Comments on: Comments on 21527

Post number 21527

twine42 — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 15:46:20 -0800

While the UK, US and UN prepare for various forms of battle, the Commonwealth remembers it's dead from two world wars, the Falklands war, the Gulf war, the Korean war, the Yugoslavian wars or any other conflict where servicemen died. Despite having my own to remember I can't help feeling maybe it's time to let the dead rest...

By: Neale

Neale — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 16:06:35 -0800

By: four panels

four panels — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 16:22:31 -0800

Dead soldier thrown from tank and other personal rememberences.

By: kfury

kfury — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 17:54:44 -0800

the Commonwealth remembers it's dead The commonwealth is dead? (Sorry, I know; It's no time to be a grammar Nazi...)

By: Baesen

Baesen — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 18:26:11 -0800

Maybe, as we honor and remember those that have died during war, we can also remember those still held under the yoke of tyranny. There are those of us who are free because of the sacrifice on the battlefield of so many. Even if not personally old enough to remember it directly, there are those around us who will. Let us take the time to speak with these people so that we can try and understand what life was like under the control of brutal dictators. In this way, we might be able to begin to understand why such a sacrifice was necessary. If we can't do this, I despair for the future of those who are currently shackled by these brutal regimes. As long as we continue to turn a blind eye to the human tragedy and do nothing of substance to end these totalitarian hell holes, millions will continue to suffer and die, never knowing the happiness that can be a part of life. So yes, yes, let us honor these brave fallen. Let us also hope that future generations don't look back wondering why we didn't have the fortitude of our forefathers and why we allowed such brutality to continue in our world.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 19:07:28 -0800

By: dhartung

dhartung — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 21:25:00 -0800

9,386 who didn't make it home.

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 21:41:19 -0800

Despite having my own to remember I can't help feeling maybe it's time to let the dead rest... Remembrance Day as I know it in Canada is still primarily focused on those who died in World War I. I think that each time we are reminded how petty aliances and escalation of minor conflicts and disagreements can result in millions of dead, maybe we will remember and avoid it in the future. One can only hope. ------ 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. -- John McCrae (1872-1918)

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Sun, 10 Nov 2002 22:44:55 -0800

Is it just me, or does the last "MORE BODIES!!!!" stanza of that poem seem... dissonant... from the rest?

By: johnnyboy

johnnyboy — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 01:51:54 -0800

The soldier If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England. There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Give somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, in hearts at peace, under an English heaven. Rupert Brooke

By: Yelling At Nothing

Yelling At Nothing — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 02:34:13 -0800

By: walrus

walrus — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 03:40:15 -0800

Dulce Et Decorum Est Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of disappointed shells that dropped behind. GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And floundering like a man in fire or lime.-- Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,-- My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. -Wilfred Owen.

By: taratan

taratan — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 05:07:57 -0800

I'm not sure how many soldiers of WW2 are still alive today, but all would be over 70 years old (assuming they were conscripted or joined the army at 18 years old). For them and the close relatives of the dead soldiers, the war memorials and special day of remembrance are still a significant part of their lives. Together, we can do well to remember that "[ Remembrance Day] ..represents something honourable - an observance for those whose lives were shockingly abbreviated for their community's sake - but it misses the point if it does not also instigate a hard, penetrating look at war and the meaning of war, aimed at making us resolute for peace, and as resolute in fighting when fighting is a genuinely necessary and unavoidable act of self protection. Remembrance Day would, in such circumstances, be even more pointful - not least because it is what the dead of past wars thought they were dying for.".