Remembrance Day Contemplation

[eyeball]

so you and a bunch of leftys have twisted the meaning of the poppy so you can hate it. Cool. You should have just said so.

That's just a counter-twist to the hateful meaning the righties have twisted around Remembrance Day.

[On Guard for Thee]

That's just a counter-twist to the hateful meaning the righties have twisted around Remembrance Day.

And I'm still not sure where this "hate" idea came from.

[Michael Hardner]

For God's sake. It's Remembrance Day! Let's forget politics for at least one day!

Thank you.

From General MacArthur's famous speech at West Point:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html

You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense. From your ranks come the great captains who hold the nation's destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds. The Long Gray Line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray, would rise from their white crosses thundering those magic words: Duty, Honor, Country.

This does not mean that you are war mongers.

On the contrary, the soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.

But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: "Only the dead have seen the end of war."¹

[cybercoma]

Remembrance Day is an insult to those who were lost in the War to End All Wars since it now stands as a day to remember all those we continue to lose in wars. I will not proudly wear the poppy when we have not learned the lessons of the past and continue to send our sons and daughters to die.

[Shady]

Another holiday ruined by the left. Seems to be a pattern. I guess Christmas wasn't good enough. Next up after Remembrance Day is probably thanksgiving. Earth day's probably safe though.

[Mighty AC]

We All Remember...

[Peter F]

In keeping with the day...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLDZqczzniY

[Smallc]

This isn't a left versus right issue, but when you make it about the glorification of war and not what it's really about, there is a real issue. There's not many people from the right or the centre that think it's about the glorification of war.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Smallc

[cybercoma]

Another holiday ruined by the left. Seems to be a pattern. I guess Christmas wasn't good enough. Next up after Remembrance Day is probably thanksgiving. Earth day's probably safe though.

Regardless of your fragility, I'm entitled to my opinion. I never once said you should stop wearing the poppy or others should stop observing the holiday. I hate to break it to you, but people are allowed to have their own thoughts and opinions that don't align with yours without taking away from your own experience. That's the problem with you and your ilk on the right. Everyone has to conform or you begin crying like you're being victimized.

[cybercoma]

This isn't a left versus right issue, but when you make it about the glorification of war and not what it's really about, there is a real issue. There's not many people from the right or the centre that think it's about the glorification of war.

I never said anything about the glorification of war.

[Smallc]

I'm not addressing that towards you....though I disagree with your position as well. The reality is that, as humans, we will never learn completely, but since that time, we have come a long way, even if we still have a long way to go. There's nothing wrong with remembering sacrifice, and there seems to be something wrong with trying to make a statement in opposition to that, especially when it goes against human nature.

[Keepitsimple]

The pacifists refuse to believe that there can be "evil" in the world. What is evil? It comes in many disguises and many flavours but one theme is constant - the subjugation of people. When subjugation is enforced by threats and violence - evil has found its home.

Those that do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. Do not be so blind to imagining what Europe would look like if Winston Churchill had not supplanted Neville Chamberlain's appeasement.

As for the current situation in the world? Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Remember them well. Remember their sacrifice. Remember their honour......and remember that no one prays for peace more than soldiers. The world would be a far different place without them.

[Shady]

Regardless of your fragility, I'm entitled to my opinion. I never once said you should stop wearing the poppy or others should stop observing the holiday. I hate to break it to you, but people are allowed to have their own thoughts and opinions that don't align with yours without taking away from your own experience. That's the problem with you and your ilk on the right. Everyone has to conform or you begin crying like you're being victimized.

Yep, and in my opinion, your opinion is wrong. You're assigning meanings to remembrance day that just aren't true. Perhaps it's projection on your part.

[bush_cheney2004]

Kinda ironic that soldiers paid the price so they could express their opinions and spit on their graves. But that's just my opinion too.

[cybercoma]

Yep, and in my opinion, your opinion is wrong. You're assigning meanings to remembrance day that just aren't true. Perhaps it's projection on your part.

You don't get to dictate to others what meanings they derive from things. You talk about the left "ruining" Remembrance Day when you're free to observe whatever you want. Meanwhile, you want to dictate what meaning people take away from things. I made an observation. WWI was "The War to End All Wars" and Remembrance Day was to remember those fallen, so that we don't make the same mistakes again. Now that we remember all of the fallen, as we should, it shows that the original purpose of Remembrance Day is completely lost. That the sacrifice they made was for nothing, as we're still sending our daughters and sons to the slaughter.

[Argus]

That's just a counter-twist to the hateful meaning the righties have twisted around Remembrance Day.

What hateful meaning?

[Argus]

Remembrance Day is an insult to those who were lost in the War to End All Wars since it now stands as a day to remember all those we continue to lose in wars. I will not proudly wear the poppy when we have not learned the lessons of the past and continue to send our sons and daughters to die.

So... since the war to end all wars didn't, we shouldn't have any military in protest? Or we should have a military, but should never use it? It was morally wrong to contribute to defeating Hitler or to push back the communists from North Korea?

[Michael Hardner]

You don't get to dictate to others what meanings they derive from things.

How can we honour people who have dedicated themselves to what they saw as a just cause in a clear way, so that we're all doing it ? How about a red poppy with a peace button ?

[Mighty AC]

Personally, I wear the poppy and attend the ceremonies to pay my respects to those that have served and thank those that continue to do so. Though I may disagree with the cheering and clapping politicians that send our sons and daughters into battle, I still respect the hell out of anyone willing to put her/his ass on the line for me. They don't get to pick the fights, they are just called upon to serve on command.

[Shady]

Personally, I wear the poppy and attend the ceremonies to pay my respects to those that have served and thank those that continue to do so. Though I may disagree with the cheering and clapping politicians that send our sons and daughters into battle, I still respect the hell out of anyone willing to put her/his ass on the line for me. They don't get to pick the fights, they are just called upon to serve on command.

I agree, it's two seperate issues. For some, for whatever reason, they cannot see the nuance, and make those distinctions.

[Shady]

You don't get to dictate to others what meanings they derive from things

You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. Remembrance Day isn't an insult to those who served. Only people on the far far far far fringes of society think in that perverted way.

[Derek 2.0]

Personally, I wear the poppy and attend the ceremonies to pay my respects to those that have served and thank those that continue to do so.

And that is the intent of Remembrance Day....well said.......I think, this image from several weeks ago, about sums it up:

[Derek 2.0]

Kinda ironic that soldiers paid the price so they could express their opinions and spit on their graves. But that's just my opinion too.

Yes indeed, freedom of expression was the positive result from many people's sacrifice.......ignorant and rude opinions expressed is the demonstration that its working as intended.

[Michael Hardner]

Personally, I wear the poppy and attend the ceremonies to pay my respects to those that have served and thank those that continue to do so. Though I may disagree with the cheering and clapping politicians that send our sons and daughters into battle, I still respect the hell out of anyone willing to put her/his ass on the line for me. They don't get to pick the fights, they are just called upon to serve on command.

Agreed, and well said. It's not like Remembrance is the only message that gets subverted and reused for political purposes. Many positive things also have that happen, and patriotism in all its forms is just one.

Is it wrong to wave the Canadian flag ? Does it symbolize oppression and murder or is it something more complex - not so black-and-white ?

What about the cross ? The swastika ? Some symbols are clearer, and more odious than others are.

[cybercoma]

I agree, it's two seperate issues. For some, for whatever reason, they cannot see the nuance, and make those distinctions.

You're one to be talking about not seeing nuance.