Thread: Remembrance

For the last few years I've been in Kanchanaburi for the commemorations that take place there. Great opportunity to pay respects whilst catching up with friends who live in all corners of the Kingdom. I've always driven, valuing the freedom having my own transport whilst there for one thing, and abhorring airports unless absolutely necessary these days. This year, don't quite feel up to the drive, so regrettably gave Kan a miss this time.

There's a group here in Phuket called the 'Phuket Veterans Assocation', a multinational group of military and 'blue light' veterans. I'm not a member of that group, however as I do the annual Poppy Appeal, and am a volunteer case worker with the RBL, I have occasional contact for welfare related situations.

Anyway, the PVA yesterday held their own Remembrance at a clubhouse on an estate here, and they asked that I get some poppy wreaths for some to lay at some crosses they'd set up next to a small lake. I also took the opportunity to set up a table of Poppy Appeal merchandise.





The Australian Consul General for Phuket wanted a receipt for the wreath that they'd ordered, obviously claiming the donation back on expenses.

Good effort PAG, well done.

Kudos to you PAG for your Remembrance Day work!
A British gentleman, sadly they don't make 'em anymore.

I don’t buy into this remembrance thing.

No one in my lifetime has ever done anything so that unborn generations will benefit as a consequence of their actions. They did it for timely personal reward, because they had no choice, or it seemed the right thing to do because that’s the way they were indoctrinated, or it looked like adventure. “ They fought and sacrificed their lives so that you will be free “ is just bullshit.

My father, ex- WW 2 RN and lifelong soldier in the war against the Russian pig and Communist Chinese loons, joined in later life the Foreign Legion for the cheap bar and weekend dances hoping to pick up an old biddy but was thrown out when he said Remembrance Days were just self indulgent mawkish pap perpetuating cliches and hypocrisy.

War is simply an extension of diplomacy by other means and is fought for a short term result i.e. victory over an adversary.

The fodder who fight it do so at the behest of the state to achieve that goal. There’s nothing noble in it except the bonds one forms with comrades enduring the process. Public commemoration is a matter for survivors but when there is none to speak of, the gesture becomes something else and the way the current Tory filth have sought to exploit it as a means of suppressing freedom of speech perhaps demonstrates just how far the ritual has become debased.

Time to end it, no one really cares …….. they’re more interested in their Xmas holidays.

I commemorate it in my own way. Whenever I speak to Krauts and Japs I ask to what extent WW2 shaped their society given its aftermath. Most just look a bit uncomfortable and change the subject.

I think the Holocaust and the 13 millions killed by the Japs should have a special day set aside for global observance. As a marker recording just how worthless mankind can be, such a commemoration might serve a useful purpose. Indeed if we did have one, the ceremony may well prick the consciences of the present day proto nazi Israelis and make them cease their current slaughter of innocent children.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

I don’t buy into this remembrance thing.

No one in my lifetime has ever done anything so that unborn generations will benefit as a consequence of their actions. They did it for timely personal reward, because they had no choice, or it seemed the right thing to do because that’s the way they were indoctrinated, or it looked like adventure. “ They fought and sacrificed their lives so that you will be free “ is just bullshit.

My father, ex- WW 2 RN and lifelong soldier in the war against the Russian pig and Communist Chinese loons, joined in later life the Foreign Legion for the cheap bar and weekend dances hoping to pick up an old biddy but was thrown out when he said Remembrance Days were just self indulgent mawkish pap perpetuating cliches and hypocrisy.

War is simply an extension of diplomacy by other means and is fought for a short term result i.e. victory over an adversary.

The fodder who fight it do so at the behest of the state to achieve that goal. There’s nothing noble in it except the bonds one forms with comrades enduring the process. Public commemoration is a matter for survivors but when there is none to speak of, the gesture becomes something else and the way the current Tory filth have sought to exploit it as a means of suppressing freedom of speech perhaps demonstrates just how far the ritual has become debased.

Time to end it, no one really cares …….. they’re more interested in their Xmas holidays.

I commemorate it in my own way. Whenever I speak to Krauts and Japs I ask to what extent WW2 shaped their society given its aftermath. Most just look a bit uncomfortable and change the subject.

I think the Holocaust and the 13 millions killed by the Japs should have a special day set aside for global observance. As a marker recording just how worthless mankind can be, such a commemoration might serve a useful purpose. Indeed if we did have one, the ceremony may well prick the consciences of the present day proto nazi Israelis and make them cease their current slaughter of innocent children.

Demonstrates what little you really know and understand about Remembrance. A typical civil service response. It affects my down time once a year, so (even though I am retired and largely irrelevant now) let’s forget about it.

Originally Posted by PAG

I also took the opportunity to set up a table of Poppy Appeal merchandise.

Nice one PAG. You are the prince of poppies.

Originally Posted by PAG

The Australian Consul General for Phuket wanted a receipt for the wreath that they'd ordered, obviously claiming the donation back on expenses.

It is possible that he just wanted to claim a tax deduction on his own personal donation as charitable donations are tax deductible. You need a receipt to do that and you get about 30% back from the gov.