No 2 minutes silence at gym. AIBU

[Mushypeasandchipstogo]

I went to my gym today for a class in the swimming pool. I had totally expected the class to finish just before 11am so that those who wanted to could observe the two minutes silence. By 10.55am it was apparent that this was not going to happen so I just took myself out of the pool and sat in the changing room by myself.
So as to not drip feed, I am from a Forces Family and the wrong side of 50! I found this totally disrespectful of the instructor. He could have, at the very least, mentioned that he had intended to not stop before the class. AIBU to be upset by this?

I was in the gym... I set an alarm for shortly before the silence, paused my workout and music for the 2 minutes. We are a forces family.

There’s a fantastic bit in The History Boys where the teacher challenges the concept of silences and performative behaviour by suggesting it’s a way to forget, rather than remember. A way to consign the thinking, reflecting, grieving and learning to one short bite sized piece of time, rather than to apply it to modern life, to question whether we should be voting for our chosen party, or we’d better serve in honouring our ancestors in a different way.

I’ve thought about that a lot. I don’t wear a poppy, and whilst I’ll participate in a silence if it’s happening around me, I choose to remember in a different way. I bunked off school to protest the Iraq War, and that felt far more meaningful to me that year than the 2 minute silence did.

YABU, OP. Not performing in the exact way that you do doesn’t mean that a person is a self-obsessed snowflake that has no respect and doesn’t know when WW1 and WW2 were.

(And most people in the country are from forces families - my great-grandfather in WW1 and my grandfathers in WW2).

@AudacityBaby

There’s a fantastic bit in The History Boys where the teacher challenges the concept of silences and performative behaviour by suggesting it’s a way to forget, rather than remember. A way to consign the thinking, reflecting, grieving and learning to one short bite sized piece of time, rather than to apply it to modern life, to question whether we should be voting for our chosen party, or we’d better serve in honouring our ancestors in a different way.

I’ve thought about that a lot. I don’t wear a poppy, and whilst I’ll participate in a silence if it’s happening around me, I choose to remember in a different way. I bunked off school to protest the Iraq War, and that felt far more meaningful to me that year than the 2 minute silence did.

YABU, OP. Not performing in the exact way that you do doesn’t mean that a person is a self-obsessed snowflake that has no respect and doesn’t know when WW1 and WW2 were.

(And most people in the country are from forces families - my great-grandfather in WW1 and my grandfathers in WW2).

That influenced me too!

People conflate all sorts of things with Armistice Day (the date of which itself was a stunt, so there's been politicking around it from the start) largely because it's been conflated with numerous things by various public figures over the years. Now it's got to the point where it "means": - homeless veterans, justification for invading Iraq, justification for invading Afghanistan, rewriting WWII as a British triumph, rewriting WWII in general, Churchill as hero, our brave boys, innocent boys and wicked generals, Queen and country, Billie Piper in a Union Jack t-shirt, don't tell im Pike, etc etc etc. Like others your age I definitely remember when this wasn't the case and we didn't mark it much at all outside of a small ceremony on the Sunday after.

Anyway OP yanbu. I was also at a swimming lesson and we all felt so fervently about all of the above, and more, that we stopped all movement including breathing and sank to the bottom of the pool. Fortunately I am able to hold my breath for a long time and am also v patriotic so I survived.

Clearly there is a period after which such major events are lost from the collective memory. Right now we're in a transition period, where pretty much everyone who experienced them has died, but their children and grandchildren live on

So because hardly anyone currently alive have experienced these events we should just forget about them? Ridiculous

@FangsForTheMemory

If you're the wrong side of 50, you'll remember that nobody in this country used to observe two minutes' silence except those attending Armistice Day ceremonies. It should be a personal thing.

Not at all. I remember people stopping in supermarkets and even in the street.

I don't remember that bit of the History Boys but that resonates hugely. As a teenager I bought multiple poppies every year as if to prove how much I cared- I just care after all because I bought a poppy every time I saw a seller. And sure the British Legion got my money but did it really prove I cared? Did I reflect on military sacrifice the rest of the year? Or donate to charity at other times? Or take action against war? Not really. But I had shown I cared in November and apparently that was what was required of me.

(I have since grown up, matured, and studied history so my thoughts and actions have evolved somewhat)

'So because hardly anyone currently alive have experienced these events we should just forget about them? Ridiculous'
That is a curious conclusion to have reached.

Wow you have that much respect for all those that have died during conflicts and are from a military family that you thought the best way to show your respect was to squeeze some thoughts into 2 minutes at the end of a swimming session. Sounds so dignified and respectful!

Surely the clue is in the name? "Armistice Day" is to remember the Armistice in 1918. There was no Armistice in 1945, because Nazi Germany then Japan unconditionally surrendered.

@HesterShaw1

Surely the clue is in the name? "Armistice Day" is to remember the Armistice in 1918. There was no Armistice in 1945, because Nazi Germany then Japan unconditionally surrendered.

I suspect quite a few people don’t know what armistice actually means.

@mustlovegin

Clearly there is a period after which such major events are lost from the collective memory. Right now we're in a transition period, where pretty much everyone who experienced them has died, but their children and grandchildren live on

So because hardly anyone currently alive have experienced these events we should just forget about them? Ridiculous

Not forget, but commemoration does change over time. We don’t commemorate the millions who died in the Napoleonic Wars anymore, but presumably there were ways in which this was done in the period of history following. There is a transition period, though given the absolutely massive death toll in WW1 and WW2 I’d expect the commemoration to live on for some time yet, and rightly so.

@Lemonsyellow I suspect quite a few people don’t know what armistice actually means.

This. It's heartbreaking

@Cosmois

We never observe the silence or wear poppies. I don't really see the point tbh. Seems like a weird, old fashioned thing. I don't know anyone that observes it, I was a long time ago and the world has moved on now. There have been many conflicts over the years and eventually after a few generations people stop caring and move on. I think most of us feel like that about WW1 and WW2 now? Obviously if you want to keep up that tradition then that is good for you, but it isn't compulsory and a personal choice. Surely you don't expect people to observe this 2 minute silence until the end of time now?

😧

Wow. Here is a fine example of exactly what is wrong with society.

Disgraceful attitude

Agree. I’m in my 40’s. Took it upon myself to learn about WWI and II + other wars/battles. Not taught at school. The devastation for the generation of WWI/II is unimaginable to many today. 2 minutes silence, such a simple, honourable sign of respect to those who lost their lives to save ours. For those of you responding to this thread who think the op is unreasonable, read this book: A Life in Secrets by Sarah Helm. Changed my world and outlook - for the better.

Whose lives were saved by WWI? Genuine question as none immediately spring to mind.

@KingDangerMouse

Agree. I’m in my 40’s. Took it upon myself to learn about WWI and II + other wars/battles. Not taught at school. The devastation for the generation of WWI/II is unimaginable to many today. 2 minutes silence, such a simple, honourable sign of respect to those who lost their lives to save ours. For those of you responding to this thread who think the op is unreasonable, read this book: A Life in Secrets by Sarah Helm. Changed my world and outlook - for the better.

But how does 2 minutes silence honour the dead? This is the point being made over and over with no answer? Surely there are better ways. Also this thread shows there is alot of misinformation around today. It was and still is a memory of the end of world war 1. A war which had nothing to do with the freedom or democracy. It was a political match off between the royal famlies of Europe in which they used their civilian population as cannon fodder. A dispicable thing of them to do. Somone mentioned black history month up thread and that is actually a good idea mabey we should have a remembrance month or week. At my uni we used black history month as a talking platform for discrimination in science and what's wrong with white Male science. It was interesting, perhaps an armistice week in which we focus on the atrocities and more specifically on what caused them and how the aftermath lead to ww2. That way we can actually learn from our mistakes rather then spending 2 minutes a year looking mournful while judging others for not being mournful enough.

Platax - you have completely missed the point. To be a collective honour to those who sacrificed their lives to give us our lives, the impact is to remember the fallen, together, at a single point in time. However, thank you, for your response and to the OP for highlighting how many posters on here are so unaware of what our previous generation sacrificed for us. I urge you all to read this book which will give you insight: A Life in Secrets by Sarah Helm. Changed my life, hope it changes yours.

I have explained how it honours those who lost their lives. What are the better ways? What is the misinformation you speak of? I do not disagree with you about cannon fodder. This was a terrible time in our history and I repeat, read A Life in Secrets - it will give you another perspective.

I dont know what platax is bit I shall assume this is an answer to my question.
I am not at all ignorant about either world war. I have quite an interest in both.
Back to my original question how did the soldiers who were masscared in world war 1 give you your freedom or life?
Also even if they did what is the practical use of being silent for 2 minutes? Like many have said of both the decendents of these soldiers ( of which I am one) and of those who have family that have served that the 2 minutes silence is about as usefull as clapping for the NHS.
Having said that I have no problem with someone choosing to observe the silence or wear a poppy but equally everyone else has the right to not.
Also once again that book is about world war 2

WWI didn't save any lives. WWII was kind of justified by the time it happened (although avoidable prior) and was lost rather than won, although tipped significantly by Russia. Can't say as I owe my life to either conflict and I doubt anyone else here does either.

Just saw your update. Turn it into a teaching moment. Focus on the sequence of event that caused these wars so as not to have them repeated. Use your voice rather then silence it.
Focus on charities associated with veterans. As I said in my last post mimic black history month to being these talking points across all age ranges. Campaign for better mental health facilities both for soldiers but also the population in general

Actually I agree with you Aimee that maybe we could do something useful with this. Eg if we're going to talk about needless deaths, look at the last 18 months etc. But as things stand that blonde prick who oversaw it all will be at the cenotaph on Sunday jawing on about terrible loss of life 114 years ago.

@Almostmenopausal agree with you, some of the comments here are quite frankly disgusting. People completely missing the significance of the 2 min silence being at 11am. I remember when cars used to stop in the street and people were completely silent at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month and I'm 47 not exactly ancient! The implications that people are virtue signalling and a thinly veiled implication that it's racist to do so by one poster is appalling.

M8, cars didn't stop in the street at any point in your lifetime.