Surely Jerry cannot be serious.

[wemyss]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10249760/Germany-intervenes-in-WW1-commemoration-debate.html.

I wonder what they shall expect of the 75th anniversary commemorations of the second half of

Comments

Every fifty, seventy-five, or hundred years, yes.

[wemyss]

Yearly, we - Britain, I mean, not merely England - solemnly commemorate our dead, lost to us in defending King, country, right, and international order against an aggressive and militaristic despotism.

On significant anniversaries, we also, although saddened by those losses, celebrate victory over those forces.

It's something of a habit. The Armada, Minden, Blenheim, Trafalgar, Waterloo, 1945....

Is this Protestantism?

[wemyss]

I know that there are numerous Protestant denominations that regard Holy Communion as merely a memorial. The C of E, largely, like Rome and the East, understands that 'celebration' is different to 'party!'. I suspect that is where the linguistic hang-up inheres. The fact is, there is a difference and ought to be between Remembrance Sunday and a celebration of victory: see my response to Kitty, infra.

On the other hand, if I am to read you literally, I take it you lot shall be toning down the Fourth of July from now on, then, and letting the Japanese arrange the observances in eight years of the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbour.

[germankitty]

Well, I can tell you one thing -- nobody here would even dare to think about 'celebrating' any kind of militaristic achievement. And that has very little to do with having lost both wars, but more with the fact that we've had our fill of militarism from 1933-45, thank you very much.

Nationalism has become a dirty word for us, and I'm perfectly fine with that; similarly, having a military is a necessary evil, and nothing to be particularly proud of. The traditions of 'Service families', as well as a too-strong adherence to and dependence on authority and hierachies in the whole populace, were a big part of the problem, enabling the rise and endurance of Nazism ... and since the Allies so kindly rid us of them, we're not at all keen on getting them back. Been there, done that. Thanks, but no thanks.

Maybe we've learned the lessons of WW II a bit too well, but I for one am glad about it.

(For the record, nobody here cares anymore about losing the 1966 World Cup to England, either! ;-))

[josephinestone]

(For the record, nobody here cares anymore about losing the 1966 World Cup to England, either! ;-))

LOL.

[germankitty]

Well, we don't -- it's the Brits who still make a Big Deal out of it! *grins*

Not all of us.

[wemyss]

If ever you become a Test cricketing nation, then things shall matter.

[shezan]

Screw you too, Angela.