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???

Not really my thing. But. My neighbours have been wonderful over the last month (we were self isolating for 5 weeks and they kept us topped up w fresh food). Quite a few are keen on this, so if it makes them happy I am perfectly prepared to stick up some bunting, bake some scones and have a picnic on the drive.

We're all doing it down our street, but then we all have front gardens to do it in. And a history of having street parties down the bottom of the cul de sac anyway. We are looking forward to it.

Keep calm and carry on

The only person I know who is still alive and lived through the war as an adult (yes, she's absolutely ancient) has never talked about the war because it was so traumatic for her; amongst other things she was widowed. She certainly won't be engaging in this VE day stuff. She's also never worn a poppy.

There's a lot of rose tinted glasses coming from people who didn't live through the war - or who did, but as children. Given that the war ended 75 years ago, anyone under the age of 80 won't remember any of the war, and anyone under the age of about 90 will have a purely child's eye view of the war.

I don't have a front garden, just a gravel patch where we put the bins, so I'd have to go out back. I also live on my own and I don't have any '40s clothes - closest thing I have is a tea dress. I'm also quite shy about standing on my doorstep singing. If I did celebrate, it it would only be because I felt pressured to do so and because people like @mygenericusername seem to think we have to or we're being disrespectful. It feels a bit sad celebrating on my own with a glass of something alcoholic. Call me a miserable bitch if you want. I'm going through a major depressive episode right now, sorry.

The last time I remember doing anything for VE Day was when I was a kid and we had the 50th anniversary celebrations. It was different then cos both my grandmas were alive and I guess it's more fun when you're a kid.

@BubblyBarbara I'm an older type with a father who was a war baby but I'll choose to mark it with a respectful silence and contemplation for the sacrifices made, including my grandfathers mental health.

I don't see it as an excuse to "celebrate" at all. That "we won, we won, na na" jingoistic nationalistic, flag waving, rule Britannia, we are the greatest, utter crap is nothing at all to do with what those who fought that I've spoken to, wanted us to remember. It should be a day for giving thanks for those who stood up and dealt with an incredible evil, not having a fucking bunting party.

On the military base I live on, there is one VE celebration for officers families and another one for non-officers. That’s not really in the spirit is it!

I don't understand why people are fixated on celebrating a war which ended 75 years ago!

There's hardly ever a mention of the Falklands War or the Gulf War which we're far more recent. Whether or not you believe these conflicts should have taken place, they did and people died as a result.

I agree terrible sacrifices were made and we should remember those who made them, but a street party for something that happened 75 years ago is in my opinion jingoistic and unnecessary.

Good points @Lockheart. Plus if you're looking at which individual country's actions was most responsible for the Allied win it was Russia, hands down. Maybe we should all sing their national anthem/Go West on ve day. I might suggest it on the local Facebook group.

Sorry vanillandhoney by ”here” I meant where I live, not in general.

By the deafening sound of saucepans crashing I think we’re the only household in our close that don’t take part in the Thursday night stuff, I’m putting the baby to bed or trying to keep her asleep, and not a big fan of that particular outpouring either, but no pressure from our neighbours and thankfully people are doing what they feel comfortable with, whether that’s getting involved with group initiatives or lying low.

The only relative I know who lived through the war as an adult is currently trapped in a carehome bereft of visitors.

A street party seems incredibly inappropriate.

No thanks. I won’t be getting involved in anymore of the demands.

I grew up in an actual war zone, I’m not going to get involved in the glorification of a war.

This gave is a real laugh when we read it yesterday.

I'm not British (have lived here a long time though)

I come from a small country that fought for it’s independence.

Why are people so secretive on MN? It's not like saying which country you're from is going to be massively outing.

That was around the time that remembrance went up the public agenda including the silence on the 11th rather than just the nearest Sunday. Silence on the 11th was around a long time before 25 years ago.

I'm not miserable and absolutely would be doing something with family if I could but my neighbours are all morons and no way will they abide by social distancing.

Do it, don't do it. Don't mock.

Pre-corona, our village had a full day planned, which would have been raising money for the British Legion.

People will still be doing their bit to mark the day. Bunting, tea at a distance etc.

I will be thinking of my Dad, who (aged 21), was with the troops who liberated Bergen-Belsen - some of you may need to Google that

I may cry for what it did to him - hope that's not too "misty-eyed" or "militant".

I think the whole thing is OTT. Will not be doing anything, joining anything, watching anything on TV. Nor will my two parents who are both in their 90's and lived and fought during the war. They both think these kind of events should have been stopped years ago. Including annual 11/11 commemorations.

The attitudes on this post towards those that aren’t as thrilled with the street party idea shows that it’s not as simple as just don’t do it if you don’t want to. People who don’t could possibly face backlash from others who now feel it’s their job to get everyone to join in all these street festivities.

It’s VE Day. Have some god dam respect for the place you have chosen to make your home

Well I'm British and I don't want enforced celebration/commemoration.

Why does all this stuff have to be so forced? If you want to celebrate, do. But do it in the privacy of your own home and leave the rest of us alone.

It's the 75th anniversary and come next year most of those who remember VE day possibly won't be here I think if you've made it this far you have a pretty good chance of being here next year too. And we have VJ day in August.

This isn't about enforced jollity or virtue signalling but suggesting a reasonable option for people who can and who want to

but it is forced if it is in everyone's front gardens. How on earth can you avoid it?

If you trendy younger types don’t want to celebrate your freedom to do whatever you like then maybe you don’t deserve it

See this smells an awful lot like “if you don’t clap for the NHS you should sign away your right to treatment” which I’ve seen on local Facebook groups.

@cologne4711 stay in the house? Sit in your back garden?

I will be thinking of my Dad, who (aged 21), was with the troops who liberated Bergen-Belsen - some of you may need to Google that

Some of us have been there, more than once. And my father was involved in the D-Day landings and although he wasn't part of the group who liberated Bergen-Belsen, he was nearby. I don't get the connection between forced street parties and the liberation of a concentration camp.

When my grandfather got back to Britain after being evacuated from Dunkirk, all he got was a train ticket home. It's a shame that those terrible terrible times are now reduced to a bit of bunting and some scones. Most people on VE day were thinking of all they had lost and what a cost the victory was. Don't forget it was mainly the returning soldiers who voted Churchill out.

Its so surreal my mind is boggled
Go back in time 3 months. Could anyone have imagined we'd be discussing standing on our doorsteps singing"We'll Meet Again" as if it was a perfectly reasonable thing to do?