Thursday 12 November 2009

Remembrance Day

We got to IKEA on Sunday a bit before 11. We'd had a chance to get in there, go to the loo and start looking at the first room set up or two. I called my mum over to look at a unit I liked and we were trying to figure out if it would fit in the space.

Then they announced on the tannoy that it was 11 am and because it was Remembrance Sunday there was going to be a 2 minute silence.

We stopped and stood still in silence for those two minutes. So did most other people.

But we were right by the escalators up so people kept coming in and they didn't know what was happening so they were talking. Some realised what was happening and stopped and stood in silence too.

Several others kept wandering around looking at stuff, either in silence or chattering away to each other as they did so. I overheard at least one couple going "Why's everyone stopped?"

I find the fact that people couldn't be bothered to stop for two minutes and remember to be disrespectful and very annoying.

I was on the train at 11 am yesterday morning. I had wondered if they would do a 2 minute silence on there but they didn't. That doesn't bother me so much as the people who saw that the staff (sorry, co workers they call them) in IKEA and most of the customers were observing the two minutes silence and disrupted it with their talking and their wandering.

Personally I haven't been wearing a Poppy, I just haven't felt the need to. I like the idea of the Poppy campaign I've just personally not had one this year. In previous years (or at least some previous years) I have. I know at least one person who doesn't believe in the Poppy campaign and thinks you shouldn't wear a Poppy. I think that's on a semi-religious grounds and based on the idea that the poppy (or at least the red one) glorifies the idea of war. We haven't discussed it.

I like the red poppies (symbolising remembrance), but I also like the idea of a white one (for peace) too. I'd probably be contrary and wear both.

Part of me was thinking earlier that if not for the Second World War I might not be here. My Grandad on my dad's side was a farmer and so didn't serve in the war - farming being so important to food production and thus a reserved occupation. My Gran was a land girl and was assigned to his farm, it's how they met I believe. (the employer employee relationship seems to be a thing in my family as my Dad was also my mum's boss at work at one point which is how they met too).

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

1 comment:

Molly said...

Lovely blog Emma. I agree that was disrespectful of the Ikea customers. I didn't do a 2min silence on Sun, but on Wed me and my mum heard the 2min silence on the radio as we were in the car. I was surprised that although Classic FM (my mum's station of choice) did the 2min silence, our local commercial radio station didn't.


I also like the idea of the white poppies as I don't feel entirely comfortable wearing the red ones and didn't wear one this year.

Moll x x

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