tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396734193156790925.post2490291597894446660..comments2015-12-14T08:53:35.327+01:00Comments on Just Another Manic Sunday: The struggle of forgetting against memoryejhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396734193156790925.post-26252988614320361642015-12-07T13:17:38.061+01:002015-12-07T13:17:38.061+01:00I agree entirely.
In the late 80s I took part in ...I agree entirely.<br /><br />In the late 80s I took part in quite a few Remembrance Sunday parades when I was in Cubs and (briefly) Scouts. I always recall it as a time for commemmorating the victims of war, and there was no long build-up to the day or mass display of poppies, despite (or because of?) the fact that it wasn't long after the Falklands, soldiers were getting killed from time-to-time in Northern Ireland, and many more WWII veterans were still alive.<br /><br />As you suggest, the institution of permanent war has encoraged greater militarism, but I think the main factor in this state-sanctioned veneration of 'heroes' is the fact that it represents a desperate grab for the 'virtues' that made Britain a great power, at a time when the armed forces are coming in for constant depletion and Britain is making increasingly mad attempts not to be left out of the 'concert' of leading powers.<br /><br />I should also add that in everyday life there is no fuss about poppy-wearing, and most people don't bother. When it comes to public life and the media, however, the drive for conformism is incredible, and in this it represents many other issues that the media and the establishment consider much more important than ordinary people do.Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.com