Two Minute Silence Rant

BLT_2

Just a thought, but how much longer do you think the 2 minute silence should carry on for? In 20 years it is doubtful there will be many of the second world war veterans left. At this point I doubt I will take much note as my silence and wearing of the poppy is in respect for those living who fought through the first 2 wars.

After these brave remnants of our yesterdays have gone there is little to remember. These were individuals who fought for the freedom of their country, for minimal wages and with little support.

Todays soldiers, brave as they are, fight for the governments political agendas, in many cases to impose the Western style of government on overseas countries, they are well paid with numerous perks and a good support network, allied to compensation if they are injured. I admire them but would not hold 2 minutes silence for them, they have not defended my country but have rather fought other countries wars.

jeffer

daniel598 wrote: »

At work today we took part in the two minute silence in the call centre. If you were on a call we were told to offer the customer to partake in the silence. If the didn't want to we just had to carry on as normal

Depends who was paying for the call I suppose. I'm not going to ring an 0844/0845 number and be put on hold for 2 minutes, especially if I have already been in the so-called queue for half an hour.:(

ifonlyitwaseasier

BLT wrote: »

Just a thought, but how much longer do you think the 2 minute silence should carry on for? In 20 years it is doubtful there will be many of the second world war veterans left. At this point I doubt I will take much note as my silence and wearing of the poppy is in respect for those living who fought through the first 2 wars.

After these brave remnants of our yesterdays have gone there is little to remember. These were individuals who fought for the freedom of their country, for minimal wages and with little support.

Todays soldiers, brave as they are, fight for the governments political agendas, in many cases to impose the Western style of government on overseas countries, they are well paid with numerous perks and a good support network, allied to compensation if they are injured. I admire them but would not hold 2 minutes silence for them, they have not defended my country but have rather fought other countries wars.

i think it should continue for ever

it's not just in remembrance of those who fell in the first and second world wars anymore, we've had so many more conflicts since and we need to honour ALL of the servicemen and women.

Equaliser123

jeffer wrote: »

Depends who was paying for the call I suppose. I'm not going to ring an 0844/0845 number and be put on hold for 2 minutes, especially if I have already been in the so-called queue for half an hour.:(

Well you could have done it at 11:02 and then no issue...

Sound a bit of a tight wad to me.

BLT_2

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

i think it should continue for ever

it's not just in remembrance of those who fell in the first and second world wars anymore, we've had so many more conflicts since and we need to honour ALL of the servicemen and women.

Personally I fail to see why I should honour servicemen and women for fighting wars in the Gulf over oil rights and in Afghanistan over changing the political system. The are not dying to preserve my freedom as was the case in yesteryears.

esuhl

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

we've had so many more conflicts since {the first and second world wars} and we need to honour ALL of the servicemen and women.

We need to honour all the servicemen? Even those who fought in illegal wars? Even those who ordered the bombing of "soft" targets such as hospitals and civilian camps? Even those who fired shells containing depleted uranium or planted cluster bombs which have a 90%+ chance of injuring innocent civilians? Even those who participated in illegal torture or assisted the US in removing suspects to countries where torture is not a criminal offence?

Surely anyone can see that war just isn't a simple case of black/white or right/wrong. It doesn't make sense to honour ALL servicemen and women.

poet123

mathsmaster wrote: »

Having been a teacher in comprehensive schools for the last 14 years I have come to the conclusion that there is only one group of people that are worse behaved than the hoodie wearing youth of today and that group is adults. I had a bottom set of lively 15 year olds for maths at 11 am but you could have heard a pin drop for the 2 minutes they stood in silence behind their chairs - but I suppose that kind of headline doesn't sell copies of the Daily Mail.

Ditto my college class of (usually) really badly behaved kids. Restores my faith and makes me carry on.

ifonlyitwaseasier

its not down to the individual servicemen & women, they didn't decide to fight those wars,

if yo don't like it then take it up with the politicians but don't blame the brave people who are willing to give up their lives

Louisdf

esuhl wrote: »

We need to honour all the servicemen? Even those who fought in illegal wars? Even those who ordered the bombing of "soft" targets such as hospitals and civilian camps? Even those who fired shells containing depleted uranium or planted cluster bombs which have a 90%+ chance of injuring innocent civilians? Even those who participated in illegal torture or assisted the US in removing suspects to countries where torture is not a criminal offence?

Surely anyone can see that war just isn't a simple case of black/white or right/wrong. It doesn't make sense to honour ALL servicemen and women.

Yes it does make sense. They can't pick and choose when to participate in wars as they have an obligation to serve their country. Do you think most Germans wanted to fight in WW2 for Hitler?

Col7777

The way this country is going they may stop it anyway in case it offends.