Let me begin with the fact that I am strongly against a minutes silence.
If we want to remember those who died at war then we must remember THEM ALL, that involves the ones killed by their own government for cowardice or treason because they did not want to fight and those killed fighting for the other side because if they didn't then they'd be killed for cowardice or treason, when if they go to war there's a chance of living. I think it's really hard to say what I'd do if I had a Family that needed me. AND yes remember the bad people too, for we must feel sorry for them that life in a world where the only solution to their problems that they can see is to blame and hurt others.
So what I've just said/written (if we're being pedantic which i often am) is certainly an opinion but not a reason to be "strongly against a minutes silence" (just a reason to be strongly against war) so here you are; my reasons:
For me personally there is nothing to remember in the silence. I know to listen to others and speak for what I believe in; not to be silent. Silences is the people who know what's going on is wrong but do not speak for fear. If you want to remember then don't be Silent listen, listen to the dead! There are many letters, works of poetry and photographs from the trenches out there, so listen, talk, discuss, use language for the greater good, and never be silent if you think something is wrong. SPEAK UP
A few links
If we want to remember those who died at war then we must remember THEM ALL, that involves the ones killed by their own government for cowardice or treason because they did not want to fight and those killed fighting for the other side because if they didn't then they'd be killed for cowardice or treason, when if they go to war there's a chance of living. I think it's really hard to say what I'd do if I had a Family that needed me. AND yes remember the bad people too, for we must feel sorry for them that life in a world where the only solution to their problems that they can see is to blame and hurt others.
So what I've just said/written (if we're being pedantic which i often am) is certainly an opinion but not a reason to be "strongly against a minutes silence" (just a reason to be strongly against war) so here you are; my reasons:
For me personally there is nothing to remember in the silence. I know to listen to others and speak for what I believe in; not to be silent. Silences is the people who know what's going on is wrong but do not speak for fear. If you want to remember then don't be Silent listen, listen to the dead! There are many letters, works of poetry and photographs from the trenches out there, so listen, talk, discuss, use language for the greater good, and never be silent if you think something is wrong. SPEAK UP
A few links
I finish my opinionated rant with a truly beautiful and terrible sad poem by Wilfred Owen
1 Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
2 Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
3 Till on the haunting flares we turned out backs,
4 And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
5 Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
6 But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;
7 Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
8 Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
9 Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!--An ecstasy of fumbling
10 Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
11 But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
12 And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.--
13 Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
14 As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
15 In all my dreams before my helpless sight
16 He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
17 If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
18 Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
19 And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
20 His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,
21 If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
22 Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs
23 Bitter as the cud
24 Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
25 My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
26 To children ardent for some desperate glory,
27 The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
28 Pro patria mori.
2 Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
3 Till on the haunting flares we turned out backs,
4 And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
5 Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
6 But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;
7 Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
8 Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
9 Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!--An ecstasy of fumbling
10 Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
11 But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
12 And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.--
13 Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
14 As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
15 In all my dreams before my helpless sight
16 He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
17 If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
18 Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
19 And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
20 His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,
21 If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
22 Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs
23 Bitter as the cud
24 Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
25 My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
26 To children ardent for some desperate glory,
27 The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
28 Pro patria mori.
Very eloquent and totally agree.
ReplyDeleteA well balanced piece!
ReplyDelete