On Remembrance day I met my neighbor in the back alley. He asked me if I had been to the remembrance day activities. I told him I hadn't been to the ceremonies. He then got on a rather nasty rant.
He stated that anybody who doesn't go to the Remembrance day ceremonies should not be able to take advantage of the day off and should remain at work. We had talked about Hitler and that Hitler had to be stopped because he was a threat to the world. If Hitler had taken over we would have lost all freedoms and would have had to conduct ourselves exactly to Hitler's wishes. I couldn't give any more points to my neighbor as by this time he turned on his heal and left as he does not like nor is he able to defend his views
Bloggers I follow who posted on remembrance made excellent points about remembering the men and women who fought to maintain our freedom. Each post was different. Each post was very significant. I'm sure that each blogger had their own way to remember and I would guess that very few attended a formal ceremony.
The sad thing that my neighbor had in his head was that all people should be forced to remember the same way. To me that's not what freedom is. With my neighbor's view, how long would it be before other forms of directed behavior would be prescribed? How long would it be before we would have another madman who would try to take our freedom away? How many people who would be forced to attend remembrance services would actually remember anything? How long would it be before we would lose other freedoms?
On a Remembrance day I was saddened to hear a rant about losing the freedom to remember in a variety of ways.
The irony is just too sad, really. Of course we all remember, acknowledge, respect and reflect in different ways. Or not at all. We have that right too.
ReplyDeleteYou've said it very well. This guy would probably want all of us to go to the same church or we should not get Sunday off?????
ReplyDeleteFreedom to remember in our own way is just as important as any other freedom. He's wrong, and we all know it. Too bad he doesn't see the error of his thinking.
ReplyDeleteDjan , it's a very irrational point of view. It's rather sad that these views do have some traction in our society. This guy doesn't see the flaw in his veiwpoint.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't get into too much of a knot over this - maybe the neighbour was having "one of those days"?
ReplyDeleteHerr Hitler was wicked but clever, anyhow he is dead, then we still had "Comrade Stalin" (I think he managed to kill more of his people). Also dead.
Followed by many more would be "leaders" (read despots - Idi, Pol Pot, Gaddifi etc etc. of the World and blatant murderers of their own! And heaps of money, whilst still in power in bank vaults under the streets of Zurich!
Now we have an attempt by Muslims to take over - where does it stop?
Freedom is something that Canadians and Australians cherish.
We don't know what despots can do.
We are lucky.
Here as I said on your "Remberance Day" blog - it was great to see the support especially here of the young persons of decency, they do outnumber the ferals by the thousands.
I was proud to wear my red poppy and STUFF those who didn't or probably wouldn't.
Don't worry Bluey, that type of person does exist.
Colin
And in his own way he was trying to make sure that everyone remembers...not even realizing that what they fought for was the freedom to remember as they want...or not to remember if they want...
ReplyDeleteJudy, Hilary has hit the nail on the head with "ironic." Somehow these people can be completely illogical.
ReplyDeleteColin, I certainly realize these people exist but they have to be challenged for their illogical ideology. However this guy just keeps on babbling and won't let people get a point in. He has nothing to back up his point of view.
ReplyDeleteI do so agree with you and I wonder whether this idea that remembrance must some how be public display is becoming an international thing. If people were fighting for anything they were fighting for the freedom to remember in whichever way they please.
ReplyDeleteAlan, you're right each person has their own way to remember. There has to be publicity which educates people. I was a teacher and we always had a very significant ceremony with the kids....a little ironic though...they were a captured audience. However, the emphasis we made was on education and it certainly fit in with the curriculum
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