Two Minutes Silence

[sparky]

It ought to remind everybody of 1914 - 1918, 1939 - 1945, the Iraq wars, the Falklands war, the ongoing Afghanistan campaign and other conflicts that have devastated the lives of many people directly and indirectly.
These people deserve our respect.

Had the outcome of either 1914 - 1918 or 1939 - 1945 been a victory for the Germans / Nazis life in the UK since then would have been very different.

Other than terrorism since 1945 the UK has free from attack and we should be grateful plus endeavouring to ensure this continues.

[Deano!]

I didn't - and not because I don't care, it's just that I feel it has become a substitute for actually doing anything to really avoid war and to care for returned soldiers and their families. Some businesses make a big public display of observing the silence and trumpeting how patriotic they are in advertising campaigns. Puke.

35 years ago when WW2 veterans were everywhere and WW1 veterans were still common, I remember many of them wanted nothing to do with commemoration ceremonies. They felt there was too much adulation of the wrong people (arsehole generals etc) but also they knew that horrible things had been done on both sides and that it was not something they wanted to ever think about again. They remembered they fallen mates privately but didn't like the idea of some official ceremony with the usual bunch of self-serving wankers making a public display of their sympathy.

And here in Oz, our Vietnam returned soldiers (most of them conscripted at 18 or 19) were treated like utter shit for years. I don't think they got much out of the 2 minutes silence.

The minutes silence routine reminds me of someone who visits mum in the old people's home once a year on Mother's Day and thinks that this proves they care!

[one eyed jack]

Blimey Im in agreement with JRPornstar for once.

2 minutes is nothing a price to pay in mark of respect.

Did I do this? No sorry i didnt but I think of not just the soldiers that have come back to Wooten basset but this whole state of affairs and wonder why a lot. Sometimes I understand it and then i see the bodies and reflect and wonder why again.

I see the grief and cannot begin to imagine the emotional and physical strain of that grief with parents who see their sons come back in boxes.

I even think of the innocents who were killed abroad, caight in the cross fire and even those whose country has been taken over by our troops and the americans.

We cant lose sight of what a war does to all involved

[David Johnson]

Spun and manipulated by whom?

[David Johnson]

Some of your posts on this thread, below. You are playing a part aren't you? That of a 14 year old, going through a difficult adolescence. Right? In the immortal words of John McEnroe, "YOu cannot be serious."
However in case anyone is actually taking you seriously which I find unlikely.....

"No, because it is a total waste of time. I'd rather pay more tax and make sure the war widows get a better income. But we do like empty gestures don't we"

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for this year has raised over ?4 million which is spent supporting the servicemen in a variety of ways. The Remembrance Service events are the main part of that appeal.

"Thank you for seeing through the spin and the manipulation involved"
"The people who are in a position to start wars perhaps and want us to have a nice warm feeling about the bad experiences of people who have been involved in wars."

If the politicians are trying to spin and manipulate people over the Iraq and the Afghan wars, they have clearly made a piss poor job of it. The vast majority of the families who have lost relations in Afghanistan appear to be against the war.

Attending a Remembrance event is not the same as acceptance or agreement with a particular war or being brainwashed. Soldiers play no part in the decision of where they fight. The Remembrance event is what it suggests an act of respect to those who have suffered, fighting in wars they may not have agreed with. As to giving people "a nice warm feeling" maybe you should ask the families attending those services who have lost loved ones, whether they have a "nice warm feeling".

I'll leave you to carry on with your role play posts.

[David Johnson]

Since you were keen to make a financial contribution to servicemens' families as per your first reply in this thread, here's a link

http://www.poppy.org.uk/

There you go, donate away!