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As much as I'm impressed by the man himself, I completely agree. This glorification of war is not exactly healthy, at least not to me. Currently living in Cana

As much as I'm impressed by the man himself, I completely agree. This glorification of war is not exactly healthy, at least not to me. Currently living in Canada, it was Remembrance day a couple of months ago and I told some of my friends that it made me feel uncomfortable, which wasn't particularly well received. TV would show and tell about "glorious" moments of war, people would gather to remember the heroes who lost their lives or their limbs (in war, any soldier on the winning side is apparently a hero, as for the losing side...), and so on. It's not that I don't feel bad for all those who lost something throughout wars, I honestly do and it pains me. However these traditions we have instill the idea that war is not just ok, it's something to be proud of. That having countless people on one side or the other end up as canon fodder is not just ok, it's part of the game. The ironic beauty of History is that everybody has their own version... in the right light, and with enough time passed, it seems like any war could be the pinnacle of honor. Some wars may be necessary but I'd argue that the vast majority aren't. Also a favorite of mine on the subject: http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/synopsis/articles/29-The-Great-Dictator-s-Speech http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/synopsis/articles/29-The-Gr...

jpollock 12y ago
I think you're doing the holiday a disservice. I recommend attending one of the services. One of my most memorable experiences growing up was attending a Remembrance Day ceremony at one of the military cemeteries. There is nothing like standing silently surrounded by Canadian headstones from all walks of life as Last Post is played to remind you that war has a definite cost. It still makes me emotional.
jpollock 12y ago
I think you're doing the holiday a disservice. I recommend attending one of the services. One of my most memorable experiences growing up was attending a Remembrance Day ceremony at one of the military cemeteries. There is nothing like standing silently surrounded by Canadian headstones from all walks of life as Last Post is played to remind you that war has a definite cost. It still makes me emotional.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  Vonnegut's take on it in Breakfast of Champions seems right: "I will come to a time in my backwards trip when November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day. When I was a boy, and when Dwayne Hoover was a boy, all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind. Armistice Day has become Veterans’ Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans’ Day is not. So I will throw Veterans’ Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don’t want to throw away any sacred things. What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance. And all music is." --- The celebration of the armistice is sacred. The jingoism that has been introduced since is utterly profane.

jpollock 12y ago

I think you're doing the holiday a disservice. I recommend attending one of the services. One of my most memorable experiences growing up was attending a Remembrance Day ceremony at one of the military cemeteries. There is nothing like standing silently surrounded by Canadian headstones from all walks of life as Last Post is played to remind you that war has a definite cost. It still makes me emotional.

jpollock 12y ago

lotsofmangos 12y ago
Vonnegut's take on it in Breakfast of Champions seems right: "I will come to a time in my backwards trip when November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day. When I was a boy, and when Dwayne Hoover was a boy, all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind. Armistice Day has become Veterans’ Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans’ Day is not. So I will throw Veterans’ Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don’t want to throw away any sacred things. What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance. And all music is." --- The celebration of the armistice is sacred. The jingoism that has been introduced since is utterly profane.