The Real History Behind Rememberance Day

[Guyzerr]

It's unfortunate that the school systems in the " free world " for the most part don't teach the real reason why Remembrance Day was started and by whom. It is my belief that will be one of the main reasons why it will eventually fade away to be forgotten by all but a select few such as military people and their families. The real reason Remembrance Day is observed was not because of WWII as thought of by the majority of people on this board. To that end you might want to educate yourself if you think it was . As my buddy Paul Harvey used to say... " and now the rest of the story."

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

 

[Peter Parka]

You're the second person from Canada today who is worried about the apathy on remembrance day, I'm sad to hear about what's going on in Canada is that regard. I'm glad to say that Remembrance Day gets to be a bigger and bigger deal in the UK with every passing year.

 

[skyblue]

good post guyz

 

[Johnfromokc]

“Those who name holidays, playing on our genuine feeling for veterans, have turned a day that celebrated the end of a horror into a day to honor militarism ... the usual betrayal of the dead by the hypocritical patriotism of the politicians and contractors preparing for more wars, more graves to receive more flowers. The memory of the dead deserves a different dedication. To peace, to defiance of governments."

- US combat veteran & historian Howard Zinn

 

[Dana]

I don't see why things like this need to have a specific day of remembrance. Those affected by war obviously dwell upon it every day. War begets more war. Tragedy begets more tragedy.. People who have lived these events or are directly affected by them will remember them til they die.

 

[skyblue]

I don't see why things like this need to have a specific day of remembrance. Those affected by war obviously dwell upon it every day. War begets more war. Tragedy begets more tragedy.. People who have lived these events or are directly affected by them will remember them til they die.

so are you saying that there should be no rememberance day?

 

[Dana]

Not saying that at all.

 

[Peter Parka]

No, he's just being disrespectful to get some attention as usual. Ignore his shit.

 

[skyblue]

Not saying that at all.

thats how it comes across

 

[cam elle toe]

no, he's just being disrespectful to get some attention as usual. Ignore his shit.

qft!!!!

 

[Zorak]

It's unfortunate that the school systems in the " free world " for the most part don't teach the real reason why Remembrance Day was started and by whom. It is my belief that will be one of the main reasons why it will eventually fade away to be forgotten by all but a select few such as military people and their families. The real reason Remembrance Day is observed was not because of WWII as thought of by the majority of people on this board. To that end you might want to educate yourself if you think it was . As my buddy Paul Harvey used to say... " and now the rest of the story."

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

I thought it was common knowledge, uptil now...

The yanks renaming it Veterans' Day probably didn't help.

 

[Johnfromokc]

The yanks renaming it Veterans' Day probably didn't help.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

We were brought up with the militaristic patriotism here in the U.S. Most don't even realize today what has happened to the original Day of Remembrance - I know I did not until I decided to actually investigate it.

 

[Zorak]

A few Kurt Vonnegut novels have pretty strong views about it.

It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.
Armistice Day has become Veterans' Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans' Day is not.

Breakfast of Champions

‘Oh, it’s just so damn cheap, so damn typical,’ I said. ‘This used to be a day in honor of the dead of World War One, but the living couldn’t keep their grubby hands off of it, wanted the glory of the dead for themselves. So typical, so typical. Any time anything of real dignity appears in this country, it’s torn to shreds and thrown to the mob.’

Mother Night

 

[Guyzerr]

I don't see why things like this need to have a specific day of remembrance. Those affected by war obviously dwell upon it every day. War begets more war. Tragedy begets more tragedy.. People who have lived these events or are directly affected by them will remember them til they die.

Dana you have been affected by war even though you've never fought in one. If it wasn't for those that have do so on your behalf you wouldn't be where you are today and that's exactly why " they " should be honored. I agree there shouldn't be a need for a special day but if it wasn't for that I would bet everything that I possess that you and the majority of those around you wouldn't be aware of what happened.

Being educated on the subject in our public schools should be mandatory in order to pass the grade and he / she should have to take a written test on the subject and pass that as well.

 

[Guyzerr]

I know I did not until I decided to actually investigate it.

That's what I was saying.

 

[Guyzerr]

I thought it was common knowledge, uptil now...

It may be because of where you live but it sure as hell isn't the case on this side of the pond.

The yanks renaming it Veterans' Day probably didn't help.

Well they do need to be different don't they.

 

[Guyzerr]

You're the second person from Canada today who is worried about the apathy on remembrance day, I'm sad to hear about what's going on in Canada is that regard. I'm glad to say that Remembrance Day gets to be a bigger and bigger deal in the UK with every passing year.

I've felt that way for many years only because I see it eroding in front of me like a beach being destroyed by waves. Companies like Safeway don't help matters as far as I'm concerned. They opened their doors at 10am today and I would venture a guess they didn't observe any silence at 11am. Bastards!

I haven't had the chance to quiz my neices and nephews on the subject but I do intend to at first opportunity. For some strange reason I really have a need to know if it's being taught to them. Their ages range from 16 - 13 so that covers a few different grades and should give me a fair answer.

 

[Guyzerr]

“Those who name holidays, playing on our genuine feeling for veterans, have turned a day that celebrated the end of a horror into a day to honor militarism ... the usual betrayal of the dead by the hypocritical patriotism of the politicians and contractors preparing for more wars, more graves to receive more flowers. The memory of the dead deserves a different dedication. To peace, to defiance of governments."

- US combat veteran & historian Howard Zinn

I suppose it could be twisted as such by those that have a great disdain for their government but I'm sure even you would admit that Remembrance Day was not named because of " hypocritical patriotism of the politicians and contractors preparing for more wars, more graves to receive more flowers. " or " to defiance of governments."

 

[Johnfromokc]

I suppose it could be twisted as such by those that have a great disdain for their government but I'm sure even you would admit that Remembrance Day was not named because of " hypocritical patriotism of the politicians and contractors preparing for more wars, more graves to receive more flowers. " or " to defiance of governments."

We're not disagreeing Guyz. We don't call it "Remembrance Day" here - remember?

It has become more of a celebration of our ability to kick other nations asses and blind patriotism often times, rather than remembering the dead, and the resulting peace that was allegedly fought for.

It is arguable that the United States is currently fighting for freedom or anything other than profits for the military industrial complex.

 

[Guyzerr]

We're not disagreeing Guyz. We don't call it "Remembrance Day" here - remember?

I was just replying to your Zinn quote which after your most recent post I'm unable to tell if you're with or against him. ( referring only to that quote )


Was it ever called Remembrance Day in the US of A ? I read the blurb about Canada in my OP link but not the one on the US so I'm about to do that now. I feel the need to educate myself.