hugely contagious pandemic. Very different. And the locking down of 180 countries in the world says it all. I doubt all those countries are destroying their economies for no reason, let alone the huge implications with mental health and the ramifications for the future.

chomalungma · 03/05/2020 19:16

I know that. And your point is? Presumably people whose deaths aren’t caused by this virus don’t count

Of course they count. But we accept that as 'normal' life. This is different.

The point someone made was that celebrations in the middle of a pandemic seem wrong.

Your point was that a lot of people die normally anyway.

MulticolourMophead · 03/05/2020 19:16

I'm mid fifties and even my parents weren't born till after the war so even they dont get the singalong shit

They must have become parents at an incredibly young age then.

Not that young. I'm 51 and my parents were born in 1944. I was born when they were 24.

chomalungma · 03/05/2020 19:21

Not that young. I'm 51 and my parents were born in 1944. I was born when they were 24

Oooh - I've got this before alsohuman replies - because they are going to say that the war ended in 1945.

And that 51 is not mid fifties.

jasjas1973 · 03/05/2020 19:24

The War has become part of the national myth: because we were on the winning side 75 years ago that means we don’t need European cooperation now, we don’t need to listen to experts, we can piss off all our neighbours and cripple our economy. But that’s ok, because we’ve got the Blitz Spirit and fucking bunting. Hooray, Britain is great!

To the extent that there is a working Covid app within europe or rather the EU, being used already in Germany, built with expertise from Google and Apple (so will work with Android and IOS devices) based on the successful one rolled out in Korea & de centralised databases so less privacy concerns and better accuracy but oh fucking NO!

We the UK must have our own one, centralised database (less accuracy) and still not working....

Ideology over saving ourselves...British exceptionalism is alive and kicking.

PhilSwagielka · 03/05/2020 19:25

@godhelpusall To be fair, it was planned before coronavirus happened. There were going to be street parties, themed nights, concerts, dances etc.

jasjas1973 · 03/05/2020 19:30

The average monthly death rate pre Covid was between 40 and 50,000. Nobody ever suggested that it was inappropriate or disrespectful for people to have celebrations then

CV deaths are in addition to the normal death count and these deaths are specific, it's like having a party in Kensington at the same time as the Grenfell tower tragedy.

Alsohuman · 03/05/2020 19:36

it's like having a party in Kensington at the same time as the Grenfell tower tragedy

No it’s not. It’s saying some deaths matter more than others. And if you’re all happy to say that, crack on.

saraclara · 03/05/2020 19:55

People are dying alone. Families are not able to be with their loved ones in their last days. The bereaved can't attend funerals. Their friends and relatives can't visit to support them. They can't be hugged.

I think these deaths have an element of horror to them that is worse than normal. When I lost my husband I had so much support. My daughters and I were with him as he died. We don't have to look back in despair at not being there for him. Our relatives and friends held is and consoled us. His funeral was a comfort, with those mourning with us and then celebrating his life at the wake. Not a cold impersonal event with just me and my daughters there, and then returning to an empty home.

So yes, it is less appropriate to be partying while those around us have to suffer that.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/05/2020 19:58

Surely you can avoid it by just staying inside? Which you should be doing anyway?

You are allowed out of the house...

BBCONEANDTWO · 03/05/2020 20:02

If I lived somewhere that had this sort of thing I probably would join in. I've changed my opinion about certain things during the lockdown and I really like the fact there is a lot of community spirit going about. Good luck and happy VE Day to everyone.

Roussette · 03/05/2020 20:02

This is more deaths. Death rate sky high, a highly contagious pandemic extra to flu, cancer, alzheimers, accidents and all those sad deaths. It's the huge numbers and the fact it has taken those on the frontline of the NHS but it doesn't belittle those that die from pneumonia, flu, cancer every year. No doubt all of us on here have mourned someone taken this way.

This is different and I'm not sure why that is difficult to understand. One day we had 980 deaths from this, just shocking.

jasjas1973 · 03/05/2020 20:28

it's like having a party in Kensington at the same time as the Grenfell tower tragedy

No it’s not. It’s saying some deaths matter more than others. And if you’re all happy to say that, crack on

What part of "additional deaths" don't you get?

A global pandemic on this scale hasn't happened for over 100 years, to want to party is quite frankly sick.

We can all celebrate the 76th anniversary if the nation still feels its so important or wait until the 80th.

Mmsnet101 · 03/05/2020 20:49

@BubblyBarbara you think freedom is to be celebrated at the moment?? You think war is something to celebrate? You still think Brexit is a good idea? Hmm

Enjoy your singalong and cream tea, I hope it's all worth it Sad

Peregrina · 03/05/2020 20:52

It's a very strange thing to be talking about freedom when a peace time government has introduced the most severe curtailment of our freedom, since the War. With precious little Parliamentary scrutiny as far as I recall.

godhelpusall · 03/05/2020 20:54

@PhilSwagielka back when Brexit was the focus du jour. Either way it provides a distraction from the self serving shambles that is the government's policy.

Lynda07 · 03/05/2020 20:56

saraclara, I get what you are saying. My husband died last year, I am so glad he isn't ill and dying now (though of course would have liked to keep him longer).

If others want to celebrate it doesn't bother me but I can't imagine it happening around here or that we will be allowed to anyway.

Lynda07 · 03/05/2020 21:01

Pinkginhelps Sun 03-May-20 18:48:58
It's bad enough with VD day every Thursday. Who knew that in 2020 it would be considered patriotic to give essential workers the clap? grin
.......
That made me laugh, Pinkgin. We could do with some more laughs at the moment.

Swipe left for the next trending thread