I find it sad and disappointing that remembrance day comes and goes without any acknowledgment or respect anymore. Around 20 million people died in that war. Isn’t that crazy? I think because it’s such a huge unfathomable number it’s easy to distance yourself from it. But each one of those numbers is a human being. Millions of soldiers – little boys dying alone. To think of my own brother dying by himself on a field is enough to make me sick. And we can’t even be bothered to pin poppies to our coats? All it amounts to is a little sense of glee for university kids knowing that they have a day off? Mocking the dead for the sake of a comedy show?
I also can’t help but think that these are also good things. That people died so that we could lead a full, free life – free to make our own choices and forget the horrors of the past. But we should always stop to glance back, once in a while…
so if you have the chance, take a moment to think about those millions, and just how lucky we are to be here – and happy – today.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.
Sooo…did you miss the massive amount of people filling Grand Parade and spilling into the streets? Televised program of 25,000 people in Ottawa? Constant playing of programs devoted to veterans and the wars? The multiple people wearing poppies(which, btw, nobody is obligated to do)? The week long giant light display on Saint Paul’s of the war dead? I’m pretty sure there was some acknowledgement going on.
Just because someone isn’t wearing a poppy doesn’t mean they don’t care! I didn’t wear a poppy yesterday, not because I didn’t care! Last week I was in the grocery store where veterans were selling poppies, I couldn’t get one because all I had was my debit card! The next time I went there I brought a toony for the sole purpose of getting one, THEY (veterans selling poppies) WERE GONE! But I thought about and remembered the soldiers yesterday. And as SwampDonkey said, there was quite a bit of acknowledgement!
Acknowledgement doesn’t have to be a big song and dance. It can be as simple as leaving flowers at a veteran’s grave, or even just going up to one and thanking them. There are as many ways as there are people to honour veterans for their sacrifice.
People Remember in different ways. It is ridiculous for people to be disappointed or ‘look down their noses’ at people for not wearing a poppy (cheap plastic piece of crap). Get off your high Calvary Horse. Where I hear people bitching about this it really pisses me off. Usually, the first thing I think of is that you assholes only remember the Veterans, the dead and the living, one day a year. Inconsiderate pricks, you have to be told to remember, reminded to remember. A Gigantic Fuck You goes out to you. Unless you know what everybody does and thinks everyday, shut the fuck up. You close-minded fucks. I salute you .!..
Well first of all, the OP never mentions anything about poppies. So read the bitch before commenting. Secondly, the OP is way off. We went to the Terrance Bay Legion for Remembrance Day and the parking lot was packed. Apparently attendance was high everywhere.
BRoc, YOU read the bitch before commenting! The OP DOES mention poppies in the 6th line of the 1st paragraph! Bet ya you feel stupid now…
Hahahaha BRoc….you are so stupid. Go back to school tard!