kwackers wrote:I must admit I get annoyed with all the politicising of everything.
Whether I think we should get involved militarily in a situation or not these guys/gals put their lives on the line for us so I'm happy to help.
The rights and wrongs of why they're there - that's political and I cast my votes accordingly.
I agree totally.
There is nothing political about remembering and feeling respect for and gratitude towards those who came when they were called. Or indeed those who rose to the occasion in other ways (Rosie the riveter etc.) Personally I could even make a case for honouring conscientious objectors, many of whom demonstrated that they were neither shirkers or cowards.
Once you get past the "Boy's Own" ideas about war being a glorious adventure it is unlikely that anyone would forget that there is an appalling cost in human suffering, but a national Act of Remembrance is a good way of making sure. I find the two minute silence more impressive but have occasionally attended a wreath laying.
Poppies are something else though IMO. I'm aware of the fields of Flanders background, naturally, but as a child I was told that the poppies that you hand over money for were raising funds to provide care for the long term casualties of war. Call me naïve if you wish, but that is one of the things that I have never questioned, so that when I wear one
my message is along the lines of "Another year gone and I'm still helping to pay that part of the costs of warfare that governments always manage to ignore" I don't begrudge the money, but I do sometimes feel that as long as we carry on doing this sort of thing, governments are not going to change their ways. So you could call this a political act if you wanted, but I call it facing the facts.
Trying to retain enough fitness to grow old disgracefully... That hasn't changed!