Remembrance Day

Chris

Forum DOG!
Staff member
Just wondered why I had not seen a stand alone thread on the subject.
I think it's a cultural thing, on US fora you see a lot of flag waving but it's just not something we really do in the UK. It is very rare to see a British house with a union flag outside it for example.
 

R181

Grumpy old man
I think it's a cultural thing, on US fora you see a lot of flag waving but it's just not something we really do in the UK. It is very rare to see a British house with a union flag outside it for example.
I don't think flag waving has much to do with Remembrance Day but a lot to do with nationalism. You won't find many Canadian homes flying the maple leaf either. We know what country we live in. About the only time you'll see the maple leaf displayed on a Canadian home is for Canada Day and only for that day.

Virtually none of the countries I have had the privilege of visiting around the world seem to display the national flag on their homes iirc. Having had family grow up in Germany during the post WWI period and Hitler's rise to power, excessive flag waving as a product of extreme nationalism has always not set right with me. We all know where that took the world.

Bob
 

Boycie83

Space Cadet
Sorry to say the video is not available in my country.

Bob
Probably because it's a BBC children's video. It's a 2-3 minute cartoon that shows the First World War from an animals perspective. It helps show the darkness and intensity without exposing the youngsters to the true horrors and trauma of war. It ends with the sun coming out and poppies growing from the ground.
 

Chris

Forum DOG!
Staff member
I don't think flag waving has much to do with Remembrance Day but a lot to do with nationalism. You won't find many Canadian homes flying the maple leaf either. We know what country we live in. About the only time you'll see the maple leaf displayed on a Canadian home is for Canada Day and only for that day.

Virtually none of the countries I have had the privilege of visiting around the world seem to display the national flag on their homes iirc. Having had family grow up in Germany during the post WWI period and Hitler's rise to power, excessive flag waving as a product of extreme nationalism has always not set right with me. We all know where that took the world.

Bob
I don't think I phrased that well. From what I've seen on American fora appreciation of the forces seems to be a lot more front and centre than it is here. That's not to say that we don't appreciate them, just that it seems to be more of a personal rather than a public thing.
 

slapo

It's... alive!
I don't think I phrased that well. From what I've seen on American fora appreciation of the forces seems to be a lot more front and centre than it is here. That's not to say that we don't appreciate them, just that it seems to be more of a personal rather than a public thing.
Yeah, no European country I've been to does it.
The only countries that I've seen do it (in videos) either have totalitarian regimes (or nearly so), or are in an armed conflict.

Having said that, I think most European countries have a day where they remember fallen soldiers, but it's usually pretty quiet, just a parade or members of the public putting flowers on graves or memorials or such.
 
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R181

Grumpy old man
I don't think I phrased that well. From what I've seen on American fora appreciation of the forces seems to be a lot more front and centre than it is here. That's not to say that we don't appreciate them, just that it seems to be more of a personal rather than a public thing.
Put that way I'd tend to agree. In Canada we have a national service that is televised and a many cities/towns also have their own Remembrance Day service for the public part. The rest is personal remembrance.

Bob
 

owlman

Forum GOD!
Virtually none of the countries I have had the privilege of visiting around the world seem to display the national flag on their homes iirc. Having had family grow up in Germany during the post WWI period and Hitler's rise to power, excessive flag waving as a product of extreme nationalism has always not set right with me.
For decades, flag waving was very much frowned upon in Germany (as in: only nutters/extremists do it). This has changed noticeably with the 2006 World Cup, which took place in Germany. Since then, flags are a much more common thing during international sporting events, but still rarely seen outside of those (the "nutter suspicion" still kinda applies there). The flag mainly represents the state and its government, whereas the Stars and Stripes are also (or even mainly?) seen as a representation of the people.

Also, most Germans will probably hear the word "veteran" and picture a 90-year-old man (and perhaps wonder what he may have seen or done).
 

TobyC

Patriot
I did find myself this week thinking to myself “times have changed” and taking a deep breath ! Why ? Well looking at my class of 16-18 year olds who are let’s face it, privileged, they have an option of an education up to 18 and of course beyond on an apprenticeship. Most wouldn’t survive in a job at the moment let alone in battle. My Great Uncle survived both wars and for the 1st World War, he was their age. My Grandfather joined the Army between wars, I have a copy of his enlistment papers where he lied about his age and was actually 15 1/2 ! He fought during the conflict on the Northern Front in India and again in the Expedition forces in Belgium and France and was evacuated from Dunkirk. Grandad never ever talked about his War, but my ancestry hunt showed up this and small parts of where he was. Times have changed for the better but you can only imagine if todays youth were called to arms. They would be literally crying their eyes out despite their bravado they show.

Like I said Grandad never spoke, he was never proud, but I am very proud of him and his comrades, and all that have fought in wars since. Respect to them all and anyone reading this who has served.
"Most wouldn’t survive in a job at the moment let alone in battle." 👍 How long could they go without their phone before they fell into the fetal position?
 

Northam Saint

Forum GOD!
"Most wouldn’t survive in a job at the moment let alone in battle." 👍 How long could they go without their phone before they fell into the fetal position?
I often get one sat there looking down at his lap with his hands there too. My response is put your phone away or stop playing with your balls!

Many wouldn’t survive an hour working, especially in a building site.
 

Boycie83

Space Cadet
I don't think these comments against the young are fair. We had loadmasters and paratroopers in their 20s undertaking the Kabul airlift only 3 months ago whilst we were posting our SOTDs. Our apprentices at work have won national awards for welding and other skilled trades - their work amazes me.

The young are a product of the environment we've made for them. I have a lot of faith in today's youth.
 
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