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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

... to not be sure cancelling 1940s events is the right move?

54 replies

AmbushedByTheCake · 14/03/2022 19:02

I have a friend who runs a 1940s stall/trade/enactment business - there is a milatary aspect to part of what she does but not completely - wartime dress etc.

She and others were messaged by a 1940s festival that they are cancelling the event outright for this year. The explanation given is that it is out of a mark of respect for Ukraine and for anyone local feeling affected by those events.

Other similar events and venues have since done something similar and left her and other traders feeling upset at the loss of their trade/livelihoods having this avenue in the light of the last few years.

Personally, I am not sure about battle/war reenactments in general - I suppose if it is done respectfully, a sense of celebrating something of the spirit of an era and it depends on the specifics of the historical period. Also, an alternative version of the events could perhaps have been held focusing on the era, if not the war elements.

But I suppose I am wondering about the reasoning of it - there have been conflicts and horrible global atrocities in the past decade or so: Darfur, the horrors of Isis, the earlier Ukraine conflict, Syria, Afghanisation, Somalia. I know this one is European, and physically closer, but those ones have also been brutal, horrific and caused people to flee. If it isn't right this year to hold these events, then when would it be right, on these grounds?

I will open it up to voting as happy to be told I am unreasonable - I may have read it completely wrong.

OP posts:
ThettaReddast · 15/03/2022 07:31

We have a big 1940s weekend locally and I e always felt a little uncomfortable with it. There are military aspects to it but the main focus seems to be on ‘1940s life’ with bars etc using ration books, ‘run to the bomb shelter’ games and gas masks etc. It seems crass to me generally to be using this stuff for fun/money making and the current situation, rightly or wrongly, puts that into sharper focus.

AnnaMagnani · 15/03/2022 07:51

Recently worked in London and the amount of multi-generational trauma from those who survived bombing in WW2 was immense.

Dealing with patients with dementia who thought bombs were going off in the street, being cared for by their relatives who had already had to cope with a childhood affected by poverty, housing issues and their parents unrecognised PTSD made me feel a bit sick about all the re-enactment.

Remembering yes. But sticking up some bunting, playing some fun music, dressing up - not really remembering is it?

My uncle came back from the war deeply changed and spent the rest of his life abusing my aunt, being suicidal or both as a result of PTSD. This isn't the sort of 'war story' that people are generally up for hearing.

Isupport · 09/05/2022 15:41

Wouldn't it be more sense to hold the events and donate the takings to the charity's that are helping with the conflict

Georgeskitchen · 09/05/2022 16:31

WW11 and other conflicts are a big part of our history. Why shouldn't people be interested in them?

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