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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

In thinking that there is no excuse for someone of age 20 not to know what day it is today?

69 replies

HRHSaintMamazon · 09/11/2008 11:28

my status on Facebook reads "michelle is thanking all those who gave their lives and those still offering to do so"

i thought it would be fairly obvious what that meant.

but i just got a message from a friend, admitedly she is young - 20.
saying "i'll give mine, but what for"

Now this is nothing against this particular person as i love her dearly and im sure she just had a fuzzy five minutes.
but it got me thinking that there is a great amount of respect missing from society nowdays.

I think it may have something to do with teh fact that the "yoof of today" aren't taught about the sacrifices made in generations past.
that they just don't understand how privileged they are and how different their lives could have been.

OP posts:

Niecie · 09/11/2008 14:11

Sorry, I should have said that I don't have a problem with Armistice Day at all - my last post wasn't very clear. I am and will still be wearing my poppy.

I just feel that Rememberance Sunday has the greater weight of tradition behind it and therefore it is surprising that people forget it.

Kbear · 09/11/2008 14:11

"Other than the thousands of people that gather in London at the Cenotaph. and the many men and women who served their country who march. And the representatives of all faiths, and politicians and representatives of the commonweath.

But other than that it is obviously just a church issue"

MB - I applaud you.

There is no excuse for not knowing about Remembrance Sunday, my children are 9 and 7 and sat on the bed with me today (midway through changing the sheets not snoozing ha ha) and we watched the Cenotaph procession and I admit I get a bit choked up when I explain to them exactly what is going on and why and how lucky they are that those people fought for freedom and continue to do so.

OrmIrian · 09/11/2008 14:19

No excuse.

I always listen to the ceremony on the radio and it is so moving. Regardless of your opinions on war. So many members of my gps family just disappeared from the picture before my parents were born. When my mum's mum died my parents came across a box of pictures and letters of the 4 brothers and 2 cousins that my granny lost in WW1. She never talked about them. It was an unbeleivable loss. It is so unutterably sad. And so many families suffered the same way. And still do.

mayorquimby · 09/11/2008 14:30

maybe she just genuinely doesn't care or has no interest so would have no reason to remember the date or even give it any thought.

Blandmum · 09/11/2008 14:37

In which case I think she is a thoughtless arse with no ability to empathise.

Simplysally · 09/11/2008 14:41

For some reason I thought Rememberance Sunday was next Sunday even though I bought my poppy last week but I have been adrift with my times this week. DD was nearly late for a school trip and we missed her swimming lesson as I had the wrong times fixed in my head. I would have thought that reading the status would have jogged her memory but maybe she is someone who doesn't take any interest or didn't learn about the significance at school.

mayorquimby · 09/11/2008 14:42

that's your opinion and it's fair enough. but she is just as entitled to not give a crap if she feels she has absolutely no connection with it.
i'm not saying she's right but just because you care about something doesn't mean everyone else has to.

Kbear · 09/11/2008 14:45

I think if you live in our green and pleasant land you should at least feel grateful that you are able to do so freely and in a democracy and give thanks and spare a thought today to those that fought and continue fight to protect it. Our lives would be very different today had we not fought and won WWII.

Simplysally · 09/11/2008 14:49

Surely those people fought and made sacrifices for people to have the freedom to have their own opinions even if we personally disagree with them? As misguided and wrong as they may seem to us.

Kbear · 09/11/2008 14:50

I suppose so but it doesn't seem much to ask to be grateful

laweaselmys · 09/11/2008 15:05

I used to struggle with rememberence day because I felt that the soldiers from other countries were neglected, being from another country I felt quite bitter about it especially because of Anzac issues - which is a long story but is basically to do with soldiers from countries outside of the UK's lives not being valued as highly as british soldiers during the war and being sent on suicide missions - which is very even if I understand technically, politically why it had to be done.

Now I am older I find it easier to understand that because I live in this country all the people living here can't help seeing things the way they do and there were big loses for everyone. It's not worth getting embroiled in the details of the past, I just make a special effort to remember those soldiers from other countries and will explain to my children when they are old enough to understand about the more complicated aspects of war and how even the 'good guys' do terrible things.

Shakespearssister · 09/11/2008 15:06

Why are wearers of white poppies 'misguided'? I wear a white poppy because I feel strongly about remebering everybody who has died as a result of war. The white poppy symbolises remembrance of the victims of all wars, not just of soldiers killed but also of civilian victims on all sides in all wars, and stand as a pledge to peace that war must not happen again.

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 09/11/2008 15:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Simplysally · 09/11/2008 15:19

The Service of Remembrance held last night in the Royal Albert Hall focused on modern conflicts but probably not many 20-yr olds would be in to watch it! Only 44 service personnel died in the last year? I thought it might have been more than that, taking into account veterans who may have died as well.

As an aside, I do wonder about politicians paying 'their respects' to the war dead when it's often political clout that deprive the services of vital equipment like armour-plated vehicles. I bet if Brown's sons were being sent to the frontline somewhere, funds would be found to pay for the equipment .

UnquietDad · 09/11/2008 15:34

Shakespearssister -
so do I
and
So does the red poppy.

At least, that's why I wear mine.

Blandmum · 09/11/2008 15:38

me too UD.

Service personel are among the lest people to glory in war. They see what it does

UnquietDad · 09/11/2008 15:44

The whole white poppy vs. red poppy thing seems to me to be making a fuss over nothing. Both "sides" want the same thing: to respect the dead and to hope for an end to wars.

Blandmum · 09/11/2008 16:01

and by picking a poppy as a symbol, and selling it at the same time of the year there does seem to be an element of competition. Given that the government fails to properly support the injured veterans of war properly they often need to help to the British Legion. Potentially taking money away from the BL isn't such a good idea.

I have no qualms if people do what a mate of mined used to do, and wear both.

But I don't like the thought of the BL losing out on income.

and I do know the history of the white poppy, women's peace pledge union and all that

MaryBS · 09/11/2008 16:16

I've just asked my 7yo son who has Asperger's what today is - he said (at the top of his voice) "Its remembrance Sunday". And that's from a kids whose sole obsession is trains!

Can't believe she didn't know..

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