If you don’t want to observe two minute silence- don’t be out

[Mokel]

Every Remembrance Sunday and Nov 11th, when I worked at retail, we did a tannoy announcement with 5 min, 2 min before to inform customers that the store will be observing the 2 min silence. Then another to start it.

Every time there were customers who kept talking. Plus one time a woman in her 50s shouted “why can’t anyone serve me some fucking fags?” Everyone just looked at her. Some had the courage to say how disrespectful she was once the silence ended.

If you are unable or refuse to observe the silence at 11am today or tomorrow, please don’t be in a public place.

Unable? So you think anyone who makes involuntary noise or who cannot understand the concept of staying silent for remembrance should be forced to stay at home?

I’m sure that’s not the sort of freedom soldiers were supposed to be fighting for.

Ridiculous.

There is a difference between not wanting to do something yourself and not allowing others to do something.

Idiotic.

I think some folk are just disrespectful and/or aren't really aware just why we're taking the time to remember, reflect and be thankful.

Why would anyone who doesn't want to observe a minutes silence choose to stay home rather than disturb it? They don't care about it, so they're obviously not going to stop living their lives for it.

I agree it's incredibly disrespectful but you don't get to demand people follow it, and obviously for a wide variety of reasons not everybody can observe it.

I don't think it's ever a good look to suggest people should be denied freedom of movement for having different beliefs/practices to you.

Don't be daft.

The OP didn't say that though.

What a ridiculous post. A silence is meaningless. Just a pointless gesture. People aren’t forced to be involved.

the fag shopper was very rude and ignorant

OPs post is daft. But it's not 'meaningless', it means a lot to a huge amount of people, so yes it does mean something. Not mattering to you doesn't render something irrelevant to everyone else.

I think that everyone has the right to observe or not observe it.

Yes makes me very cross when not silent, and makes me very emotional when we do, such a small thing to do for such a big thing the armed forces did for us and the country

i hate the way Remembrance Day had become so bloody performative.

My veteran husband, who has a life limiting illness as a result of his service, who was in the forces during an actual war, and who has mourned more friends than I’ve ever had, will talk if he wants to, will support anyone else who wants to, and couldn’t give a flying fuck whether football teams, TV presenters or anyone wears a poppy. If we wanted to be part of a commemoration, we’d be (and will be this year) at an official Remembrance ceremony.

The fag woman was rude, which is not acceptable ever.

That woman wanting cigs was incredibly selfish and ignorant and I don’t see how anyone could defend that behaviour

I observe the 2 minutes silence

but i think you are unreasonable to say that people should stay home if they don’t want to observe it

it feels completely different to me if it was at an actual event as opposed to people shopping etc

Do you talk through funerals? How sad we used to show respect for others feelings if I'm in a religious environment I don't talk through others reflection or prayers. The country decided to honour it's dead soldiers even the ones still dying today.

But not to stop others observing it surly

But people do allow others they just don't partake... if you are being silent you are obviously being allowed to do that in fact the shop went out of its way to do an announcement.

What people are talking about is taking away other peoples right to NOT be silent.

Only one side is attempting to 'stop' the others action... this thread isn't saying 'if you want silence stay home' its saying 'if you don't you shouldn't be allowed out' thus saying they should have their right to continue as normal removed. Which is frankly ridiculous.

How have they actively stopped you?

How have they MADE you make noise?

I observe it but it I find it impossible to make sure my 4 year old with epilepsy and dystonia does too. I mean, if I had a magic switch which would turn off his pain when his seizures or pain, both of which can make him scream, come then I would use it. Permanently. But he doesn't, so I can't. Doesn't mean I feel like I need to hide him away though. Not today nor any other day.

Disrespect isn't a belief or practice.

It’s only two minutes. If you can’t manage that…..

It's not meaningless to pause and remind ourselves of the sacrifice others made/make on our behalf.