[ShepherdsDog]

Gunnair Gunnair:

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Gunnair Gunnair:

No. The freedom vets fought for means the freedom to not have to be forced to go to Remembrance Day ceremonies.

This ain't rocket science.

Precisely.

These men and women died for us to have the ability to be completely and utterly disrespectful of their sacrifice.

I'll assume here that you are being sincere in your agreement and not sarcastic and I'll bite my tongue in the snotty retort.

[Gunnair]

[OnTheIce]

Gunnair Gunnair:

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Gunnair Gunnair:

No. The freedom vets fought for means the freedom to not have to be forced to go to Remembrance Day ceremonies.

This ain't rocket science.

Precisely.

These men and women died for us to have the ability to be completely and utterly disrespectful of their sacrifice.

I'll assume here that you are being sincere in your agreement and not sarcastic and I'll bite my tongue in the snotty retort.

Snotty retort, from you?

Coming from a CF guy, I'm surprised you find this remotely acceptable.

I don't.

[Gunnair]

Yeah, as a CF guy I don't like it, but coming from a military family who had vets in the war and having served myself for 26 plus years I appreciate the freedoms they fought for and won't buy into the righteous indignation of the loudmouths who would remove freedoms and force people to do things against their will.

I should expect you support compulsory military service so everyone has a hand in preserving freedom.

[OnTheIce]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Yeah, as a CF guy I don't like it, but coming from a military family who had vets in the war and having served myself for 26 plus years I appreciate the freedoms they fought for and won't buy into the righteous indignation of the loudmouths who would remove freedoms and force people to do things against their will.

I should expect you support compulsory military service so everyone has a hand in preserving freedom.

Children are forced to do things during their entire school life. Concerts, assemblies and many other things. Imagine the uproar of parents of certain children of different races and cultures started to opt out of certain activities such as Black History Month.

I would think that spending 1/2 hour per year to honour and respect the people who made this place one that you can live free within, should be without question.

[Gunnair]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Gunnair Gunnair:

Yeah, as a CF guy I don't like it, but coming from a military family who had vets in the war and having served myself for 26 plus years I appreciate the freedoms they fought for and won't buy into the righteous indignation of the loudmouths who would remove freedoms and force people to do things against their will.

I should expect you support compulsory military service so everyone has a hand in preserving freedom.

Children are forced to do things during their entire school life. Concerts, assemblies and many other things. Imagine the uproar of parents of certain children of different races and cultures started to opt out of certain activities such as Black History Month.

I would think that spending 1/2 hour per year to honour and respect the people who made this place one that you can live free within, should be without question.

Well it is questioned. That's what freedom allows.

You and I don't have to like it, but we'd better damned well respect it - especially when trumpeting about the freedom that vets fought for.

[OnTheIce]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Well it is questioned. That's what freedom allows.

You and I don't have to like it, but we'd better damned well respect it - especially when trumpeting about the freedom that vets fought for.

Sorry, but I don't respect what I consider disrespect.

[Gunnair]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Gunnair Gunnair:

Well it is questioned. That's what freedom allows.

You and I don't have to like it, but we'd better damned well respect it - especially when trumpeting about the freedom that vets fought for.

Sorry, but I don't respect what I consider disrespect.

Then you're not much into freedom I guess. You're more into the freedom to think like you.

[OnTheIce]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Then you're not much into freedom I guess. You're more into the freedom to think like you.

Freedom is a two way street, Gun.

Freedom doesn't mean one person has a point of view and all others must fall in line behind them. Just as these people are very much within their rights to pull their kids from these events, we are within our rights to disagree with them. I don't agree with it or respect their decision. I do respect their right to have a view, but I don't have to agree with it.

Where do we draw the line?

What if my son really isn't into math, can he just walk out every time they discuss math? What if a family is racist, can they just instruct their kids to stand in the hallway during any mention of black history?

[andyt]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

After years of crowd size at Remembrance Days increasing we're likely going to see a shift back to how it was in the 60's, 70's and early 80's where the only ones attending were the Veterans, Military, Civilians with Military involvement and the Protestors.

And Andy, since Remembrance Day is a Stat Holiday those kids won't be sitting in the classroom they'll be out playing and having a good time which will likely lead to more of them wanting to skip Remembrance Day Ceremonies.

Hell when I was organizing the services for the Greater Victoria Area, we had to make it a Class A event so Military not specifically involved would attend.

This whole story is much ado about nothing since it's a stat holiday in Alberta how can they make the kids attend or even check to see if they did and this would only be relevant if it took place in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick or Ontario where Remembrance Day isn't a stat.........not in freakin Edmonton?

Jesus FOG. You think anybody even considered forcing kids to attend Remembrance day ceremonies on Remembrance day? Why only kids? Let's get the army out and force the whole population to the ceremony at bayonet point.

The school has a ceremony on a school day. Those kids who choose not to attend have to sit quietly in class. I know what I'd do given the choice in that instance.

Here's what Lewis McKenzie had to say (from the OP):

$1:

But retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie, 71, says demanding every child adhere to a social standard is a slippery slope.

"It's unfortunate, but there are all kinds of factors, especially when related to religion," he said. "That's an understandable reaction but if it's in rare cases, it's not fair or just to make a big deal out of it."

He says he'd like to remind those who may have taken offence to the practice that "the youth these days pay great attention to veterans."

"They are making their decisions and that should be respected," MacKenzie said.

Students who don't attend their school's Remembrance Day ceremonies are required to remain in school and wait in silence, Sterling said.

[CDN_PATRIOT]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

I would think that spending 1/2 hour per year to honour and respect the people who made this place one that you can live free within, should be without question.

Spot on.

I make it a point to go to the Remembrance Day ceremony downtown every year, no matter the weather, or what day of the week it falls on. When I get around to having kids, they will be coming with me, and will know the true importance of the day and why the reflection of what our soldier did/do for us is so paramount.

When I was in high school many moons ago, it was compulsory for all students and staff alike (save a secretary or two) were present at the service. One hour a year is the very least we can do for our vets and our honoured dead.


-J.

[andyt]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Gunnair Gunnair:

Then you're not much into freedom I guess. You're more into the freedom to think like you.

Freedom is a two way street, Gun.

Freedom doesn't mean one person has a point of view and all others must fall in line behind them. Just as these people are very much within their rights to pull their kids from these events, we are within our rights to disagree with them. I don't agree with it or respect their decision. I do respect their right to have a view, but I don't have to agree with it.

Where do we draw the line?

What if my son really isn't into math, can he just walk out every time they discuss math? What if a family is racist, can they just instruct their kids to stand in the hallway during any mention of black history?

You should have stuck to your first sentence. What follows argues against it.

Apparently there are valid religious reasons for people not to attend the ceremony. I would think JW's would be among those. Why not give them the courtesy of allowing them to follow their beliefs? How does forcing somebody to pay respect engender real respect? That's what gangsta do, think their gun earns them respect.

[Unsound]

I agree that they should have the freedom to stay away from the ceremonies, but disagree with them sitting in silence. All students missing the ceremonies should be in a classroom attending learning a little bit about Canada's military history. A decent teacher could easily cover the basics of why we went to war and what it cost us in the time alotted. Parents of any type shouldn't be able to object to a history lesson, and I suspect the kids would actually prefer that to being stuck in a gym pretending to pay attention to yet another recitation of Flander's Fields and an amatuer performance of The Last Post.

[OnTheIce]

andyt andyt:

You should have stuck to your first sentence. What follows argues against it.

Apparently there are valid religious reasons for people not to attend the ceremony. I would think JW's would be among those. Why not give them the courtesy of allowing them to follow their beliefs? How does forcing somebody to pay respect engender real respect? That's what gangsta do, think their gun earns them respect.

Because it's bullshit.

Why not give the soldiers the courtesy and respect that have allowed them to live in a fantastic country like Canada?

We've been having Remembrance Day services for a very long time, all of a sudden it's against some "religion"? Bullshit.

Why is it that we as Canadians bend over to accommodate everyone while those we are accommodating do little to acknowledge or respect Canadian culture and values?

[andyt]

I'll take Unsound's solution. Enforced respect isn't respect anyway. Wonder how many parents who feel strongly about this just kept their kid out of school before they allowed kids the choice.

It's going back a ways, but I don't recall having Remembrance Day services in school. I thought that's what Remembrance Day was for.