Why?

[maggiebee]

This subject may have been raised before but I'm wondering why we're remembering/commemorating the start of WW1. Shouldn't it be the end of the war?

[Zacs-Master]

Why?

[kvalidir]

I think we're remembering it to honour those who died, not to glorify the fact it took place. From the start men volunteered because they genuinely believed it was their duty and that they could make a difference by their actions, so that is I assume why we commemorate the start?

[Svejk]

it'll be the start, middle and end, I'm sure.

[nungate]

I think we are commemorating it because it led to such upheaval not just in the UK but worldwide. We are still bearing the after effects of that conflict even now.

[boxtops]

Because it was a day which changed the world, for so many of us, IMO.

[stuey]

Even the Germans are joining in: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28609442

[gness]

Not only changed the world as Boxy says.....it was the day life was to change for so many young men and their families.....and an appropriate time to imagine, if we can, what they must have been feeling about their future.

[murraymints]

Lights out at 10pm ! Got my candle ready...have you ?...

[DTCwordfan]

This will be unpopular and I'm not decrying the celebrations today, let's be clear about that. Though, how many folk have ever thought two, three, four generations back, before today or in the last two days...?

What gets me is that this country has an unhealthy preoccupation with WW2 and now WW1. Just look at the TV for proof of this, all the war movies and documentaries, the fact that Dads Army and 'Allo, allo' etc remain popular. You don't get this elsewhere in the world. Yes to memorials on Veterans Days/Poppy Day etc but we should learn to move on.....take the lessons and the change implications and not wallow in the 'glory' of battle.

[Zacs-Master]

I don't think people are 'wallowing in the glory of battle' DT, quite the opposite i.e. Mourning the hundreds of thousands who died in the horror that is war.

[DTCwordfan]

maybe, but both - we should move on - and, no, I am not being a pacifist on this - just that this country is too pre-occupied with war at large.

[Zacs-Master]

It's in our National DNA DT. An island race invaded countless times, creating an Empire to rival any in history and then having the ultimate 'accolade' of winning two world wars to bolster our ego.

[Prudie]

DT I think it might have something to do with the fact that most people of all generations have a family connection with those who served in WW1 and WW2 plus dare I say it we were a feisty little country back then, it's part of the British culture to remember our part wars. Dare I say I seriously doubt such sacrifice would be made now.

[Peter Pedant]

It was an end, itself

a great change - which a few recognised at the time

[Zacs-Master]

Well put PP.

[Elina]

Murray , yes x

[Wharton]

maggiebee - I agree with you that it should be commemorating the end of the war and not the start, but what's the difference in the long run? "Lest We Forget" in any form.

murraymints - I've got my electric candle ready for 10.00 pm. I'm not allowed to to play with naked lights, or anything else naked for that matter :-)

[DTCwordfan]

I agree with your last line, Prudie, and I have sympathy for what Peter wrote there - it's just that I come at this as an 'internationalist' with all the travel that I have experienced, and into military conflict zones, and I don't think that we have found the right balance in learning from our history and personal heritage and then moving on positively, also not to repeat the same 'errors' that our predecessors made, as well as taking note of what was positive.

[DTCwordfan]

(lol @ wharton).....

[gness]

Wharton......☺☺☺...x