Two Minute Silence Rant

lucylucky

If people don't want to do it then fine.

That is the freedom that some in this country fought for.

No big deal.

esuhl

richardvc wrote: »

For all of you who don't observe it, doesn't the significance of what these brave men and women who sacrificed their lives mean anything ?

I suspect that most "non-observers" find it quite childish to be told that they should stand in silence at an arbitrary time and "remember" the efforts of people they may know little about.

Throughout history, many men and women have exhibited great virtues and made the world a better place. Should we have a rememberance "hour" every day where we are forced to learn about a different person's heroic act followed by a two minute silence? If not... doesn't the significance of what these brave men and women... mean anything?

As adults, surely we should be mature enough to pay our respects in our own way. Some people might like to sit at home and ponder, some might like to go to an organised event, while others might quietly reflect as they do the shopping. This really is a matter of personal choice.

danlojo

lucylucky wrote: »

That is the freedom that some in this country fought for.

People forget that!!:mad:

esuhl

rolleypolleypud wrote: »

Its 2 minutes fgs hardly a lifetime is it and is it really so much of an inconvienience to shut ones mouth just out of respect for the troops who have paid the ultimate price and the familys who remember them every day of every year and simply ask others to respect this for 2 minutes once a year?

But why 2 mins and not 3? Why at a certain time? Why are other heroic deaths not honoured?

In essence: why must I do what you say? Would you honour my father with a 2 minute silence in the middle of your weekly shop just because I told you to?

The only meaningful grieving/remembering is voluntary.

msfoxymax

richardvc wrote: »

I am amazed that people don't/won't observe the two minutes silence and especially have the cheek to moan about those who do.

For all of you who don't observe it, doesn't the significance of what these brave men and women who sacrificed their lives mean anything ?

It is two minutes out of your day to pay your respect to those who paid the ultimate price to ensure that we live in freedom - can't you even manage two minutes ?

Awas on their mobile - pathetic !nd moaning about having to wait on a phone call and that it cost more because the caller
God this has wound me up ![/QUOTE]

Well said what sort of person grudges waiyting 2 mins on a phone call when god knows how many people have fallen for the country! And if those people hadn't fought for this country would we even have the DWP!!!!!!!!!:T:T:T:T

msfoxymax

esuhl wrote: »

But why 2 mins and not 3? Why at a certain time? Why are other heroic deaths not honoured?

In essence: why must I do what you say? Would you honour my father with a 2 minute silence in the middle of your weekly shop just because I told you to?

The only meaningful grieving/remembering is voluntary.

To answer your 1st two questions

Remembrance - The two minutes silence
'The two minutes' silence to commemorate the first anniversary of the ceasefire of 11 o'clock on 11 November 1918 was almost as much of a surprise to the general public as the ceasefire itself had been. The decision to mark the first anniversary of the Armistice with a silent pause in the life of the nation was taken very close to the anniversary itself.' The origins of the silence can be found in a minute dated 4 November 1919, submitted to Lord Milner for the consideration of the War Cabinet by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, former British High Commissioner to the Dominion of South Africa, His son had been killed in France in 1917. He wrote: 'In the hearts of our people there is a real desire to find some lasting expression of their feeling for those who gave their lives in the war. They want something done now while the memories of sacrifice are in the minds of all; for there is the dread - too well grounded in experience - that those who have gone will not always be first in the thoughts of all, and that when the fruits of their sacrifice become our daily bread, there will be few occasions to remind us of what we realise so clearly today.

During the War, we in South Africa observed what we called the "Three minutes' pause " At noon each day, all work, all talk and all movement were suspended for three minutes that we might concentrate as one in thinking of those - the living and the dead - who had pledged and given themselves for all that we believe in…

Silence, complete and arresting, closed upon the city - the moving, aweinspiring silence of a great Cathedral where the smallest sound must seem a sacrilege… Only those who have felt it can understand the overmastering effect in action and reaction of a multitude moved suddenly to one thought and one purpose.'

The War Cabinet discussed Fitzpatrick's proposal on 5 November and approved a 'Service of Silence' on Armistice Day. Lord Milner was placed in charge of making the arrangements. The only amendment the Cabinet made was to amend the duration to one minute, - subject to approval from the King. (The precedent for a minute's silence can be found in the silence observed at Theodore Roosevelt's funeral that same year). Milner drafted a 'personal request' for the King and took it to Buckingham Palace. The King discussed it with his private secretary Lord Stamfordham and altered the duration of the silence to two minutes. Milner then arranged for the release of the finalised draft to the Dominions and the press. It was carried by all national newspapers on 7 November 1919:

'Tuesday next, November 11, is the first anniversary of the Armistice, which stayed the world wide carnage of the four preceding years and marked the victory of Right and Freedom. I believe that my people in every part of the Empire fervently wish to perpetuate the memory of the Great Deliverance, and of those who have laid down their lives to achieve it. To afford an opportunity for the universal expression of this feeling, it is my desire and hope that at the hour when the Armistice came into force, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, there may be for the brief space of two minutes a complete suspension of our normal activities. No elaborate organisation appears to be required. At a given signal, which can easily be arranged to suit the circumstances of the locality, I believe that we shall gladly interrupt our business and pleasure, whatever it may be and unite in this simple service of Silence and Remembrance'.

The silence was well observed the length and breadth of the UK. 'For two minutes after the hour of eleven had struck yesterday morning Plymouth stood inanimate with the nation… Two minutes before the hour the maroons boomed out their warning in one long drawn out note… As the hour struck a great silence swept over the town. People halted in their walks, chatter ceased as if by magic, traffic stopped and the rumbling note of industry stayed'. A tradition had been established.

Just our of curiousity are you british?

rolleypolleypud

esuhl wrote: »

But why 2 mins and not 3? Why at a certain time? Why are other heroic deaths not honoured?

In essence: why must I do what you say? Would you honour my father with a 2 minute silence in the middle of your weekly shop just because I told you to?

The only meaningful grieving/remembering is voluntary.

If your father was involved in any of the reasons we have rememberence day and the 2 minutes silence then yes I absolutley would honour your father in the middle of my weekly shop just as I did today.

People are saying that those who died did so in order for us to have choices. Yes I totally agree they did but isn't this two minutes silence just a little way to say we are gratful you did this and we remember the sacrifices you had to made?

GemJar_2

I work in a crown court, each of the 10 courts today stopped at 11 for two minutes, this includes everybody, all defendants, jurors, judges, barristers- nobody was forced to do it, everybody wanted to or stayed quiet out of respect for others. Its the first year I've observed complete silence for two minutes without some idiot ruining it. Was lovely.

eezer

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Is this another aspect of Poppy fascism?

If we can erase the Sabbath,have 24/7 shopping including Sundays,have pubs open later,have off licences selling booze to youngsters until midnight, have ad hoc alcohol delivery services,practically legalise the smoking of cannabis filth in public places/transport,then we can also !!!! a snook at those who suffered and died in various wars.

It is symptomatic of the decline in morals/values in English Society.

Nonsense. It might be your sabbath but to me it's just Sunday. And we can't shop for 24/7 because of the outdated Sunday trading laws which is another religious based infringement on my atheism. Remembering those who died is a totally separate issue from the decline in your religious standards and for you to imply that they are linked is very wrong.

uganda

Where I have been working today, some failed to observe the silence but mainly because they didn't realise it was happening.

I always observe the silence, arbitrary though it is, because I believe there are some times when we should act communally. However, it is important for us all to remember that our wishes do not take precedence over other people's, and we should understand and tolerate those who do not wish to participate. That they should understand our wishes and not interfere with our silence is a separate issue. I still believe they should.