To be conflicted about Remembrance Services?

[PaddlingSwan]

I have friends and family on both sides.

Purposely missing the point?

fetishizing the military? Really?? I don’t think the military play a part in your average British life. How does British society give them any more than a fleeting thought, really?

This is so sad.

but yes the war generation were deeply traumatised, as were their children. There is a suggestion a baby boomers suffer generational trauma also

It’s not just about those that fought in the second world war. It’s about all those that have been harmed by conflict, whether mentally or physically. We know more of those with obvious injuries as they’ve been encouraged to speak out. But as an ex-MOD civil servant and old enough to be a bit of a mum figure I listened far too often to what keeps still-serving military awake at night, often desperate stories about others dying and the guilt they felt for their comrades, not stopping what happened or for those that suffered due to war. I think of those, and of my sin, an Army reservist, that may one day face such horrors too. Think on if you can, but much will be beyond your imagination.

I think it is possibly a virtue worth signalling.

My only real internal conflict with remembrance day is that sometimes some of the events feel like they cross over into the territory of glorifying the military. I'm very anti-war, and find this hard. I do not want an American style attitude to war to pervade the UK. I absolutely believe we need to remember history and reflect on the people who died and why/how certain wars happened.

I also think the best thing we could to honour those who died in war is to speak out against modern atrocities (like Gaza, the genocide in Congo, etc) and to call out the rise of fascism in the UK.

I also think the best thing we could to honour those who died in war is to speak out against modern atrocities (like Gaza, the genocide in Congo, etc) and to call out the rise of fascism in the UK.

Yes. Silence has the power of consent.

In the nineties I used to think that Remembrance Day was fading and becoming irrelevant. The people who were involved in WWI had mostly died off; the survivors of WWII were in their seventies at least. I'm pretty sure it wasn't just me who thought that, it was common knowledge. Then, things changed. Giant poppies appeared in cities. People in the public eye got scolded for not 'wearing their poppy with pride'. It seemed to be the Iraq War that swung it. Attention passed to the new generation of soldiers.

There has barely been a year since 1945 that the UK Forces haven't been in active service somewhere.
Northern Ireland, Gulf Wars, Afganastan, Bosnia, Falklands all come to mind.

Far too many UK veterans are left to pick up the pieces themselves without much support, a huge percentage seem to end up on the streets.

The US has veterans day, and seems to have far more support and respect for their ex military personel.

We will remember them.

We've seen people in this very thread told they should leave the country for suggesting that we go over the top with things like remembrance celebrations for one.

The uproar we see every year when someone in the public eye doesn't wear a poppy on TV. A poster here recently revealed that she was threatened with disciplinary action for not wearing one at work after clients complained.

The nonsense stories that pop up every year about businesses/councils/venues etc banning the poppy because it offends Muslims.

The evergreen strawman: "How can we do X, when we've got veterans living on the streets?"

The suggestion that any number of things happening/changing in society is somehow a slap in the face of those who fought and died for our freedoms.

I'm not suggesting that we're all saluting a framed photo of the General before our tea and crumpets every morning...but we do lionise the military and castigate anyone who pushes back.

I go to remember my friends lost in Iraq and Afghanistan… and for those that couldn’t cope with what they saw over there, my DH goes to remember his Navy friends that he’s lost over the years, and not just in conflict and MH struggles, for those that fought Cancer (probably caused by what they were exposed to) It is not just WW1 & WW2

I have to go because I am elected.

Beforehand I didn’t really understand it. It was explained to me by a friend who’s a senior minister in Government- they said ‘We do this, so that if we need to vote to take military action we are aware of those who went before and the personal impact’. (They have had to vote to bomb personally)
I am only a local politician- people want to see us pay respects to the fallen from our area.
I will do this tomorrow because it’s the right thing to do - to hold those people and their families in our memories and if paying this tribute gives them some feeling that we are committed to cohesion and peace, locally and nationally- then that can only be for the greater good.

I think you might be yes.

Remembrance is about your remembrance of those who have gone before.

You can remember anything you like. You can be on any side. You can honour any motivation. You can think of those who bravely fought. You can think of those who were coerced. You can think of the tragedy and the victims.
You can just think about it.

That's what it's for. It is not political. It doesn't have a side.

Just take a minute to remember and what that means to you.

Good for you. I’m sure you shutting your eyes for 2 minutes once a year makes all the difference.

I'd still love to know about these 'causes' the op mentioned? Too cowardly to come back and explain yourself op?

It’s about remembering all who were affected in the wars, on both sides, from all nations. No need to feel conflicted.

What do you mean about making a difference? 🤔

You do realise that the 11am on 11th November marked the end of WW1 not WW2 right? Same with the poppies?

It’s about remembering those who have fallen in all conflicts and hoping that it doesn’t happen again.

I don’t think OP has a good handle on what Remembrance Sunday represents at all and is being purposefully obtuse.

I am all in favour of Remembrance Sunday and commemorating the Armistice, and giving time to reflect on all those affected by war. What I don't like is the modern proliferation of commemorative tat everywhere. I don't like all these morbid silhouettes and massive plastic poppies strung up everywhere like bunting. Tacky and performative.

This says it all

I shall go today to stand next to my partner while he remembers his friends he has lost. People he shared rooms with, shared meals with, people who aren’t just a name in the newspaper. Real people.

how nice to bang on about the atrocities of war from your comfortable middle class home. Smugly priding yourself on not wearing a poppy. Your choice. No one cares but at least have the self awareness to understand that remembrance service means far far more to people and you are incredibly privileged not to feel this to

We used to be a much more coherent collective society. So if Remembrance Day is the only time when people push for everyone to unify and remember then I don’t have an issue with that.

There is a German cemetery not far from me. They hold a a 'Service of Reconciliation' a couple of days after remembrance Sunday.

On the 11th there is a walk / hike to visit various war training sites and both the war cemeteries.

The commonwealth war graves commission provide the upkeep on behalf of the German equivalent.

I agreed wholeheartedly. Navel gazers obsessed with themselves trying to feel special.