Originally Posted by Oink (Post 8091131)

Canadians do seem to be a bit obsessed with this Remembrance Day stuff. I find all this focus on war and killing a bit macabre.

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 8091111)

Something like 90% of today's Moncton newspaper is taken up with Remembrance related items with features on service personnel past and present, various businesses taking space to commemorate.

In the UK I only recall such coverage on the 'major' anniversaries.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8091144)

I expect it has something to do with the timing of WW1 and the terrible carnage of the Somme Yypres and Paschnedale and its effect in moulding Canadas identity in its relatively early days as an independent nation. The collective loss perhaps did much to bring the patch work nation closer together. Britain has had lots of battles over centuries of history. Canada, not so much, so its a big deal.


My theory anyway, got it off the back of a box of cornflakes...

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 8091131)

Canadians do seem to be a bit obsessed with this Remembrance Day stuff. I find all this focus on war and killing a bit macabre.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8091144)

I expect it has something to do with the timing of WW1 and the terrible carnage of the Somme Yypres and Paschnedale and its effect in moulding Canadas identity in its relatively early days as an independent nation. The collective loss perhaps did much to bring the patch work nation closer together. Britain has had lots of battles over centuries of history. Canada, not so much, so its a big deal.

Originally Posted by Auld Yin (Post 8091101)

My father died at Monte Cassino in Italy in 1944. He never met/saw me and vice versa. Of course when, as a child, I asked about him I was told stuff that made him, in my tiny mind, seem almost saintly. I know now, of course, that he was just an ordinary bloke, conscripted and sent off to war. He had no say in the matter.
Notwithstanding, today and every Remembrance Day, I think of him and the millions like him who never got a opportunity to fulfill their dreams, see their children grow up and hold and play with their grandchildren.
One of the most used pieces of film from WWll is that of the Normandy landings. Some of those young men were cut down as they entered the water and their bodies floated like flotsam for, God knows, how many hours.
War is a nasty, ugly business and should never be glorified, but we must never forget what men/women of every nationality, colour and creed did for us. Those who died or were injured, by their sacrifices, provided most of us with a relatively peaceful, safe and productive existence. Perhaps I'm somewhat overly sensitive, given my personal experiance, but there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that, whatever little my father and his comrades did, I am living a good life because of it, as are billions of others.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091194)

...It does all get a little mawkish and overly sentimental out here - the flags at half mast outside peoples houses and the whole yellow-ribbon bumper sticker type thing.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091194)

...It does all get a little mawkish and overly sentimental out here - the flags at half mast outside peoples houses and the whole yellow-ribbon bumper sticker type thing.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 8091208)

It is a bit like that. Reminds of the mass hysteria after diana copped it.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091194)

...It does all get a little mawkish and overly sentimental out here - the flags at half mast outside peoples houses and the whole yellow-ribbon bumper sticker type thing.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091194)

...It does all get a little mawkish and overly sentimental out here - the flags at half mast outside peoples houses and the whole yellow-ribbon bumper sticker type thing.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8091219)

Thats nothing to do with remembrance day though, thats just supporting the troops on deployment and those not fortunate enough to make it back again.

Originally Posted by dollface (Post 8091217)

:rolleyes: yeah right Al - mass hysteria right enough:huh:

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8091104)

Yep, so if you don't go to the cenotaph then you should go to work. :thumbup:

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 8091248)

It's a lot more understated in the UK. People that want to go to ceremonies and observe the silence do so, those that don't don't. Growing up in the UK I never paid remembrance day any attention; I have no recall of doing anything special whatsoever. Seems that here if you don't want to do those things you are disrespectful and ungrateful.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091246)

....I realize that, but it's as though a shallow sentimentality permeates anything to do with the military here. Maybe it's the American influence?

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 8091248)

Seems that here if you don't want to do those things you are disrespectful and ungrateful.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091246)

....I realize that, but it's as though a shallow sentimentality permeates anything to do with the military here. Maybe it's the American influence?

Originally Posted by dollface (Post 8091265)

Al, honestly, do you have zero respect for the lives laid down as a result of war? not even a smidgen to participate in 1 minute of silence, 1 day a year?

Originally Posted by dollface (Post 8091282)

Perhaps it is not shallow sentimentality - just genuine sadness for the casualties of war. Canadians can think and feel for themselves , believe it or not, without it having to be due to another nations influence.

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091305)

....Nothing says "sincere" quite like a magnetic vinyl "yellow ribbon" slapped on the back of a pickup truck just above a pair of dangling "truck nuts". But each to their own I guess

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8091316)

And did you think to talk to any of these shallow people before drawing your conclusion? Generally thats the best way to find out what someone thinks about something.

Im curious how you show your obviously far superior brand of sincere appreciation, other than by taking cheap shots on an anonymous internet forum?

Originally Posted by bsmith (Post 8091305)

....Nothing says "sincere" quite like a magnetic vinyl "yellow ribbon" slapped on the back of a pickup truck just above a pair of dangling "truck nuts". But each to their own I guess

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8091275)

I dont think it is shallow, it seems quite sincere to me (in most cases anyway). Maybe it only seems shallow if that's how you choose to see it.:confused:

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 8091298)

The people killed in the war don't care one way or the other. I don't object to people showing their respect by being quiet for a minute; personally I'll show my respect by exercising the freedoms that everyone tells me they fought for by enjoying my day off.

Originally Posted by MikeUK (Post 8091335)

I think it’s the thoughts of a nation unaccustomed to their troops being in active service
In Britain when you join up both you and your family know there is a risk you’d be sent somewhere where somebody will want to kill you, it been that way for many generations, its what the British army do..
they go they enforce and kill or be killed if they have too
In Canada it’s still a rare concept, they see themselves as peace keepers, wearers of a blue UN helmet not enforcers and struggle to see why people would want to kill their troops if they’re ‘doing the right thing’ I think so many see it as overreacting which may appear to be shallow

And for what it’s worth, those in at least WW2 fought supposedly for your right to choose, and that includes choosing not to care, some may do well to remember it was freedom of choice and not the dictation of the majority (that was the other sides preference)

Originally Posted by dollface (Post 8091344)

Ah well, i'll skip the retort, just doesn't seem worth it.

Originally Posted by macadian (Post 8091394)

Trust me...it's not...why waste another second of your life on...well, someone demonstratively insignificant all things considered.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 8091404)

That applies to everything and everyone that ever exists or will exist.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8091144)

I expect it has something to do with the timing of WW1 and the terrible carnage of the Somme Yypres and Paschnedale and its effect in moulding Canadas identity in its relatively early days as an independent nation. The collective loss perhaps did much to bring the patch work nation closer together. Britain has had lots of battles over centuries of history. Canada, not so much, so its a big deal.

Originally Posted by Oakvillian (Post 8090963)

I think the significance of Frau Merkel's presence was that it was the first time a serving German Chancellor had attended the formalities at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe. Germany has held its own Volkstrauertag (People's Day of Mourning) since 1919, originally during Lent but moved some time after WW2 to one of the Sundays just before Advent. Probably not entirely coicidentally, this means it sometimes falls on the same Sunday as the UK's remembrance services, but it has no direct links to Armistice Day

on edit: thanks to Wikipedia... Volkstrauertag is the second-to-last Sunday before Advent, i.e. the Sunday nearest 16 November. If my maths is right, that means that two years in every seven, Volkstrauertag is the same date as Remembrance Sunday.

Originally Posted by ann m (Post 8091031)

Thanks for responding Oak. I did actually do some googling after I wrote the question. Was just being lazy I think .... anyway, interesting stuff.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 8091298)

The people killed in the war don't care one way or the other. I don't object to people showing their respect by being quiet for a minute; personally I'll show my respect by exercising the freedoms that everyone tells me they fought for by enjoying my day off.

Originally Posted by macadian (Post 8091416)

Did somebody state something?....Yup, insignificant is right on the money. :cool:

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8091447)

I think there's a lot of sense in this statement. As long as people aren't actively showing disrespect then maybe we should spend the day enjoying those freedoms.

Originally Posted by dollface (Post 8091452)

Indeed, but have the good grace to take 1 minute out of your entire freebie holiday to thank a vet.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8091447)

I think there's a lot of sense in this statement. As long as people aren't actively showing disrespect then maybe we should spend the day enjoying those freedoms.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8091461)

Well I don't get a holiday. My vet is still at work. He doesn't take a minute today so would seem disrespectful. He does take several minutes each day to remember, but he does it privately.