Remembrance Sunday

I saw him too. He was very noticeable because of the way he stood, almost as if he was proud of making his protest. I agree, if he couldn’t join in fully with the spirit of the occasion, he should have let someone else take his place who would have behaved appropriately.

I have just attended the event of Remembrance at the local war memorial. One of my grandchildren was involved in the wreath laying.
I am a Christian and joined in with the hymns and the prayers, and, as a Republican, stood quietly as others sang the National Anthem.
I cannot speak for the person you are describing, but I wonder- should I have stayed away from this event. Should my not singing the National Anthem have barred me?

Chocolatelovinggran I don't think so, the Remembrance service is about honouring and remembering fallen service men and women. I expect some of them were republicans too.

If a politician or anyone else attends a Remembrance service or parade then no point in being there unless they join in.This is especially important where politicians representing us are concerned.If this man didn’t want to be there for his own reasons then a deputy should have attended in his place.

I watched on tv, it was as lovely and as poignant as ever.

Think a lot of people spotted the disrespect. Many Scots gave their lives in the 20 century for the UK.
If he didn't want to be there get someone else to do it, sure he could lie sighting an issue.
I bet he claimed for expenses.
Disgraceful.

Today, as always on Remembrance Sunday, I stood quitely thinking of all the fallen and also of the poor children & animals who suffered terribly too. Then, the bloody man next-door starts-up his ruddy 500 cc decibel grasscutter immediately & I mean immediately afterwards!!
This while many of us were still reflecting & saying prayers for those who perished or suffered during wartime. My anger stems particularly from the fact that this tosser has military flags up in his garden, stickers for 'Help for the wounded' ect on his clothes & his big bloody truck.
Yet, he just rides rough-shod over those of us having a genuine, poinent moment, feeling great gratitude & sadness for those both human & animal who suffered during times of warfare. Grrrrrr😖

He was there, isn't that what counts? I always attend our local Remembrance Service, but I don't sing the hymns or join in prayers. God Save The King (or previously The Queen) has never been played at our local service anyway. I go to pay my respects to those who served, not for the religious aspect - how does that in any way make me disrespectful? I'm there to remember those who gave their lives - and also to give thanks that my own son returned safely from his tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, when so many others did not.

Oh, and he's Stephen Flynn, by the way - SNP MP for Aberdeen South and SNP Group Leader at Westminster.

Yes, Stephen Flynn. If people can be bothered criticising they could at least check out who the actual person is. I don't see how he looks disrespectful, he's dressed appropriately and looking attentive, he's hardly going to look happy on such an occasion. Last year there was huge criticism that he'd held the wreath upside down (he hadn't).
Like MissI, I don't know why anyone should be compelled to sing.

I agree with*oldfrill and Missinterpreted .
He paid his respects when laying the wreath and stood quietly for the hymns and prayers. He did not cause any disturbance.

If I am at a meeting where there is religious content I do exactly the same.

What I noticed was that all but one of the former PMs managed to comb their hair for the occasion.

Chocolatelovinggran

I have just attended the event of Remembrance at the local war memorial. One of my grandchildren was involved in the wreath laying.
I am a Christian and joined in with the hymns and the prayers, and, as a Republican, stood quietly as others sang the National Anthem.
I cannot speak for the person you are describing, but I wonder- should I have stayed away from this event. Should my not singing the National Anthem have barred me?

No, of course not, as long as you were respectful.

The person who led the prayers this morning in church said he realised not everyone believed in God so, as we said the prayers, they could say their own words or just think.
I couldn't hear anyone saying different words near me.

I was also remembering my parents, both of whom were in the forces during WWII. They survived but lost comrades, as did my DH during his National Service.

Stephen Flynn was there representing the SNP at a service honoring those who died and sacrificed their lives for their country. It was the office not the person. His attitude was disrespectful; much can be shown through body language which was why he was noticed.

And as for Chocolategran not singing the National Anthem, because she considers herself to be a republican, I would have thought as a Christian this year more than ever would be a good time to sing 'God save the King' when the man has been battling cancer and doing his best to fulfil his God-given role as Defender of the Faith and wishes to be Defender of all Faiths. But this isn't about Christianity, is it?

The King is more than capable of saving himself while he scams the public ,charities included ,he will never have the respect of me or mine .
On the other hand Stephen Flynn is a remarkable young man,disabled in his early teens he spent a year in a hospital bed. And then 18 years on crutches and painkillers ,still managed to join the SNP and canvass for themAND get a university degree .He had a metal hip joint fitted around 2021 I think but was on strong painkillers until 2022/23 He is married and has two young sons the second was born very prematurely .
Stephen put a post on line today about the Remembrance Day service ,he said it was an honour to lead his country to commemorate the lives lost which gave us the freedoms we sometimes take for granted .Maybe some on here would think about those freedoms do they include not singing hymns you may neither know nor believe in or not looking suitably pleased to be there .Give your wee heads a wobble this man knows more about difficult times than many on here twice his age and more ,,

eazybe he may have been in pain

Stephen Flynn - I'd just like to say
"This was not about YOU*"

No matter your beliefs, Republican, atheist, whatever, this was NOT a political occasion.

It was an occasion when the whole country came together to honour the sacrifices made by servicemen and women of Great Britain and the Commonwealth who died or were injured in conflict. You were representing the Scottish Government and the Scottish people, not yourself.

I am sure some of them would be upset or angry by your petty self-indulgence today.

Stephen put a post on line today about the Remembrance Day service ,he said it was an honour to lead his country to commemorate the lives lost which gave us the freedoms we sometimes take for granted

They would be ashamed.

Perhaps you don't know this paddyann

On enlistment, the Army and Air Force Acts require members of the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines to take an oath of allegiance to the Monarchy as Head of the Armed Forces.

Members of the Royal Navy have never been required to swear an oath – the service was formed hundreds of years ago and its existence stems from the Sovereign’s prerogative.

That is why, in believing he was honouring those brave servicemen and women, Stephen Flynn was wrong; he was not.
They would be ashamed.

I still don't agree that his actions were in any way disrespectful. He was there, he laid a wreath. Not singing hymns or taking part in prayers doesn't bother me in any way. I would have done the exact same thing if I had been in his shoes. I think a great many people underestimate the depth of feeling many Scots have about GSTK too.

OldFrill

Yes, Stephen Flynn. If people can be bothered criticising they could at least check out who the actual person is. I don't see how he looks disrespectful, he's dressed appropriately and looking attentive, he's hardly going to look happy on such an occasion. Last year there was huge criticism that he'd held the wreath upside down (he hadn't).
Like MissI, I don't know why anyone should be compelled to sing.

You think those soldiers of old would have stood there with their with mouths shut, not singing the hyms, not saying the prayers. The act of remembrance has always been a religious ceremony.

Now - but then?

I matters not a jot what they think. What matters is those people who are being remembered?

GSTK?
A cancer protein - why is that relevant?

Allira

Now - but then?

I matters not a jot what they think. What matters is those people who are being remembered?

GSTK?
A cancer protein - why is that relevant?

God Save The King...do I really need to spell it out?

Yes, Stephen Flynn. If people can be bothered criticising they could at least check out who the actual person is

I didn't watch the service on TV, obviously, but did watch the highlights on TV.

He looks just fine, but he did not sing the hymns.
I will reiterate This was NOT about Stephen Flynn.