2 minutes silence

[Board Game Geek]

I bought a poppy the other week, like I always do, and popped a donation in the box, affixed it to my lapel, and carried on business as usual.

Same old routine, year in, year out.

I mean, I know what the poppy is meant to mean, it means "rememberance".

So I wear my poppy, just like everyone else does.

Same old routine, year in, year out.

Until this year.

You see, I took my jacket off rather awkwardly, and managed to p r i c k my finger on the poppy pin.

I examined by finger, and there on the tip was a small drop of bright, red blood.

My blood.

It matched the colour of the poppy perfectly.

And I sat down, shocked, as I realised that all my hurt and pain paled in to insignificance compared to the sheer amount of blood lost in the various wars that have passed and are in progress.

And I thought of those who had fought against their will, those who had fought gladly, those who had died in abject horror and suffering, and those who had emerged the other side, hollow and forlorn, broken and battered.

And I looked at my drop of blood and thought, "I cannot even begrudge you this, without complaint and anguish" and then I realised that the poppy means many things to many people. Not just rememberance, or suffering, or gratitude.

For me, it means all these things and more, but above all, it means sacrifice.

A life given, whether willingly or not, morally right or not, fairly or not.

A life given where I would not give my own.

Thus I wear my poppy to remember all these things, including my own shame.

[Alf W]

I bet the Meleneus observed the 2 minute silence.

He probably thinks the tunnel is nearly finished as well.

I bet Menelaus' tunnel is truly finished by now!

[Cowboy Bob]

Baaaaa

[Churchill]

I bought a poppy the other week, like I always do, and popped a donation in the box, affixed it to my lapel, and carried on business as usual.

Same old routine, year in, year out.

I mean, I know what the poppy is meant to mean, it means "rememberance".

So I wear my poppy, just like everyone else does.

Same old routine, year in, year out.

Until this year.

You see, I took my jacket off rather awkwardly, and managed to p r i c k my finger on the poppy pin.

I examined by finger, and there on the tip was a small drop of bright, red blood.

My blood.

It matched the colour of the poppy perfectly.

And I sat down, shocked, as I realised that all my hurt and pain paled in to insignificance compared to the sheer amount of blood lost in the various wars that have passed and are in progress.

And I thought of those who had fought against their will, those who had fought gladly, those who had died in abject horror and suffering, and those who had emerged the other side, hollow and forlorn, broken and battered.

And I looked at my drop of blood and thought, "I cannot even begrudge you this, without complaint and anguish" and then I realised that the poppy means many things to many people. Not just rememberance, or suffering, or gratitude.

For me, it means all these things and more, but above all, it means sacrifice.

A life given, whether willingly or not, morally right or not, fairly or not.

A life given where I would not give my own.

Thus I wear my poppy to remember all these things, including my own shame.

A beautiful sentiment.

He defends me because I have the backbone to tell the truth, against the braindead masses who like robots follow a yearly ritual without thought. Maybe if you had a pair of stones like me then you'll start to think for yourself. However I doubt a misery guts like you will ever grow a spine.

Your opinion is not necessarily "the truth".

[sasguru]

I am pleased you find it hard to understand because, trust me, if you had friends or family who were intimately involved you would know exactly why this day is important to people (and no, it has nothing to do with "brainwashing").

And I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even you.

You do talk some absolute bollux, eh?

[sasguru]

Bollards, as usual from you. My family have a long tradition in the army and never went for this remembrance malarkey. It's an emotional thing, not a logical one, IMO. I don't think it accomplishes anything much for the positive, but fair play if people want to remember these things and do ceremonies, etc, but let others have their own (probably more logical) view too. Emotions are so often a force for evil.

It happens every year on here. Someone dares to speak out against the status quo and makes himself such an easy target that eventually someone, you in this instance I believe, comes out of the woodwork to begin the lynching. Diesel is probably the bravest of the lot of you.

-- Disgusted from Tunbridge Wells.

WHS ++
Plenty of armchair warriors around.

[sasguru]

A beautiful sentiment.



.

A sentimental sentiment, more like.

[EternalOptimist]

Plenty of armchair warriors around.

hey some of us are the real McCoy.
I often spend a minute reflecting on the three guys I have sent to meet their maker.

I really, really should have worn a condom

[cailin maith]

WHS ++
Plenty of armchair warriors around.

Plenty of tosspots on this forum who think their opinion is more valid than someone elses and if it's not agreed with, it makes them morons, cretins or sheep.

Typical CUK gobtulipes.

[sasguru]

Plenty of tosspots on this forum who think their opinion is more valid than someone elses ...

Indeed - plenty on this thread who put people on ignore, call people disgusting etc. etc. just because they hear a different opinion