11-11-10

Yesterday was Remembrance Day... and if I'm honest, I forgot! At 11 o'clock I was waiting for a lecture, complaining about being there and having to listen for two hours. It wasn't until our lecturer proposed two minutes of silence did I remember. 


It got me pondering about the significance of the day. As a child it always seemed to be a day to remember those who have fallen for the defence of our country. It still means this today but with the very real addition of our troops currently fighting in other countries. It still astounds me how people could want to put themselves out there and fight for our country and the way we live... something they believe strongly about. I can't honestly say that I feel this strongly about anything. 


I understand how people feel about the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, but at the same time, I was disgraced when I read about the way in which a few chose to present their anger... the burning of our national symbol of respect - the poppy- during the 2 minutes that the country stops to remember. The ironic fact about this act was that the freedom this group had to carry out their act of protest was provided by those who had fallen for our country. The freedom for which thousands have and are fighting for allowed them to freely disrespect. 


I find it hard to remember what is happening everyday in these countries while we carry out our day to day lives worrying about the small things. The least we can do is stop to remember them and thank them for keeping our borders safe and protecting, at all costs, our way of life.


They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. - Laurence Binyon