Rememberance Sunday

Each to his own!

I cannot feel pride, just sadness, so much fear, so many young men died, so many women widowed so young , I cannot find glory in the jolly music, the swift marching , we seem to be celebrating winning the war far more than grieving for the loss of thousand of lives

Suppose instead a riderless horse was led along, followed by some armoured cars filled with poppies one for each person who has died. As they walk a single drum marks out the rhythm of a slow march. Wouldn't that give a different impression? The music, the marching, the medals all speak of the glories of war. I think it is significant that the whole thing has become more and more of a show as those who actually served in WW2 have decreased in number. The people who lived through it wanted for the most part to remember the dead quietly and with dignity. I remember many of the men who taught in my school were socialists and pacifists because of their war experiences.

Well said, I agree Nellie, so do thousands of others.

We're all different and what suits one person doesn't suit another. As I see it there is nothing even remotely militaristic, or jingoistic in Remembrance Sunday. Service personnel young and old proudly march to military music, and do it fantastically well, surely there's nothing wrong in that? Watching the military and the march past makes me and thousands of others feel enormous pride in both the dead and the living.

Thanks for the links -so moving and they make me dislike the show and militaristic flavour of Remembrance day even more.

Luckygirl, great to hear this song again, I bought it as a single when first recorded, seeing the film strip whilst listening was similar to my thoughts when I use to play it, thank you

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A50lVLtSQik

Universal Soldier by Buffy Sainte-Marie as performed by Donovan.

Granny23, thank you for the link , makes one weep doesn't it but a great tribute

Well, if they find commemorating people young and old either killed or devastated by conflict amusing, then there's no hope, and I for one feel sorry for them.

No comment needed

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxkhBvO8_kM

I think with all the lives lost in recent conflicts it is only fair to say that it is mainly to remember those who died as a result of both WW in so much as numbers involved.
I dread to think how many have lost their lives since 1945 but not as many as in both WW.

Never mind Corbin what about Pixi Lott and Rod Stuart giggling through the hymns on Saturday night

Frankly I couldn't care less whether somebody bowed or whether they didn't, that's between them and their conscience and of no concern to me. For me it's a way of saying a big thank you to ALL who have suffered and continue to suffer in an attempt to make life better for the rest of us because without people like you heaven only knows where we'd be. It's not just about the trenches, but bomb disposal, sailors, airmen, firemen, police, ambulance and a host of others who put their lives on the line in defence of the rest of us, and do so to this day. Imo they deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.

I disagree, impossible to remember the war dead with just a red poppy and deep bow of the head , it also means reading the war poets , letters written in the wars , and quite natural to defend anyone who is criticised for depth of a head bow . I dislike speaking of The Glorious Dead, there was no glory in dying in mud . How can there be too much overthinking on these horrors , men shell shocked but sent back to the front line , the young man from Blackpool who lost both legs in Afghanistan marching yesterday, the young man from South Wales who lost both legs and his sight when he was twenty ?
Better not to talk of these and talk of the lovely service, what colour tie was worn, how the crowds applauded then clear up and remain silent untill next November with no thought that by next November there will be more loss of sight,limbs and life

There is way too much overthinking and white poppy waving going on here.

Yes it was a pity this thread was used to attack a politician

It is mainly to remember the dead from the two world wars.

I really don't think that Remembrance Day is about making political stances,
Or spouting antiwar rhetoric, we are ALL anti war in our hearts, but there is nobody who can say that our involvement in the second world war was not neccessary.The service at the Cenotaph happens every year, and is simply to remember the dead.

Remembrance Day is held to remember the dead of wars and conflicts not just WW1 and WW2

One person's warmongering is another person's defence of the realm. I imagine that for some people on here D day was akin to warmongering! After all we (and those wicked Americans) were invading? continental Europe, when surely we should have kept out of the way, and minded our own business?! We called it liberating, and the people of those occupied countries saw it that way too, particularly the Dutch, who to my knowledge are eternally grateful, yes even to bomber command!!!! But with hindsight, surely it was interference on a grand scale?!

Sod the head reaching the knees of some of the warmongers there today

I totally agree Annie

After the wreath-laying the great and the good went off for a VIP lunch but Jeremy Corbyn quietly went up to Horseguards to applaud those still marching and mingle with the public.

Corbyn

The idea of not bowing, or saluting, or marching has a long and valued history and most of it is linked to the men who served in both World Wars and wanted a future free from war and warmongers. It bred the peace movement that still exists and is still working to achieve peace worldwide. It has nothing to do with disrespect for those who died and everything to do with not promoting or glorifying war and the people who make profits from it. If I had my way the Dylan song "Masters of War" and Pete Seeger's "Where have all the flowers gone" would be sung as well. It isn't disrespectful to point out the horrors and to want peace.

I d agree with you Annie.

Interesting how we all feel so very differently about the service. It's the music and seeing both old and young in uniform that make it anything but a glorifying of war for me.