Look up the word 'Remembrance ' sometime, it's almost ironic how you bang on about freedom, freedom of the press, etc yet if it wasn't for those who gave their lives in The Great War right through to today, fighting and in some cases dying for those freedoms you appear to value so highly.

perhaps you should exercise some common sense from time to time, even consider pulling you head out of your own **** - give it a try, you never know you might like it

....and there's silly old me thinking that a poppy was symbolic with a continuing sacrifice that soldiers make while serving our country.....I won't be biting or getting annoyed, as I fully understand you trying to get a rise out of people, as that's your thing - you're a ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=qW2lrnaq640

Probably the single most stupid (and that's putting it extremely mildly) comment you've posted on SN. I have to go with DCI's sentiments on this one.

+1

I think this post should stay up, just so people can see what kind of person you really are.

Soldiers in WW1 fought for many reasons, personal freedom was probably not one of them...at the time most adults couldn't even vote.

I don't object to Armistice day on the contrary I support it but it just seems to lack dignity nowadays compared to just a few years ago. You have the nonsense about the England kit, public figures vilified for not wearing poppies. It should be a quiet respect, not about a pitying sentimantalism...this idea that war is a singularly tragic event and the dead are 2D heros, many died confused, bewildered, others just doing a job.

celebrate it how you choose and keep you inane ramblings about how others chose to mark the day to yourself then you tedious, verbose pillock!

I understand challenging norms and critical thinking, Tony, but on a remembrance thread?

Anyway, and I swear on my late father's peace that this is true, I promised my grandfather that we'd go across The Channel and visit his oldest brother's grave. His brother died in WW1. I never made good on my promise and I still carry some guilt. The emotional effects of the losses are still alive in a lot of people.

You really do act like a prat at times!

Do you really not understand how people can appreciate the sacrifices that were made by those who went to fight for the sake of their country in both world wars and in the problems after them?

Can you not imagine how it must have been in those watery and muddy trenches ducking the shells and waiting for the whistle to signal going over the top to almost certain death?

Have you even considered the similar willing to risk one's life in WW2 in all the different ways in order to protect this country and the world from that megalomaniac. Do you just not appreciate how brave those members of the Services were? Does it mean nothing that you have your present freedom of life because of their efforts?

Why then are you denigrating the fact that those who do understand all those achievements feel that it is vital for the future as that it is remembered and commemorated, not only in sincere gratitude but also in an effort to prevent it from happening again.

If it is too difficult for you to understand that, then you would do well to keep that attitude to yourself.

Les

Tony raises an interesting point of view although I think he has articulated it poorly. I mentioned to my wife at the turn of the month, that in my opinion Halloween was becoming a much more widely celebrated event, and as soon as it is out of the way, Christmas is thrust upon us, in the commercial way that I detest. Lost between both events, are a few days that lead to Armistice day and remembrance Sunday. I didn't consider the perspective that there is probably no one living that recalls the first world war, and in not so many years, the generation impacted by the second world war will be further diminished in numbers as time passes - whether remembrance events fade further into the background or not remains to be seen. It is our duty to ensure that those who made the supreme sacrifice are forever remembered. Having read about both world wars, having heard in depth and detail from my father who served during the second world war nothing brought home the enormity of the loss and sacrifice in such a real way as a 'battlefield tour' and visits to the commonwealth war graves.

LOL Tony! You are hilarious! Talk about challenging others' thinking, but what about doing some of your own, before posting?

Of course it is tangible. There are war memorials everywhere.

What about this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11743727

Are those figures not tangible in any way?

What about the effects on Britain and British society as a result of these conflicts? History has been made as a result, is that not tangible?

What about the sheer number of people who can relate stories of people involved?

Actually, I remember how contemptuous you were of my own stories of relatives who had fought for this country in WWI. I suppose that answers all of my questions really.

Armistice day isn't commercialised like Halloween but it is somewhat more commodified I think that it used to be like I said. Now you have tons of pressure on public people to wear a poppy for weeks before...wear one to work to ingratiate yourself with the boss etc....it's a kind of conspicuous display of virtue. John Snow said it was 'poppy fascism'. Wearing one is certainly closer to kitsch than it used to be.

I just wonder how 'real' the remembrance is, and to what purpose it serves. Maybe I'm just getting cynical?

Don't get me wrong I have the utmost respect for our country men who fought and died in wars. I'm not egotistical enough to think they especially died for me though.

Well if you want to make it personal then FYI you moderate like a ****, banning people for expressing their political views...just 'doing your job' (following orders).

Still at least a **** would never pretend to be in favor of free speech and liberal values to their credit.

Which is pretty ironic because here you are castigating me for supposedly not respecting the lives lost fighting for these values.

lives lost by our brave soldiers , 3rd world refugees , muslims ... theres no stopping you

Sadly Godwin's law is no excuse for TDW's poor attitude and lack of respect, not only for the webteam, but fellow users and those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.

Well said I would like to see all of TDW posts removed on this thread as it was really good and thoughtful with lovely poetry so we could all reflect on the history and out brave soldiers and get this thread back on track please

I went to the Somme region about 3 years ago, it was a very moving experience. I'd wanted to visit the area for so long and I finally made the effort to go and I'm really pleased I did.

We went in January and for me it added a bit more to the experience as to what hell it must have been in the trenches. It must have been bad enough in the middle of summer but seeing what the conditions must have been like in winter made it even more harrowing.

A couple of pics:

Serre Road



Lochnager Crater







Gueudecourt (Canadian)



Thiepval



Unicorn Cemetary


....where my Great Uncle lies



Ancre





Found this quite moving when I read it....



...and I find it quite remarkable that so much stuff is still being found in the farmers fields after all this time!





.....and no, I didn't touch it!

Eh?

There is no pressure whatsoever on people to wear a poppy. You have just magnified it all to support what you are trying to say.

If you take the trouble to find out, I am sure you will find that people wear the poppy purely because they want to commemorate the immense sacrifices that were made on our behalf and also to show support for the Royal British Legion which does so much for servicemen who are down on their luck for whatever reason. I defy you you find a reason to criticise that!

Your attempt to compartmentalise the whole thing is showing you up in rather a strange light.

Les