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Originally posted by HyacinthB:

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Originally posted by Daniel J*:

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Originally posted by HyacinthB:

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I'm not a great fan of the 2 minutes silence every November to remember the war dead. It feels too trivial really against the backdrop of our daily lives. But events like today are well worth it for focusing the mind. When you hear veterans talk about what went on, the underlying emotion is almost solid it's so strong. It's awe-inspiring really to think what it must have been like.

I always observe the 2 minute silence in honour of my father and all those other brave men and women who gave their lives so we could be free.

It isn't asking for much.

I'm not saying it's an effort. Just that it seems like a formality and therefore something without enough meaning.

I think it does have meaning as it marks the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when the Armistice was signed in World War I.

Quite an appropriate time to commemorate such an historic event.

It has more than enough meaning. I'll admit I shy away from talk about the war, but we always observe two minutes silence. It's people who moan about a simple gesture that would let those who died for this country be forgotten. It's not like remembering something trivial.

I am watching BBC 4 [ch I07]
and have been watching it for some time
all about D D Day and all those brave men

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Originally posted by HyacinthB:

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Originally posted by Daniel J*:
I'm not saying it's an effort. Just that it seems like a formality and therefore something without enough meaning.

I think it does have meaning as it marks the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when the Armistice was signed in World War I.

Quite an appropriate time to commemorate such an historic event.

No, the event in context has meaning in itself. Of course it does. The context being the war memorial as part of a service of rememberance. But outside of the context, in supermarkets or on the street or at work, it doesn't, and it trivialises it. It becomes a formality, variously adopted or not.

I've been in Tescos when someone comes on the tannoy announcing that the store will be observing it. It's embarrassing. People are, like, "Minted peas or cauliflower florets? Minted peas? *bong* Oh blast. War dead! War dead! Stop thinking about the cauliflower florets. War dead! *bong* Right, it's minted peas tonight. Phew. Ooo, half price Jaffa cakes!"

The subject is still too important and relevant to our modern lives to be dropped or indeed trivialised by a 2 minutes silence in the middle of our normal day. A 2 minutes silence, explicitly for those wanting to attend a service, is great. The context is right and one's mind is in the right place. Yesterday's events were great. The context was set up: the coverage on TV was available for the event, the supporting documentaries were shown, and most importantly for our youth, there were people available to explain what happened and paint a mental picture because they were there at the time.

Another nod to remember those involved in D-Day

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Originally posted by HyacinthB:

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That also reminds me of the hilarity my dad told us about every time the squads heard 'Lord Hawhaw' on the radio proudly telling that HMS HOOD had been sunk, because HMS Hood was a naval land base in WWII, although it had been a real ship previously.

HMS Hood was sunk in 1941 Fluffy by the Bismarck. I think nearly all hands were lost.

All but three I think.
A local school had adopted the Hood and it had a far reaching effect on those kids and teachers.
Other news.......Did anyone else wince when booing could be heard as Gordon Brown walked past the heroes. Rather inappropriate at such a gathering n'est ce pas?

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Originally posted by hal:

Nod of appreciation OHG