What fresh hell is this? National VE day

[wetpants]

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

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

On an economic side, pubs all over the country would have been rammed today especially with the weather.

Wonderful idea. I went to visit Normandy two years ago and saw for myself the thousands of Graves of men and women who fought against Hitler. Very sober experience. My Husband met with one of the last survivors of 'Band of Brothers' . Let's all remember them for putting their life on the lines for our future x Within the next few years our Veterans will pass away so let's make them proud that we are grateful to them by celebrating VE day x

I live on a military base. I went outside for a nosy when the song was playing. Silence.

VE Day is a significant day for many people

Maybe but the numbers are diminishing, cycling around this afternoon and saw a few flags, one very small tea party, that was rural Cornwall, fiends in Plymouth said very quiet too.

whether we like it or not, most have little knowledge on WW2 and probably even less interest, its a party they want.

I remember my relatives (all long dead now) their lives and what they went through, i don't need govt sponsored propaganda to remind me.

If it mattered that much to Johnson, he'd have stopped CV getting into the care home system (he saw what had happened in Europe weeks earlier) helping to kill off the few who actually lived through WW2.

Watching the VE Day on BBC one a little while ago. A woman probably in her 90s was presented with a ww2 medal by a Navy captain. Social distancing seemed to be achieved.
She said it was the best day of her life. You could see the pride in her life.
So unlike the OP , I do get why VE is important.

Pride in her face!

No singing here, not a dickie. Most disappointed.
To the question in hand. YABVU. And miserable.

Jasjas, politics doesn’t have to come into it. Boris Johnson is not relevant to VE Day.
What’s the alternative, we do nothing for VE Day? Just because many people don’t know what it is, or even interested, that’s up to them.
It may also take people’s minds of the lock down just for a few hours.

I take it back. It's turned from being nice to the idiotic neighbours, front AND back, blaring music and screeching. Now my dog won't stop barking, kids are awake again, and it's like a fucking rave out there. So much for a quiet sing along to songs from the 40s

We didn't have any singing in my road either. And my voice is a bit fucked right now due to nasal polyps, so I'd have sounded terrible.

@JediJim IF he stayed out of it, i'd agree but he sits there with his fucking smug pseudo churchillain grin, preaching to us about the great british spirit.

He can do one, i just found out a close relative has died of CV, she survived a german occupation and avoided a march to a death camp, she died of suspected CV... didn't get to celebrate VE day.... because that xxxx didn't learn from Italy, boasted of shaking hands with cV patients, allowed cheltenham and didn't lockdown, he is a murderous xxxx.

National VE Day. That 'HELL' as you call it is remembering those who died and those who fought in the war so that YOU and you family could enjoy freedom!

Millions lost their lives over six years of fighting, to bring peace. Today is about remembrance, celebration and gratitude for the sacrifices of so many in order for us to have the life we have today.
They were a great generation and suffered many privations such as urban black outs, loss of freedom, conscription, food rationing the list is endless...and there was great bravery and stoicism among people.

If you can't be bothered to remember that generation then you're just a hopeless case!! and if you think being on lockdown for six weeks is tough you should remember what our ancestors went through!

I think with Johnson and his Cabinet at the helm, it wasn't going to be a celebration that we have had 75 years of peace and let's continue, it was going to be a big Johnson Jingo Jamboree.

There have been some people celebrating at the bottom of my road, but it mostly sounded like a bunch of twenty year olds having a bit of a booze up. Nothing wrong with having a booze up, but it's not commemorating peace.

We've got bloody fireworks going off here now just to get in a bit more glorification of war as they obviously feel they haven't glorified the slaughter enough with bunting and scones all day.

I suppose it’s ‘glorifying’ the end(ish) of the war.

If fireworks were let off on 1 or 3 September that would be glorifying war.

Well our street had a fabulous day, enjoyed by all, young and old, and social distancing observes throughout. Wonderful community spirit, lovely people as neighbours, has truly been one of the good memories of this lockdown. I realise I’m lucky to have such fab neighbours.

@wavingfuriously OP is Finnish, not British. From Wikipedia, apologies to any history teachers:

'Finland participated in the Second World War initially as an Axis power, twice battling the Soviet Union, and then switching sides to the Allies against Nazi Germany. As relations with the Soviet Union changed during the war, Finland was placed in the unusual situation of being for, then against and then for the overall interests of the Allied powers.

'The first two major conflicts in which Finland was directly involved were the defensive Winter War against an invasion by the Soviet Union in 1939, followed by the Continuation War, alongside Germany and the other Axis Powers against the Soviets, in 1941–1944. The third conflict, the Lapland War against Germany in 1944–1945, followed the signing of the Moscow Armistice with the Allied Powers, which stipulated expulsion of Nazi German forces from Finnish territory.

'By the end of hostilities, Finland had defended its independence, but had to cede nearly 10% of its territory, including its fourth largest city, Viipuri (Vyborg), and pay out a large amount of war reparations to the Soviet Union. As a result of this territorial loss, all East Karelians abandoned their homes, relocating to areas that remained within the borders of Finland.'

I guess I could understand if you were Russian but I don't think the UK had much involvement with Finland, and what OP's ancestors went through is no doubt very different to what ours did.

There have been people having a massive street party since 11am where I am. Kids all playing out, people all in deckchairs, no social distancing to be seen. I honestly just want to cry with it all.

We had a nice time too, it was pretty low key we just sat in our front gardens and ate/drank our own food and drink, someone had a radio playing a 40s station, a few people had flags/bunting and we just had a chat. Social distancing observed, got to know the neighbours a bit better, just a couple of hours then people wandered back indoors and it’s been quiet enough to hear a pin drop out there since about 7.30. We have mostly older neighbours though.

We’ve had a lovely day on our street and all at a social distance. Music, food and even a quiz. My dc really enjoyed it too.
I was slightly worried it would turn loud and pissed in the evening but it’s l quiet now!

PhilS Thanks for that, I had forgotten some details myself Finland suffered greatly due to the Soviet invasion. Even to this day, Russians are met with suspicion and in older generation’s case, with hatred.

My late maternal GF was a Karelian refugee, him and his family had to abandon and flee their home after Finland had to hand the region over to the Russians. They were housed else in the country which is where most of my family still lives. As an anecdote, I was always afraid of him, he wasn’t a friendly, cuddly grandpa. He never discussed becoming a refugee and it always was bit of a taboo with the family. War can affect us and generations beyond in many ways.

It’s not glorifying war, it’s celebrating the defeat of the nazis in Europe. A fascist, murdering, evil regime. They gassed millions of Jews and killed children.
Why can’t people grasp it not celebrating war?!!!

I refuse to believe people can actually be confusing celebrating VE Day with glorifying war. I really can’t imagine anyone that stupid has learned to write.

I can write perfectly well thank you. I just don't buy into the jingoistic, flag waving "we beat the Germans" wankfest.

Watching the VE Day on BBC one a little while ago. A woman probably in her 90s was presented with a ww2 medal by a Navy captain. Social distancing seemed to be achieved.
She said it was the best day of her life. You could see the pride in her life.
So unlike the OP , I do get why VE is important

I saw that too. It was beautiful. Made me cry.