As I drove around today and reflected on those who gave their lives I couldn't notice how jam packed the shopping malls were.
I am not sure why this bothers me so much but it does. I remember a time when the few stores that were actually open were allowed to sell bare essentials.
It seems for some reason this day means less and less each year.
I even had some ******* little kid ask me what the poppy was for. Unreal. I felt like kicking his teeth in.
Maybe someday rememberance day will be banned because it offends someone from a country that we fought against. Maybe not.
Is this bothering me more than it should be?
What was so important at the mall? It was business as usual.
For a brief moment I fantasized about randomly selecting a shopper and kicking their face in, giving them something to "remember".

 

i agree. I work in downtown Toronto, and every year I notice less and less poppies.
Very sad indeed.

 

I can live with less poppies. I wear mine proundly 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after rememberence day.
But when some kid has to ask why I am wearing a poppy that is simply not acceptable. Period.
I am continueing to lose faith in my fellow man.

 

I had to work today, ....There is a song by Sting called "Children's Crusade" (Dream of the Blue Turtles album) that always reminds me of what this day is about.

 

"The children of Englan would never be slaves......."
Great chourus, great song. Great albumn, awsome artist.
I love him, not in a gay way (not that there is anything wrong with that) but in a tough guy cool kind a way.

 

But isn't it up to us to educate those that don't remember? (Not that I myself "remember", but am the seed of parents who participated) Rather than being angry about it, use that energy to educate the uninformed!

 

Its not like I can walk into a mall and start preaching.
The irony is that most of the people in the mall dont give a **** about those who died.
If they did, they wouldnt be in a mall.
If our veterans didnt go to war we might not have the malls and quality of live we have.
As much as I love being Canadian and dont want to become too americanized, I think we can learn alot from them.
Drive through any town and you will see pride in their country. Flags everywhere, at sporting events they actually turn and face the flag for the anthem. They all seem to know the words too. They take off the hats, and dont talk during the anthem either.
You definately dont see that in Canada, at least not in Winnipeg.
I think that to go one day without shopping to honour those that died for us is a small price to pay for my freedom.
Its too bad that there are not many who agree.
Only 3 people responded to this thread so far. I guess everyone else was busy shopping too.

 

My little town seems more observant than ever before [I have lived here-from Toronto-about 30 years]...the cenotaph ceremonies downtown and in Oshawa are increasingly well-attended.

Our Camp X Historical Society held its 7th annual service of remembrance down on the cold, windswept lakefront, on the original Camp X site--or the 17acre park that remains of the original 275 acre property..full military presence thanks to 2 Military Intelligence Unit out of Downsview..RCMP, Durham Regionals and OPP in attendance as well.

Padre David spoke movingly of two Canadians, John Mc Allister and Frank Pickersgill, Rhodes Scholars, young, and brilliant, who as SOE agents were dropped into France, betrayed and captured, brutally tortured to force them to sent false radio messages back to England, which they steadfastly refused to do, then executed at Buchenwald.
Very solemn, dignified and dedicated to those two men and all others who gave their lives in 'the silent war', that as SOE chief, Sir Colin Gubbins said, "...was bloodier that the Somme." We were honoured that one of the few remaining CX vets was in attendance..

Now to my point, the site is on the major route taken by trucks going to or from GM, Oshawa..They hurtle along..unmindful and I submit, disrespectful of the ceremony's significance, which is fully visible from the roadway..really disturbing during the 2-minutes of silence..last year some fool/yahoo leaned on his horn at that moment..we have asked that traffic, be held back or pull over at 10:55 to 11:05 ,as is done in London, England, apparently,(today's Globe and Mail) but to no avail. On a positive note, the numbers in attendance has grown dramatically.. nearly 300 this year..

Thanks, Bean438 for starting this thread.. End of rant.

 

I was at work yesterday and no annocement was made. That kinda bothered me

 

What gets me is that all provinces except Quebec and Ontario it's a federal Holiday... I wasn't surprised at Quebec. but Ontario? Isn't that where Ottawa is (our capital)??? Get real. I was out but at 11 am an announcement was made and there was a minute of silence. The least that we can do.

 

^^^ we didn't have a min of slience ....

 

they did an announcement at my office, with a minute of silence. most respectfully sat in silence, but I could hear the odd dumbass still typing away or on the phone.
Only tremendous restraint kept me from walking over and smashing their keyboard over their head.

 

I agree with you 100% of this. It should be a federal holiday ESPECIALLY IN ONTARIO for the above reason stated and many more reasons.
I don't know where to begin on lack of respect issues that goes on in today's society.
For all of you Canadian's who fought and served. THANK-YOU!

 

If you weren't at the mall yourself, how did you notice how jam packed it was?

 

probably by the full parking lot.

 

As a former reservist, I spent 9 years doing the remembrance day ceremonies thing at my regiment. Yesterday, attending as a civilian, there were more people there than ever before. It was awesome.

Still though, you see people answering phones during the minute of silence, or during the ceremonies. Some people just don't get it I guess. I've always been troubled by seeing cars driving while the ceremonies are taking place, but I'm never troubled afterwards seeing people out and enjoying a day of freedom provided by the sacrifices made by our soldiers.

 

If there are enough people who care, this club (or those who participate) should organize a Nov 11th gathering with all their RX-8s next year. All the 8s in that region/city could get together, block off a section of a main road around 10:55am and let their engines loose to 9000rpms (neutral) for a minute before giving it complete silence (from the 8s at least - the rest will probably be honking, unless they get the message) for 2 minutes. And then the 8s could take off after that. Leaving the wail as a lasting message. The kicker is that someone should tip off the local news crew (hopefully with national coverage) a few days ahead with the location and time. That'll sure send a message.

 

^^^ I Like It ^^^^

 

Great idea. There is always next year.

 

Actually the mall was visible from the highway.
I am not amused by your tone, *******.