We Will Remember Them
Yesterday was Armistice Day. At the Eleventh Hour, of the Elevnth Day of the Eleventh Month we stood outside the War Memorial at school and remembered.
Or did we?
I remembered. I remembered that people had died so that we could be free. I remembered that war is a terrible, horrific thing that should never be entered into lightly. I remembered the fallen. But I got the distinct impression that nobody else was. Nobody else was standing there, thinking about what we were supposed to be thinking about. mayeb there's something wrong with my generation, maybe it's that they go through it so often, they view it as a ritual that's as pointless as it is boring. Maybe this is why we still have wars, people don't remember.
One guy in my class even asked why he should show respect. Does he not understand what these people did? I told him that these people died so that he could be free, that these people died so that he could live a decent life. He said that a taxi driver was of more use to him, why shouldn't he give his money to his taxi driver than "a few dead people". First of all, it's not about the money, it's about remembering, and second of all, the money goes to the Royal British Legion, not just some dead people.
There's something wrong when peopel think taxi drivers are more important than those that died for our freedom.
Or did we?
I remembered. I remembered that people had died so that we could be free. I remembered that war is a terrible, horrific thing that should never be entered into lightly. I remembered the fallen. But I got the distinct impression that nobody else was. Nobody else was standing there, thinking about what we were supposed to be thinking about. mayeb there's something wrong with my generation, maybe it's that they go through it so often, they view it as a ritual that's as pointless as it is boring. Maybe this is why we still have wars, people don't remember.
One guy in my class even asked why he should show respect. Does he not understand what these people did? I told him that these people died so that he could be free, that these people died so that he could live a decent life. He said that a taxi driver was of more use to him, why shouldn't he give his money to his taxi driver than "a few dead people". First of all, it's not about the money, it's about remembering, and second of all, the money goes to the Royal British Legion, not just some dead people.
There's something wrong when peopel think taxi drivers are more important than those that died for our freedom.
posted by CJM | 9:14 PM
3 Comments:
Wow, that's scary. I remember always getting a poppy with my mom when we went to the war memorial here in my town. It was always so touching to see all the folks turn out to honor these men and women...unfortunately the numbers of people coming out for the ceremony has been dwindling.
Isnt a taxi driver, a office worker, a pizza guy, a binman or whatever more important thana corpse?
Seriously I am respectful to those who died and my thoughts are with their families but I think more money should be used to help the poor or the ill than the bureavers.
Helping the poor is all very good, yes, and I agree it needs to be done, but the money doesn't just go to the bereaved, it goes to veterans who are still alive and many of them are in very bad condition, either health-wise or living conditions. These men fought for our freedom, it's the least we can do to give them a decent life.
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