Silence at work - rememberance

[Salsa]

Someone always talks through it.

Yes.

Last year I was at work on remembrance day. Just before 11am a message went over the tannoy informing customers and staff that the shop would be observing the 2 minutes silence.

One customer came up to me and started to ask me a question and I politely asked her to wait two minutes.

She went bananas stating that I HAD to serve her as she was in a hurry. I politely declined again and ignored her for the two minutes. She went bananas shouting and cursing demanding to see a manager.

It's 2 minutes to stop and reflect on what those people did for us.

I don't like the idea of it being a public holiday because then you risk going down the route of celebrating the war and Hallmark will start selling happy remembrance cards.

/Salsa

 

[elmarko]

what would you rather have?

-the loss of a minute of your time every year, barely an hour and a half out of your entire life [assuming you live to be 90]

or

-for everyone to forget the horrors of total warfare and inevitably do it all over again which will result in you getting shot/blown up/stabbed/beaten to death/burned alive/gassed and being killed or worse leave you confined to a bed for the rest of your life?


also, afaik the 1 minute silence is intended to be a rememberance of universal conflict ie it's practiced in some shape or form in pretty much every country?

That's just a false dichotomy.

Numerous other options exist, for one we could honour the dead by actually changing our behaviour in such a way that reflects the ideals they died for instead of simply remembering.

Limitless options exist, countless of which could retain the remembrance element.

YES and it's clear to see you have no respect for the departed.

Just lol.

Still at it again i see deuse??, completely twisting what he said to make him look bad...tut tut you do this all the time from what i have seen and quite frankly its pathetic.

He wasnt disrespecting the dead from what i understood of his opening post, more like saying that we should do more than just a minutes silence.

Thank you for actually reading my post (unlike some), that's exactly my point.

What's more respectful? - remembering for 60 seconds, or upholding & supporting the principles those people died for over a lifetime? - obviously you can do both, but if you aspire to do the latter is the former really that important?.

 

[JoeF1]

YES and it's clear to see you have no respect for the departed.

ohhh, here we go.

 

[Rroff]

Numerous other options exist, for one we could honour the dead by actually changing our behaviour in such a way that reflects the ideals they died for instead of simply remembering.

Limitless options exist, countless of which could retain the remembrance element.

A lot of those kind of things are a personal thing though, people need to come to the significance of it for themselves before it has any meaning to them you can't force it on them.

 

[Fenris]

It is a sign of respect and remembrance, how is that hard to get?

 

[MrMoonX]

I think it's right to remember the world wars but I don't buy a poppy anymore due to it now being expanded to politically motivated and unjust wars of Afghanistan and Iraq

 

[deuse]

snip.

He asked a question I gave him a answer.

 

[InertProtocol]

It is a sign of respect and remembrance, how is that hard to get?

Exactly, it's not.

And for those still serving whilst we browse these forums...

 

[deuse]

Thank you for actually reading my post (unlike some), that's exactly my point.

Just been reading some of your posts and it seams that a lot of people here never get your point.

 

[CosmicClown]

I find it rather annoying that people seem to be assuming that everybody is a constantly, walking talking zombie robot who never stops to reflect. I spend most of my days in silence thinking. I also meditate at night. I do not need to be silent when someone tells me I should be.

Let people remember if they want, it boils down to one thing (like most things people like to get their judgemental panties in a twist over) personal choice. Telling somebody to do something they dont really want to do is ALWAYS going to be counter productive.

 

[elmarko]

Just been reading some of your posts and it seams that a lot of people here never get your point.

I won't be losing any sleep over it.

If people choose to misinterpret something because they have an axe to grind or lack the ability to read the context of a post then that quite frankly in their problem - not mine.

It is a sign of respect and remembrance, how is that hard to get?

No offence, but did you even read the post?.

Ok,

Now - I fully understand the concept of remembrance (this part is a statement) - but why on earth is simply saying nothing for 60 seconds considered to be chosen method of doing it? (this part is the question, the little symbol at the end gives it away).

If we (as a society) really want to honour those who died then surely we would act with courage, compassion, insight & integrity all the time (instead of a meaningless platitude for 60 seconds a year with no real depth). - (This part is the suggested alternative method - completing the 'holy trinity' of posting, the statement - the open question, followed by the posters own view!)

Am I alone in thinking this? (this bit here, further emphasises the open nature of the question, as it's clearly a subjective issue)

 

[Bunka]

He asked a question I gave him a answer.

He asked for the background behind this particular method of remembrance and whether others feel that there is a more suitable method. He obviously wasn't saying that he doesn't give a **** and can't be bothered with showing his respects.

You gave an "answer" to a question that wasn't even asked.

It's not that difficult to comprehend.

 

[RDM]

If we (as a society) really want to honour those who died then surely we would act with courage, compassion, insight & integrity all the time (instead of a meaningless platitude for 60 seconds a year with no real depth).

It is only really a meaningless platitude if you choose it to be.

Whilst your solution might be correct, it is also pretty idealistic and probably unachievable. It once again fall under the "cultural changes that will take many lifetimes to implement". Maybe the 60 second silence is a start of that cultural change?

 

[RDM]

I think it's right to remember the world wars but I don't buy a poppy anymore due to it now being expanded to politically motivated and unjust wars of Afghanistan and Iraq

It isn't. The Poppy Appeal has always been used to fund the Royal British Legion which is a non-political charity that offers support to ex-servicemen. This really hasn't changed.

 

[elmarko]

It is only really a meaningless platitude if you choose it to be.

Whilst your solution might be correct, it is also pretty idealistic and probably unachievable. It once again fall under the "cultural changes that will take many lifetimes to implement". Maybe the 60 second silence is a start of that cultural change?

Could it be self fulfilling I wonder? - as in the kind of person who doesn't treat it as a meaningless platitude in reality, already remembers & appreciates the sacrifices made historically & remembers the suffering endured (making the whole thing pointless for many).

Most of the people I've seen in my experience, just work in silence, play on their phones or just look around loads to see if anybody is breaking this 'golden social rule' for the opportunity to play moral overlord.

Remembrance should be part of education, of teaching empathy - the way as a society we treat the elderly & the vulnerable (protection of innocents) - as I said earlier, to aspire to uphold the values they died for.

I agree it may be idealistic & perhaps unachievable - but on the other hand, I'm not sure what this ritual of silence has actually achieved so far. It's an interesting point you made though, I wonder what a transitional stage would look like (between basic remembrance to something more practical).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to belittle others preferred method of remembrance, but I don't like being told by society how to show respect to the dead or remember them (when in my view, many people routinely spit on the graves of the fallen by their daily actions & lack of responsibility to the vulnerable)

 

[Stev]

Those 60 seconds put you and everyone around you in a moment where you THINK and REMEMBER those who helped protect us.

The silence makes you think. So you never, ever forget, same for our kids and their kids.

For me at least.

Exactly it 100%

never ever ever forget

 

[scorza]

It isn't. The Poppy Appeal has always been used to fund the Royal British Legion which is a non-political charity that offers support to ex-servicemen. This really hasn't changed.

You're both right - you're correct technically but wearing the poppy today has become a symbol of support for our troops and arguably the wars in Iraq and Afghan, largely thanks to the idiots who started publicly burning poppies imo.

 

[RDM]

Could it be self fulfilling I wonder? - as in the kind of person who doesn't treat it as a meaningless platitude in reality, already remembers & appreciates the sacrifices made historically & remembers the suffering endured (making the whole thing pointless for many).

Some that may not know the reason why may be prompted to find out due to the minutes silence.

Most of the people I've seen in my experience, just work in silence, play on their phones or just look around loads to see if anybody is breaking this 'golden social rule' for the opportunity to play moral overlord.

Coming from a different background I have had very different experiences of the minute silence. It has always been a period for reflection because it may very well be one of your loved ones that you will be reflecting on at some point in the future.

Remembrance should be part of education, of teaching empathy - the way as a society we treat the elderly & the vulnerable (protection of innocents) - as I said earlier, to aspire to uphold the values they died for.

I agree it may be idealistic & perhaps unachievable - but on the other hand, I'm not sure what this ritual of silence has actually achieved so far.

If it just brings a few more people each year to think about why we do it then I would say that it has achieved something worthwhile, but you are yet to convince me that everyone just follows it because otherwise they would be socially excluded.

 

[MrMoonX]

It isn't. The Poppy Appeal has always been used to fund the Royal British Legion which is a non-political charity that offers support to ex-servicemen. This really hasn't changed.

I disagree, in recent years the legion, help for heroes etc. continue to push this nauseating soldier worship, it seems like we are expected to worship and feel sorry for people who all made a career choice to put themselves in this position. it's a million miles away from conscription due to a real threat, IMO there hasn't been a real threat to this country since WW2

 

[gord]

I remember busting into the Art department, a usually hushed zone in it's own right, and firing a question across the room. Seemed like a good opportunity with it being so quiet. A glowering glance from the teacher didn't deter or inform me. So I asked again, thinking it was pretty rude considering a shocked expression wasn't the answer I was looking for. At that point I was informed.

Cue facepalm. Never forget.