Remembrance day
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Remembrance day
Forgive me if I seem unfeeling, I assure you I am not. It is warming to see the country's media finally defrost against the war. I guess it is true Tony Blair had to go, before we could think compassionately about the soldiers not tainted by the discomfort of the Iraq war. I cannot remember a time when Remembrance Day has been so diligently observed. It is no more just the politicians, military families or TV personalities self-righteously wearing the red flower. It has been an over kill of soldiers on talk shows, hymnals, old veterans, documentaries and news pieces. This morning there was even poetry from the First World War, of course a lesser known work of Wilfred Owen the soldier's poet. (Though I personally have not met a Soldier who has heard of him)Voices solemn, even the most ardent rebels coerced to say, "I am not against the wearing of the poppies, just the State's cult". The voice over's, the accompanying music so grey even the sun is receding. I quite enjoy a good old fashion hymn, with choirs and bands, the pomp and costumes. It must be the colonial in me. In the two World Wars, drones my TV, the writer Rudyard Kipling who lost his son in the First World War. What do I know about the Great War? My Country was still part of the Empire even after the Second World War. Should I be asking if any of my people are named in the remembered? Oh, of course, we are the Commonwealth; I can see my ambassador and his wife in traditional attire. I guess all is forgiven. It is all so confusing how to feel. Yes, I feel sorry for the soldiers that died, but what about the soldiers they killed. Am I meant to remember them also? Do I count the collateral damage? Would it include spies and children, civilians and conscience? Yesterday's casualties? Today's? Tomorrows? It is all very confusing.BBC one's David Dimbleby and Major General Julian Thompson (not a relative of the Actress Emma Thompson) drone on from my TV speakersPrince William of Wales, now an officer in the army, that is probably the only non-confusing issue about the Remembrance Day, The Queen , the Church and the military seeming almost untouched by this syndrome of multiculturalism. As British as my Grandfather a child of the Empire, would have remembered it. For Queen and Country To the Victor go the Spoils and History The Arch Bishop of Canterbury says the Lord's Prayer. The Soldier blows his trumpet, God Save the Queen!
Remembrance day
Forgive me if I seem unfeeling, I assure you I am not. It is warming to see the country's media finally defrost against the war. I guess it is true Tony Blair had to go, before we could think compassionately about the soldiers not tainted by the discomfort of the Iraq war. I cannot remember a time when Remembrance Day has been so diligently observed. It is no more just the politicians, military families or TV personalities self-righteously wearing the red flower. It has been an over kill of soldiers on talk shows, hymnals, old veterans, documentaries and news pieces. This morning there was even poetry from the First World War, of course a lesser known work of Wilfred Owen the soldier's poet. (Though I personally have not met a Soldier who has heard of him)Voices solemn, even the most ardent rebels coerced to say, "I am not against the wearing of the poppies, just the State's cult". The voice over's, the accompanying music so grey even the sun is receding. I quite enjoy a good old fashion hymn, with choirs and bands, the pomp and costumes. It must be the colonial in me. In the two World Wars, drones my TV, the writer Rudyard Kipling who lost his son in the First World War. What do I know about the Great War? My Country was still part of the Empire even after the Second World War. Should I be asking if any of my people are named in the remembered? Oh, of course, we are the Commonwealth; I can see my ambassador and his wife in traditional attire. I guess all is forgiven. It is all so confusing how to feel. Yes, I feel sorry for the soldiers that died, but what about the soldiers they killed. Am I meant to remember them also? Do I count the collateral damage? Would it include spies and children, civilians and conscience? Yesterday's casualties? Today's? Tomorrows? It is all very confusing.BBC one's David Dimbleby and Major General Julian Thompson (not a relative of the Actress Emma Thompson) drone on from my TV speakersPrince William of Wales, now an officer in the army, that is probably the only non-confusing issue about the Remembrance Day, The Queen , the Church and the military seeming almost untouched by this syndrome of multiculturalism. As British as my Grandfather a child of the Empire, would have remembered it. For Queen and Country To the Victor go the Spoils and History The Arch Bishop of Canterbury says the Lord's Prayer. The Soldier blows his trumpet, God Save the Queen!
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