Forum menu
I will be, remembering the courage of those that fought and died for our country.
Early night?
Yep, turning the lights off and sticking a tea light in a window at the front of the house.
Yes
10? Thought it was 11?
Candle in the window. All other lights off. Think its really important.
Candle in the Wind.
Sorry - do I have my anniversaries mixed up?
10 till 11 apparently, wasn't aware but am now 😀
Yup, lights will be off, curtains shut, tissues at the ready... 😳
A lot easier to turn the lights off for a good cause these days, what with kindles and the telly.
Yes.
I would but as I go to bed at 10, I'd be a bit uncomfortable leaving a lit candle in the window near curtains.
I think it's important but might do mine from 9 until 10.
I really don't see the point, it's not as if it will make any difference.
it's not as if it will make any difference.
Well you can choose to remember those who died during WW1, or you can choose not to. That's the difference.
I see the point.
[quote=ernie_lynch ]
it's not as if it will make any difference.
Well you can choose to remember those who died during WW1, or you can choose not to. That's the difference.
I can remember them without making insignificant gestures.
There's a lot of dickheadish behaviour in the UK at the moment so it's good for the soul for people to join together and do something thoughtful IMO
My GF just asked if your still allowed the tele on?
I can remember them without making insignificant gestures.
The Royal British Legion suggestion that lights are turned off from 10pm to 11pm and candles lit instead sounds quite significant to me, specially if everyone does it.
Of course no one has to do it if they don't want to.
No, I will give it a miss. Do you always mark the anniversary of the start of the war(s)?
It's certainly not a celebration, as others have indicated. I'll offer thoughts.
scotroutes, thanks for that, think I heard that first on John Peel's show many many years ago.. wasn't it an Eric Bogle tune? .. yes, thought so..
Well you can choose to remember those who died during WW1, or you can choose not to. That's the difference.
I can remember them just fine on my own terms without resorting to token gestures with tea lights in order to make myself feel better.
That said, it's probably a sound environmental move. Maybe we should make it mandatory every day.
Do you always mark the anniversary of the start of the war(s)?
The significance of this centenary commemoration of the start of WW1 suggests that no, we don't "always mark the anniversary of the start of wars". Most years the anniversary is ignored.
Was there a need to ask ?
Moreover,
Are you going to switch off the lights and sit in a quiet hour's remembrance, or are you going to do it and think "well, this is shit" and watch Big Brother until 11pm?
One is significantly more appropriate than the other. If you're just going to tick a box so that you can say you've done it and take the moral high ground, you might as well not bother.
I can remember them just fine on my own terms without resorting to token gestures
Presumably you feel that other people can't ? Why's that ?
Yes, I wanted to know.
My GF just asked if your still allowed the tele on?
Well?
Yes, I wanted to know.
You thought this might happen every year ? 🙂
Presumably you feel that other people can't ? Why's that ?
I don't feel anything of the sort, why do you presume anything (beyond spoiling for an argument)?
The OP's question was "are you turning off your lights", not "what do you think everyone else should do?" I couldn't give a tuppenny toss what anyone else does with their evening. If you want to sit in the dark desperately ticking off the minutes till you can put the lights back on having "done your bit" (whatever than means) then more power to your elbow.
and take the moral high ground
Indeed Cougar.
.
EDIT : [i]"I couldn't give a tuppenny toss what anyone else does with their evening."[/i]
You sound angry Cougar, there's no need to be, no one is forcing you to do anything.
I think an hour of my time silently contemplating the horror of war, the sacrifice of life and wondering what I may have done in that situation will be most worthwhile.
Impressed by some of the interviews and readings currently on bbc, it is a sobering experience and transcends soundbites and tokenism.
No, I thought that some people or groups might mark the date every year, I've never known anyone to. Seems strange to do it just because it's been a hundred years, yet not any other years.
You sound angry Cougar
There you go with that presuming again.
I'm not going to rise to you, Ernie. Of all the threads, this isn't really the place for an STW pissing contest.
You do what you want. I may or may not be turning out the lights, I've not decided yet. But if I do, it'll be to think long and hard about our history, rather than because the media have decided that if we do some token gesture we can absolve ourselves of guilt and responsibility until the next anniversary.
[i]The Royal British Legion suggestion that lights are turned off from 10pm to 11pm and candles lit instead sounds quite significant to me, specially if everyone does it.[/i]
Significant? What, that someone, somewhere came up with an idea that no one else did?
A bit like the discussion at work where they said that we were marking when Germany declared war on us and we had the first blackout.
I suggested that they read-up on their history a bit...
I imagine the Fire Brigade are chuffed to bits, that everyone is going to be pissing about with candles at 10pm.
If they're actually pissing about it might be less dangerous.
The Royal British Legion suggestion that lights are turned off
I didn't know that - I'd like to retract the 'media' reference in my previous comment, sorry.
This is the first I have heard of it. I have a tea light burning in my oil burner so I guess that's my contribution.
TopTip: if you don't have a tea light handy, just leave a ciggie lit and stood on its end in the window. It should last a while smouldering on its own. Try not to fall asleep and that should keep the Fire Brigade happy.
Probably not coz I need to work and watch telly. 🙄
Today is a pretty historical day all over. Surely for those of you who might not wish to remember the 100 years since we declared war on Germany you could instead chose to remember the program Highway to Heaven which aired for the last time this day on 1989? Or, who could not find the passion to remember the poor seagull whom New York Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield killed during warm up for a game in 1983? Some people are heartless bastards.
I'll be lighting a candle tonight.
I probably won't be turning off my lights for the whole hour but I will pause for a moment to think about what it means to me and the sacrifices people made.
To me thats the whole point of it; getting people to stop and think for a moment, understand and remember the significance of what happened. If you choose to do that a different way then I have no problem. But if you're just going to sit counting the minutes as token gesture then I'd don't see the point.
you could instead chose to remember the program Highway to Heaven which aired for the last time this day on 1989?
This isn't on TV anymore?
No,
But I will be having a quiet moment of reflection on my own just as I do on November 11 every year.
On a similar vein
Am I the only 1 who thinks it is highly hypocritical of the worlds leaders to make a big thing of remembering those who gave their lives in the war to end all wars while still sending more men to fight and die in wars all round the world ?
You cant go through any village without seeing a list of names. In the Irish club in Huddersfield I noted 4 and 5 family surnames. I dont want my sons generation etc to go through anything similar.
Such acts keeps remeberance alive and just maybe we dont repeat. Although none of it affected me. I remember my Great Grandfather and loss in our family.
The basic test I apply is 'is the world a better place for it afterwards' and I can't see it passing that one. Be much better if they asked you to donate £1 to charity, that would make actually make a difference.
rene59 - Member
No, I will give it a miss. Do you always mark the anniversary of the start of the war(s)?
No, mainly because this is the first time that the start of the First World War occurred exactly one hundred years ago.
A number that I would have thought the significance of might actually mean something.
Perhaps it's just me, then.
And yes, I'll put a light in the window.
[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5555/14830245005_ffd9cd3f27_o.jp g" target="_blank">
[img][url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14827168351_8668eb9dd3_o.jp g" target="_blank">
This is my family grave, in Slaughterford churchyard. The pocketknife is in my pocket as I write this.
I suppose this is just tokenism, though.
If you get a few mins, eg from 10-11pm, then you might like to watch some of the Great War Diaries (interviews) on iPlayer. Humbling beyond imagination.
Look out of your (roughly south-facing) window at 22:26 and you might catch the ISS passing overhead
I hope they're turning their lights off.
Had that Harry down here today to open another mawkish example of this country doing the wrong thing, celebrating an event caused by it's slavish obsequeince to the very Monarchy that caused the conflagration, so no i won't be joining you thanks just the same.
My Grandad did his bit, got kicked in the face by a horse struggling with a Gun carriage and disfigured his entire life. He didn't want to go, but it was considered un patriotic and folk who didn't had their lives made unbearable by the masses of servants of a class system that imprisoned the bourgeois.
Nothing to celebrate, nothing heroic about that War and today people are still suffering it's consequence, sometimes the manipulation of events makes me sick to the stomach.
Yes got the tea light lanterns ready.
Cougar - Moderator
I hope they're turning their lights off.
If you don't want to do it or don't agree with it, then don't do it.
No need to make sarcastic comments about it.
It comes across (to me at least) that you are belittling what other people are doing by making light (pun not intended) of it and that 'your way' is somehow superior....
Nahh ... you lot with scientific minds ... no wonder the death is suffering.
If you really want to remember them do some good deeds and dedicate the good deeds (merits) you have done (in your heart by thinking of them or mind whatever) to the departed. You don't have to wait for today to do this but rather everyday of your life.
Try it.
🙄
It comes across (to me at least) that you are belittling what other people are doing
I didn't mean to belittle anything, and I'm sorry if it came across that way. I was aiming for amusing rather than sarcastic. YMMV.
I have many failings, but a superiority complex really isn't one of them. Quite the opposite generally. My only point originally was that it's important to do things for the right reasons rather than as a box-ticking exercise.
Cougar - ModeratorIt comes across (to me at least) that you are belittling what other people are doing
I didn't mean to belittle anything, and I'm sorry if it came across that way. I was aiming for amusing rather than sarcastic. YMMV.
I have many failings, but a superiority complex really isn't one of them. Quite the opposite generally. My only point originally was that it's important to do things for the right reasons rather than as a box-ticking exercise.
No need to beat yourself up ... nobody is perfect and we are all zombie maggots. 😯
I've just stole the last candle we have in the house from my daughters room. Its one of those nice smelly ones from ikea, she wasn't happy, I explained why, afterwards she was adamant that said candle was lit but I wasn't to burn the blinds in the window. I like that she cared and felt the sentiment behind it. That'll do me!
S'alright, Cougar.
I understand the sentiment about a box ticking exercise, but to me this kind of thing is a show of solidarity people can use to show that they are remembering and that they are grateful for the sacrifice of others.....
Just a shame that there is a requirement to remember, really. Currently reading 'Hitler's War on Russia' and the number of deaths on all side is tragic.
Is Ikea still open to buy some tea lights?
Best take a torch
tea light app?
[i]You do what you want. I may or may not be turning out the lights, I've not decided yet. But if I do, it'll be to think long and hard about our history, rather than because the media have decided that if we do some token gesture we can absolve ourselves of guilt and responsibility until the next anniversary[/i]
Oh dear, someone seems to be wide of the mark...
[i]I didn't mean to belittle anything, and I'm sorry if it came across that way. [b]I was aiming for amusing[/b] rather than sarcastic. YMMV.
I have many failings, but a superiority complex really isn't one of them. Quite the opposite generally. My only point originally was that it's important to do things for the right reasons rather than as a box-ticking exercise.
[/i]
Your response is insensitive, crass and an example of why you and Drac have had your time, moderating this forum. Of course, its not my call, Chips and Mark get that decision and they appear too lazy to recruit new, fresh, unbiased recruits to the moderator ranks of the STW forum.
But of course, you, like others appear to have over looked the point. Yes, war was declared on this day, one hundred years ago. However, on this day, one hundred years ago, our forefathers plunged headlong into what was at the time, quite possibly man's best effort at creating the hell on this here earth, which was to become WW1.
And so, one hundred years later, if for no other reason, I should never forget their sacrifice, indeed, I for one, deeply appreciate it, while also lamenting it.
Oh dear, someone seems to be wide of the mark...
To be straight, I also thought it was a bit strong and pretty much belittling anyone else's motives for joining in but then it was explained that it was not intended to be so. Solo, sometimes folk write stuff here that gets taken the wrong way. [i]Most[/i] times they're not even big and ugly enough to take it back whereas in this case, at least an apology has been offered to anyone who misunderstood. These threads are bitchy enough without turning it into your own anti-mod polemic couched within a post extolling your own motives for remembrance.
Leave it out for once.
Hammer?????
Lights off, candle lit. We must never forget....
[quote=Solo ] Of course, its not my call, Chips and Mark get that decision and they appear too lazy to recruit new, fresh, unbiased recruits to the moderator ranks of the STW forum.Like you?
Lights off, candle lit. We must never forget....
Checking the news, I think we forget all too easily.
Like you?
Whilst I'm quietly snarling at Solo's post, might I suggest we leave that particular discussion for a different thread.
8.5 million solders died. 8.5 million.
Think about that number rather than your petty arguments.
Yes, as a mark of respect.
[quote=Cougar ]
Like you?
Whilst I'm quietly snarling at Solo's post, might I suggest we leave that particular discussion for a different thread.
[img]
[/img]
I like the idea of turning out the lights. My lights are out. It doesn't matter how you remember/honour the sacfrices of millions, as long as we don't forget them.
No, mainly because this is the first time that the start of the First World War occurred exactly one hundred years ago.
A number that I would have thought the significance of might actually mean something.
Perhaps it's just me, then.
And yes, I'll put a light in the window.
I don't get it. What is the most significant event then? The start of the war or that a hundred years have passed since?
If the former then why not mark it every year? If the latter then why of all the things to mark a hundred years passing of do you choose the start of the war?
Celebrate the anniversary of the end (and never forget)?
[i]8.5 million solders died. 8.5 million.
Think about that number rather than your petty arguments.
[/i]
What about the others, the 7 million civilians?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties
And then we had the 'flu', another 50-100 million...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu
Love the way people on here try to make themselves look super intelligent by putting the opposite view across. Ha ha
Its about remembering those that died on all sides. Not whether it as wrong or right.
Its important we dont forget it reminds us of the horror.
Stop using it to big yourself up with your abstract self important twaddle
[quote=rene59]
If the former then why not mark it every year? If the latter then why of all the things to mark a hundred years passing of do you choose the start of the war? That would be during the next parliament.
I've lit a candle as a mark if respect lights are off but watching ww1 program on the telly, couldn't give a toss if I get flamed for not sitting in the dark, my grandad served in WW1 and got wounded 7 times and he died in 1974. He had to move to the Uk to get a job as he was Irish fighting for the British.
Just a bit of a gap in my knowledge, did the UK really declare war at 10pm?
The reality is its a very sobering thought that it was the start of so many men being lost, but I do find turning the lights out and lighting a candle a bit odd. But if it helps make it a more poignant moment for some then fair enough I guess.
What does it for me was the very old Grandad who used to visit his Grandchildren next door to where I lived as a kid (this going back more than 30 years) he was in a tank in the 1st World War, and of course tanks are fun for 10 year old boys.
We knew he was in a tank, we knew he was in battles, but one days I asked him what he did, and did he kill many Germans, his face changed, and he just said it was not something that any young boy should have to do or see again.
At aged 10 ish I didnt take it onboard. Now as an adult I never forgot his eyes and face in that one moment, the look of sadness/terror/pain he could not share.
Quite frankly lighting a tea light is taking the pee a bit.
11pm, midnight central european time