Paxman/ WW1 Commemoration

[Jonone]

"Only a moron would 'celebrate' the war," he added"

Isn't that what tends to happen ? I think there will be a lot of moronic behaviour.

[randyandy]

Only a tool would believe "that is what tends to happen".

[Jonone]

In the world according to randyandy, evidently so. Fortunately that's not my world.

[bernard72]

I think we should commemorate the start of the war, but celebrate the end of the war.
And also realise that on that Christmas day when the guns fell silent, and the battle weary troops from both sides came out of the trenches to play a game of football, that second goal by the Germans was miles off-side and should never have been given.

[frankthring]

Your point is a good one Bernard. I must admit that I never understand why
such major - and harrowing events - as WWI get a blast of publicity for the
start, while we ought to be grateful for the day the damned thing ended.
Personally, if one is going to recall all that death and suffering it ought to be
in 2016, the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, when we lost
60,000 dead and wounded on the first day alone ! I would march every
bloody politician to the Cenotaph and lecture the Blairs and Camerons and
all the rest of them on what happens when they send lads to fight and die in
some foreign field while they sit snug at home prattling on about honour and
just causes abroad.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Lost my great Uncle at the ripe old age of 18 at Ypres. Blown to bits by a German shell. Nothing at all to "celebrate"...

[Panties]

I think it's worth remembering the start of WW1 but not celebrating and I don't think anyone has suggested that as far as I can see. The start of the Great War completely changed the world.

My grandfather served on the Western Front and in Palestine with Allenby. One of my great uncles had emigrated to Canada and served with the Canadian Corps leaving a leg on Vimy Ridge. Another great uncle was a regular and one of the Old Contemptibles so called who were part of the original BEF, he survived the war without a scratch but as he said he was never the same again.

It's worth remembering the outburst of national feeling and patriotism that the populations of Western Europe showed on the outbreak that enabled the conflict to continue despite the huge bloodletting it became with vast numbers coming forward to enlist, hoping it wouldn't be all over by Xmas!

Certainly by WW2 there was a much more resigned and reluctant approach with everyone remembering what happened before.