[andyt]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/christie-blatchford/best-we-forget-the-oprah-ization-of-remembrance-day/article1797577/

$1:

Such overweening sadness, and certainly such pretentiousness, is not my experience of soldiers, modern or old, or even of the families of the fallen.

$1:

My memories of my time as an embedded reporter with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and The Royal Canadian Regiment 1st Battalion in Kandahar are of young men and women with a sense of purpose I envied, straight shooters always, who rarely spoke the hyperpatriotic language so in fashion now.

$1:

I cannot help but imagine that as glad as [soldiers] might be for civilian Canada’s current devotion to “supporting the troops” – if only because it is far less unpleasant than the dark days of the Canadian Forces when soldiers occasionally would be spit upon – they would have little stomach for the witless sappiness that has been in the air all week.

Comments from the military types on this forum?

[martin14]

$1:

And if you really must say thanks to a veteran, send him over a damn drink and shut up

Nuff said.

[Chumley]

Pretty much agree. There is a danger of remembrance day becoming too hyped, to the point where it becomes syrupy sweet.
The vets appreciate the thanks but I don't think anyone feels comfortable being fawned over.

[raydan]

Chumley Chumley:

Pretty much agree. There is a danger of remembrance day becoming too hyped, to the point where it becomes syrupy sweet.
The vets appreciate the thanks but I don't think anyone feels comfortable being fawned over.

Especially those old drill sargents.

[Chumley]

raydan raydan:

Chumley Chumley:

Pretty much agree. There is a danger of remembrance day becoming too hyped, to the point where it becomes syrupy sweet.
The vets appreciate the thanks but I don't think anyone feels comfortable being fawned over.

Especially those old drill sargents.

[Zipperfish]

Christie Blatchford? Hack of the first degree. If Remebrance Day gets Oprahfied, she's got herself to blame.

[Freakinoldguy]

If Veterans served because of the need for attention, we'd all be speaking a foreign language now.

A heartfelt "thanks" is enough for most.

[Gunnair]

Concur. Too much syrup for me.

[MacDonaill]

There is also the risk of backlash. Once something becomes corny, young people tend to notice it and find it repugnant. If we want to protect the memory of those fallen, we need to treat it with a lot less gaudiness.

[Gunnair]

MacDonaill MacDonaill:

There is also the risk of backlash. Once something becomes corny, young people tend to notice it and find it repugnant. If we want to protect the memory of those fallen, we need to treat it with a lot less gaudiness.

True. Long time no see and welcome back!

[andyt]

That's what I see the danger is in all the support the troops stuff. It's used to shut down anti-war opinions, gets manipulated by the Cheney/Bush/Roves/Harpers. Sooner or later that's going to backfire.

[Gunnair]

andyt andyt:

That's what I see the danger is in all the support the troops stuff. It's used to shut down anti-war opinions, gets manipulated by the Cheney/Bush/Roves/Harpers. Sooner or later that's going to backfire.

I don't think it is at all. What people want the anti-war movement to remember is not to focus their ire on the troops themselves. They're there because they've been ordered to go and they need all the support they can get. Focus instead on the people that sent them there.

My concern is that is when they use Remembrance Day as a marketing gimmick - like Tim Horten's or Crappy Tire. The second Remembrance Day becomes corporate (and it's close) is the day it really loses its meaning.

[andyt]

Gunnair Gunnair:

andyt andyt:

That's what I see the danger is in all the support the troops stuff. It's used to shut down anti-war opinions, gets manipulated by the Cheney/Bush/Roves/Harpers. Sooner or later that's going to backfire.

I don't think it is at all. What people want the anti-war movement to remember is not to focus their ire on the troops themselves. They're there because they've been ordered to go and they need all the support they can get. Focus instead on the people that sent them there.

My concern is that is when they use Remembrance Day as a marketing gimmick - like Tim Horten's or Crappy Tire. The second Remembrance Day becomes corporate (and it's close) is the day it really loses its meaning.

I don't know how often I've heard that if you question the war in Astan you're not supporting the troops. The US was big on that with Iraq as well. That isn't what Blatchford is talking about, but I see it as part and parcel of the same thing.

[SprCForr]

MacDonaill MacDonaill:

...we need to treat it with a lot less gaudiness.

Less gaudiness, I agree.

[Chumley]

Gunnair Gunnair:

My concern is that is when they use Remembrance Day as a marketing gimmick - like Tim Horten's or Crappy Tire. The second Remembrance Day becomes corporate (and it's close) is the day it really loses its meaning.

I went to one where a lots of people laying wreaths had the name of thier business announced as they laid it. I appreciate that you appreciate the troops, but it sounded like an advertising campaign.