Is it disrespectful to release fireworks on Remembrance Day?

[TheOriginalEmu]

A bit of an argument on my local Facebook page, a former soldier posted a couple of days ago that it would be nice if people could not set off fireworks today in respect of Remembrance Day.
Someone did set off a couple as they said it was their grandfathers birthday who passed away this year, and it was a way to mark the occasion. Cue a ton of posts calling the person setting them off a moron and rude and disrespectful etc etc

Now, I’m no fan of fireworks, the noise terrifies my autistic child, it upsets my dog a fair bit and I don’t at all understand why they need to be so bloody loud when they don’t need to be.

However, I don’t understand what is inherently disrespectful about fireworks on Remembrance Day? Is this a thing that people generally observe that I’ve somehow not noticed in 45 years on the planet? Or is this just something one person thinks shouldn’t happen and all these other people have jumped on the bandwagon?

Do you think it’s disrespectful today?

Is this a thing that people generally observe that I’ve somehow not noticed in 45 years on the planet?

I don't think many people are observing some kind of no firework rule; it's just not common for fireworks to be set on this day. 5th November and maybe the fri/day of that week, but a random Thursday? Not many people would be setting fireworks anyway.

I have personally never heard this argument.

I could possibly see why some may be offended, but equally fireworks are usually used to celebrate or commemorate, which could be fitting. 🤷‍♀️

I personally wouldn't be offended

Well it's not even a random Thursday - it's the 11th of November.
Yes - disrespectful - though I'd give them the benefit of the doubt for not knowing as remembrance is usually observed on the Sunday these days.

Personally I wouldn't do it, not that I bother with fireworks anyway.

Today isnt remembrance day. Remembrance Sunday is on Sunday.

Tbh, I think it's unreasonable to expect people to do or not do specific things on this day. Every single day of the year is significant to someone for some reason. If you let off fireworks on 5th November, you might be doing so on the anniversary of someone losing a young relative.

I personally take time out on 11/11 to think about those killed in war, and I usually listen to The Green Fields of France (playing this on guitar is my family's armistice day tradition). But just because I mark it doesn't mean I can expect others to.

I think the main thing is that everyone has the freedom to mark the dates and ceremonies they consider important, in whatever way they consider appropriate. It is entirely possible to show respect to other people's beliefs while doing your own thing.

@oviraptor21

Well it's not even a random Thursday - it's the 11th of November. Yes - disrespectful - though I'd give them the benefit of the doubt for not knowing as remembrance is usually observed on the Sunday these days.

Can you explain why you think it’s disrespectful? That’s the bit that’s confusing to me. The lady in question did say it was her grandfathers birthday, it’s not her fault that happens to fall on nov 11th, iyswim?

It would seem to be a good day not to go out of your way to trigger the PTSD of veterans, who are probably mourning comrades.

Yes, rude. Real people died. If they hadn’t won the war for us, we wouldn’t have fireworks at all, or debate, and no Mumsnet. Even in German.

@oviraptor21

Well it's not even a random Thursday - it's the 11th of November. Yes - disrespectful - though I'd give them the benefit of the doubt for not knowing as remembrance is usually observed on the Sunday these days.

"These days"?

In the UK, Remembrance day has historically been the Sunday. It's even called Remembrance Sunday.

The two minute silence on 11/11 is actually a more recent thing than Remembrance Sunday.

Let off during a minute silence at 11am is disrespectful.

But during the evening for an unrelated event like birthday/memorial I don't think is a problem but then I'm not a war veteran and am not closely affiliated with any kind of military service, I may feel differently if I was but I don't do fireworks at home so not an issue I can do anything about.

How would the lady feel if the occasion was not his bday but her GFs funeral?

Would she be delighted if a crowd let off bangers and rockets by the grave while everyone else made patterns in sparklers?

Given that most of the people being remembered on this day have died at war and most likely been killed by gunfire or bombs etc, hearing loud explosions going off on this day in particular might be somewhat triggering for people remembering loved ones.

@Supersimkin2

How would the lady feel if the occasion was not his bday but her GFs funeral?

Would she be delighted if a crowd let off bangers and rockets by the grave while everyone else made patterns in sparklers?

That's a very odd (and nonsensical) comparison. Letting off fireworks by the grave?!

The equivalent would be someone turning up at the c
Cenotaph on Sunday and letting off fireworks during the wreath laying ceremony there.

But that's not what we're talking about, is it?

Well it's not even a random Thursday - it's the 11th of November.

It's random for fireworks...

Someone did set off a couple as they said it was their grandfathers birthday who passed away this year, and it was a way to mark the occasion

Is this a thing that people generally observe that I’ve somehow not noticed in 45 years on the planet

I’ve been on this planet more than 45 years and I’ve never know anyone set off fireworks to mark their dead grandfather’s birthday nor set off fireworks on Armistice Day nor Remembrance Sunday.

Random fireworking is definitely a recent phenomenon. Bonfire night (plus a few days around it) and New Year’s Eve has been the norm.

I find the idea of marking your dead grandfather’s birthday by setting off fireworks as offensively attention seeking. Did they all stand around mourning grandad amongst the bangs and flashes. What next? Fireworks at funerals? I expect it was for the social media accounts accompanied by some sentimental cliches.

My feeling is that things have really changed over the years.

I don't remember it having so much enforcement. It was more personal really. The whole thing with judging those wearing poppies/ not. TV presenters who don't getting complaints. And now there's what you should or shouldn't do in your garden?

If it's essentially enforced. You MUST support and do this and that irrespective of whatever perfectly valid reasons you may have (and there are plenty). Is a terrible approach.

Personally I would rather see the govt and the armed forces giving proper care and support to those that they send into any and all situations, who have physical or psychological damage because of it.

That's one reason some have for thinking it's not for them.

And you know. People can reflect at any time of year and without performance that they are doing so.

The loud bangs of fireworks can trigger veterans who are living with PTSD.
This is the reason some people find fireworks disrespectful on remembrance day.

Hedda plenty of areas have had loads of fireworks for other things as well. Eg divali. Which is big round here. Probs other things as well- we get fireworks nearby throughout the year.

Well, fireworks are gunpowder, aren’t they? So, it’s pretty insensitive, and I’m not one for fetishising Armistice Day.

Can you explain why you think it’s disrespectful? That’s the bit that’s confusing to me.

A few reasons spring to mind.

Fireworks are usually a symbol of celebration, so contrast pretty starkly with the somber reflection that usually comes with remembrance of fallen soldiers.

Add to that, many soldiers and veterans with PTSD can be triggered by the noise and flashes from fireworks, so it's fairly jarring on one of the most well known days in the British calendar related to the forces, to be doing something which could have a disproportionately negative impact on those who are in, or who have served in, the forces.

Not to mention, I imagine he thinks playing with gunpowder on the anniversary of the day our predecessors decided to stop killing people with gunpowder, is pretty disrespectful and insensitive too.

Marking 11am on 11/11 is not a recent thing, it happened from 1919 onwards. It had always been marked in my memory in addition to Remembrance Sunday.

Aren't gun salutes part of official rememberance Sunday ?

Not sure if there are flyovers but can check.

Those with PTSD should get proper treatment all too often they are left to try and cope. Incidentally.

Someone has been setting off fireworks in the woods in my area today and caused a fire! The fire brigade had to be called who thankfully dealt with it

@Rainbowsew

Marking 11am on 11/11 is not a recent thing, it happened from 1919 onwards. It had always been marked in my memory in addition to Remembrance Sunday.

It was stopped by the government as the official day of remembrance in about 1938 and was replaced by Remembrance Sunday. It re-emerged relatively recently in the mid-90s. Certainly, individuals might have marked it privately, though.

Most people with PTSD aren't triggered by fireworks or noises anyway, so that's a bit of a non argument.

I agree with a pp that there seems to be increasing expectations around Armistice Day as we move further and further from the point where anybody around for the original was still with us (iirc the 'last Tommy' died in the mid 1990s), which is baffling on a number of levels. On a superficial level, just how long on this day are we expected to behave respectfully for, and what does that respect involve? No fireworks, perhaps, maybe no noisy singing or dancing? What if your car backfires? Can you slam a door? On another level, I do wonder why we're doing this? Obviously it's over 100 years since the Armistice for this one war, so what is this really all about, motivation wise? Who does it benefit?