Did you stop for 2 minutes?

[Biker Mouse]

Too right I did! Stopped the van on the main road and got out and stood there for the whole 2 minutes! And I don't care who saw me or what they thought! Remember them!

In Flanders field the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~~By Major John McCrae, May 1915.

[RedBagMan]

Yes - bag down, hat off - two minutes on a main road (which was quieter than usual).

You have to ...

[DB1100]

I always stop and pay my respects and remember absent friends,I see the point of people wearing white poppies but I think it is wrong to wear them on the same day,remembrance day is to remember the fallen and honour them,pick another day for white poppy day.

[not me]

yes I did. fell perfectly for me as I had just replenished from a pouch box.
so i just stayed put where i was for the 2 minutes while listening on the radio
actually went by really fast.

[feduppostie]

yep found myself inside today and everyone there respected the full 2 mins on the loading bay

[kawoxux]

completely skipped my mind im sad to say I tend to get in "the zone" and dont even think about the time when delivering...

[Dorset Plodder]

Bloody right...set my alarm on my phone due to listening to MP3 player...lot easier if you've got a radio on! Solved the Poppy Problem by taping one to my skid lid! Some asshole in the office made a comment...just said, "What have you ever done for your Country"? .....Silence!

Two minutes to remember your mates, doesn't ask a lot does it?

[PhilthyPhil]

I arrived at the start of my round at 10.52 so waited in the van until 11.02 before i started so it was ten minuted silence for me. I deliver to a military base so I don't think it would have looked very good if I worked though it (not that I would).

[Tman]

Too right. All machines turned off for the two minutes.
{Shame some arse always has to try to make a quasi-political point re supporting current wars and campaigns, though }

[TeeferTiger]

I stopped for two minutes remembering those I knew who fought in the First or Second World War.
I no longer buy a poppy though as they are increasingly being seen as a symbol of support for this countries recent unjustified or illfated military adventures abroad.

I think they're increasingly used as misguided patriotism or a fashion symbol unfortunately :( Besides, you don't have to wear one to remember or pay your respects, a fact that a lot of people seem unable to grasp.

[taurus88]

I stopped for two minutes remembering those I knew who fought in the First or Second World War.
I no longer buy a poppy though as they are increasingly being seen as a symbol of support for this countries recent unjustified or illfated military adventures abroad.

I think they're increasingly used as misguided patriotism or a fashion symbol unfortunately :( Besides, you don't have to wear one to remember or pay your respects, a fact that a lot of people seem unable to grasp.

Just like you don't have to be quiet for two minutes on 11/11 to pay your respects, another fact that a lot of people seem unable to grasp.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Too right. All machines turned off for the two minutes.
{Shame some arse always has to try to make a quasi-political point re supporting current wars and campaigns, though }

Wasn't that the point of their sacrifice. Defending Freedom of Speech, you can't defend freedom of speech by only allowing one point of view, or deciding for them when and where its appropriate. Of course their sacrifice also defended your right to make such statements as calling someone arse because you don't agree them, or their actions.

[Tman]

"Freedom of Speech" isn't absolute by any means, and I'm more than happy to chat about current and past military campaigns. However, unless someone is autistic (or something similar) where they can't pick up on people's body language etc, or appreciate that it isn't an appropriate time, then during the two minutes silence really isn't the time or place for that argument.

It's bizarre that as an ex-serviceman you'd even think that the concept of FoS would "allow" someone to act like that, unless you just want to argue the toss too? No, surely not....

[TrueBlueTerrier]

"Freedom of Speech" isn't absolute by any means, and I'm more than happy to chat about current and past military campaigns. However, unless someone is autistic (or something similar) where they can't pick up on people's body language etc, or appreciate that it isn't an appropriate time, then during the two minutes silence really isn't the time or place for that argument.

It's bizarre that as an ex-serviceman you'd even think that the concept of FoS would "allow" someone to act like that, unless you just want to argue the toss too? No, surely not....

Whilst I would not interrupt the 2 minutes silence because for me it brings to mind specific events and friends, I believe that people have the right to air their political views. Even if I disagree with their position and method of protest, as long as its legal and non-violent, I don't believe I have the right to limit their Freedom of Speech.

Do I think they are being crass yes I do, but no more crass than calling someone an arse in a thread about remembrance. Neither is that bad, but both are, in my own view, inappropriate. However as neither are illegal then Yes I do believe both are allowed under MY definition of Freedom of Speech.

I conversely think its bizarre that as an ex-serviceman you would expect me to impose my own values on someone else. Ok I would prefer it if everyone observed the 2 minutes silence, but if someone doesn't, then why should I care, my own personal respect and remembrance for the fallen remains unaffected by the actions of others, and that's what really counts.

[TeeferTiger]

I stopped for two minutes remembering those I knew who fought in the First or Second World War.
I no longer buy a poppy though as they are increasingly being seen as a symbol of support for this countries recent unjustified or illfated military adventures abroad.

I think they're increasingly used as misguided patriotism or a fashion symbol unfortunately :( Besides, you don't have to wear one to remember or pay your respects, a fact that a lot of people seem unable to grasp.

Just like you don't have to be quiet for two minutes on 11/11 to pay your respects, another fact that a lot of people seem unable to grasp.

I forgot to add to the end of what I said (as I seem to be doing a lot these days-finishing off my sentences in my head ) that the comment was pretty much aimed at some people on another forum- which I ended up leaving last week after some bigots on there seemed unable to comprehend that if someone didn't want to wear a poppy, they shouldn't have to, in the context of being on first aid duty with St John Ambulance. Someone asked that what if one of their superior officers had told them they had to wear a poppy on duty for Remembrance Sunday otherwise they'd be sent home, and we were (trying to) have a intelligent discussion about it. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and it just descended into "If it wasn't for them, we'd all be speaking German", "You go tell that to those heroes out in Afghanistan at the moment" (and what are they fighting for?!) and "They died for your right to choose". The irony of the last argument was not lost on me... Unfortunately, it was on the person raising that point, despite many attempts to reason with them

We were trying to point out that people might not wear a poppy for a number of reasons, the symbol itself might be offensive to their culture, they might be pacifists, they might not agree with how the RBL are spending the money etc etc etc it doesn't mean they don't remember or respect those that fought in the first or second world wars. I often think about my great grandad and one of his sons who died and wish I'd asked my grandad about them

http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org. ... namesN.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;