Brits urged to turn out the lights for WW1 centenary, World leaders at WW1 centenary events in UK an - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76727000/jpg/_76727443_023369103-1.jpg[/img] [img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76726000/jpg/_76726373_de27.jpg[/img] [img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76727000/jpg/_76727441_de27.jpg[/img] [QUOTE][B]Royals and world leaders have gathered for ceremonies marking 100 years since Britain joined World War One.[/B]The Prince of Wales and David Cameron attended a service in Glasgow, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in Belgium with many heads of state. At that ceremony, Prince William paid tribute to the soldiers who "died to give us our freedom". The day concludes with a candle-lit vigil at Westminster Abbey and a "lights out" event around the UK. The public can join the switch-off ending at 23:00 - the time Britain declared war on Germany in 1914. About 17 million soldiers and civilians were killed between 1914 and 1918. [B]'Deadly days'[/B]The day's events began in Liege, Belgium, where 50 heads of state gathered for a service to mark the invasion of Belgium. French President Francois Hollande said the country had been the first battleground of WW1 and had offered "solid resistance" in Liege. "Deadly days" followed when French and British soldiers joined the conflict, he said. Speaking to the gathered European leaders, Prince William said: "We were enemies more than once in the last century and today we are friends and allies. "We salute those who died to give us our freedom. We will remember them." Meanwhile, the service at Glasgow Cathedral - attended by Prince Charles, Mr Cameron, First Minister Alex Salmond, and 1,400 others - heard from a number of Commonwealth figures. The BBC's Laura Bicker said Sunday's closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was being discussed by many before the service - but the celebrations were "put to one side" as the congregation took time to "remember and reflect". Prince Harry unveiled a memorial arch in Folkestone, Kent - where a parade followed the route taken by millions of soldiers who marched to the harbour to begin their voyage to France in WW1. The beautiful military cemetery at St Symphorien has been transformed. Across the boundary fence, in what is normally empty farmland, a great grandstand has risen, overlooking the graves of the first and the last British soldier to die in World War One. Cables snake around the gravestones of British and German soldiers, laid here side by side after the battles that raged around Mons on summer days in 1914. St Symphorien has become an arena, overlooked by a worldwide audience, where Monday evening's televised event will mark personal sacrifice and celebrate new friendships. Under the pine trees, David Wood had come to find the grave of his great-uncle, killed 10 days after arriving in Belgium, aged 23. Standing in front of the headstone with his daughter, Mr Wood said he was proud to be here on this anniversary. The families who have travelled here from Britain and Germany share those sentiments. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28632223[/url] [QUOTE][B]Prince Harry has unveiled a monument in Folkestone, where millions of men marched to boats taking them across the Channel to fight on the Western Front.[/B]The steel Memorial Arch was built as part of the[URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28632223"] commemorations marking 100 years[/URL] since Britain joined World War 1. The arch is at the top of a hill leading down to the harbour where boats awaited the troops. Hundreds of people walked along the route before the memorial was dedicated by the prince. [B]Step Short[/B]The prince also laid a wreath at the nearby war memorial. An estimated 10 million troops passed through Folkestone on their way to war. The steep downhill street is now named Road of Remembrance. The parade was organised by Shepway District Council and the charity Step Short, which is named after the order given to the marching men to shorten their stride as they went downhill. It included 100 military personnel supported by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas and more than 800 civilians. Damian Collins, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe and chairman of the Step Short charity, said: "This Memorial Arch stands in memory of all those who served, those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who came home.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-28642334[/url] [IMG]http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/433045/article_img.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]Britons are being urged to turn their lights off for an hour tonight to mark the centenary of the First World War. The 14-18 NOW Lights Out campaign hopes people will leave a single light on between 10 and 11pm to mark the exact hour when Britain declared war on Germany.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-08-04/brits-urged-to-turn-out-the-lights-for-ww1-centenary/[/url] Thread music: [video=youtube;5cg2pNpXgiM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cg2pNpXgiM[/video] Its a real shame this war was so easily forgotten.

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;45588631]Its a real shame this war was so easily forgotten.[/QUOTE] Was it?

It was more overshadowed than forgotten.

[QUOTE=David29;45588735]Was it?[/QUOTE] Right now, I feel it is. World War 2 is much more easy to remember because of the scale and amount of nations involved, and aside from the poetry and works from World War 1, there has been rather little works on WW1 post war. Especially in the modern context, you often see more stories and movies on WW2 rather than the first world war. [editline]4th August 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=croguy;45588747]It was more overshadowed than forgotten.[/QUOTE] Yeah, should had used that word, describes it better.

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;45588631]Its a real shame this war was so easily forgotten.[/QUOTE] In other countries maybe but in Britain it is very much a well remembered and taught subject, more so than WW2.

My nan still has a picture of her uncle in her study who died during WW1 in the Somme.

Not to be an asshole, but have we already moved on from WW1? All of the WW1 Vets have passed on and I think it's time to end any event about ww1 to end permanently. WW1 will forever be in our history books and I think it's time we put WW1 in the back of our minds. I would say the same thing with WW2 but I don't think that will happen until 2040 or later.

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588781]Not to be an asshole, but have we already moved on from WW1? All of the WW1 Vets have passed on and I think it's time to end any event about ww1 to end permanently. WW1 will forever be in our history books and I think it's time we put WW1 in the back of our minds. I would say the same thing with WW2 but I don't think that will happen until 2040 or later.[/QUOTE] it's literally one of the saddest events in human history and there's still thousands and thousands of citizens alive who's direct family - parents - fought through it what a disgusting and dumb idea

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588781]Not to be an asshole, but have we already moved on from WW1? All of the WW1 Vets have passed on and I think it's time to end any event about ww1 to end permanently. WW1 will forever be in our history books and I think it's time we put WW1 in the back of our minds. I would say the same thing with WW2 but I don't think that will happen until 2040 or later.[/QUOTE] "Everyone's dead let's not remember it any more."

As they always say, the sequel is never as good as the original.

[QUOTE=David29;45588818]"Everyone's dead let's not remember it any more."[/QUOTE] Hey, all the people from Titanic are dead, let's just forget about them and the rusting wreck that's slowly withering away.

[QUOTE=Pvt. Martin;45588849]Hey, all the people from Titanic are dead, let's just forget about them and the rusting wreck that's slowly withering away.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=David29;45588818]"Everyone's dead let's not remember it any more."[/QUOTE] I did not say to totally forget about it, these events will forever be in the books... My point is that this is 2014, and we right now worried about the other wars that is going on in the world. WW1 was over with in a decade, it's events will forever be in the books but have most of us moved on from WW1? I see alot of people don't mention WW1 unless something else happens, same thing with WW2 unless a TV show is playing about it. I'm not trying to be an asshole about this, all I'm saying is that I think it's time to put it in the back of our minds, just as much as we put the french revolution and the civil war of America in the back of our mind unless we have to recall events.

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588892]I did not say to totally forget about it, these events will forever be in the books... My point is that this is 2014, and we right now worried about the other wars that is going on in the world. WW1 was over with in a decade, it's events will forever be in the books but have most of us moved on from WW1? I see alot of people don't mention WW1 unless something else happens, same thing with WW2 unless a TV show is playing about it. I'm not trying to be an asshole about this, all I'm saying is that I think it's time to put it in the back of our minds, just as much as we put the french revolution and the civil war of America in the back of our mind unless we have to recall events.[/QUOTE] What does that even mean you spanner, this day was meant to bring it to our minds front and center to remember it. The reason why is not only because it is an event worth thinking about, since it was an atrocious and bloody war, but also because it teaches us how much peace should be valuable today.

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588892]I did not say to totally forget about it, these events will forever be in the books... My point is that this is 2014, and we right now worried about the other wars that is going on in the world. WW1 was over with in a decade, it's events will forever be in the books but have most of us moved on from WW1? I see alot of people don't mention WW1 unless something else happens, same thing with WW2 unless a TV show is playing about it. I'm not trying to be an asshole about this, all I'm saying is that I think it's time to put it in the back of our minds, just as much as we put the french revolution and the civil war of America in the back of our mind unless we have to recall events.[/QUOTE] That happens naturally we don't need you coming up and saying "alright is been a few years stop caring losers," because that's a dick thing to say. I don't see what harm remembering does, so why do you care?

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588892]I did not say to totally forget about it, these events will forever be in the books... My point is that this is 2014, and we right now worried about the other wars that is going on in the world. WW1 was over with in a decade, it's events will forever be in the books but have most of us moved on from WW1? I see alot of people don't mention WW1 unless something else happens, same thing with WW2 unless a TV show is playing about it. I'm not trying to be an asshole about this, all I'm saying is that I think it's time to put it in the back of our minds, just as much as we put the french revolution and the civil war of America in the back of our mind unless we have to recall events.[/QUOTE] But did either the French Revolution or American Civil War start 100 years ago today? Furthermore, as someone else stated, there is still a generation alive today who can relate to WWI. There are those still alive who will have lost someone close during the conflict. The same cannot be said about the French Revolution, which is true history. Also, nowhere near as many people died in those conflicts as with WWI or WWII.

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588781]Not to be an asshole, but have we already moved on from WW1? All of the WW1 Vets have passed on and I think it's time to end any event about ww1 to end permanently. WW1 will forever be in our history books and I think it's time we put WW1 in the back of our minds. I would say the same thing with WW2 but I don't think that will happen until 2040 or later.[/QUOTE] It's still commemorated because of the direct and devastating effects it had on European communities. It's impossible to ignore here because there's reminders everywhere.

I recently attended a WW1 Remembrance Ceremony with my company, it was rather touching as up until recently all those who went to fight for the British during WW1 and II were ignored in Ireland some even seen them as traitors. There was priests of most of religious faiths in attendance along with Vets, politicians and representatives from different countries. I think the common theme of most of the speeches was remembrance and not repeating the mistakes of the past.

woops wrong thread

America should really stop with this silly independence day shit, come on it was over 200 years ago it's time to move on [editline]4th August 2014[/editline] When are Christians going to stop marking Christmas for fucks sake it was 2000 years ago just leave it in the history books

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588892]I did not say to totally forget about it, these events will forever be in the books... My point is that this is 2014, and we right now worried about the other wars that is going on in the world. WW1 was over with in a decade, it's events will forever be in the books but have most of us moved on from WW1? I see alot of people don't mention WW1 unless something else happens, same thing with WW2 unless a TV show is playing about it. I'm not trying to be an asshole about this, all I'm saying is that I think it's time to put it in the back of our minds, just as much as we put the french revolution and the civil war of America in the back of our mind unless we have to recall events.[/QUOTE] You can't just "but these away", in fact it should be in everyone's minds and talked about/commemorated long into the future. The reason being is history is a bitch, it tends to repeat itself for people who ignore it until they pay attention. You say it would still live on in History books, ok fine. But you just toke the emotion out of the war, turned it into "Ok these things happened, these countires were involved, oh and x amount of people died". People read that and forget it quickly, they [B]would[/B] remember a ceremony, relatives of the dead relating their stories, for a moment people get caught up in the emotion, the feel what the war was like and all the terrible things it brought, and they[I] remember.[/I] Things remembered only on textbooks are barely remembered at all, and I am not kidding when I and others say that those who are ignorant of History are doomed to repeat it, with [U]deadly results.[/U]

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588781]Not to be an asshole, but have we already moved on from WW1? All of the WW1 Vets have passed on and I think it's time to end any event about ww1 to end permanently. WW1 will forever be in our history books and I think it's time we put WW1 in the back of our minds. I would say the same thing with WW2 but I don't think that will happen until 2040 or later.[/QUOTE] My great grandfather died in the war. Ass.

[QUOTE] "died to give us our freedom".[/QUOTE] I don't mean to be insensitive, but I've never understood this sentiment regarding ww1 What I read is "our side were the goodies and the other side were the evil baddies out to enslave everyone"; as if they're saying the world would have descended into a degenerate state had the central powers been victorious

[QUOTE=RobbL;45589252]I don't mean to be insensitive, but I've never understood this sentiment regarding ww1 What I read is "our side were the goodies and the other side were the evil baddies out to enslave everyone"; as if they're saying the world would have descended into a degenerate state had the central powers been victorious[/QUOTE] yeh it's bullshit that we're taught to try and make the war seem less sad and pointless and terrible

[QUOTE=WeekendWarrior;45589027]It's still commemorated because of the direct and devastating effects it had on European communities. It's impossible to ignore here because there's reminders everywhere.[/QUOTE] [img]http://also.kottke.org/misc/images/wwi-trenches-today.jpg[/img] This image speaks volumes.

[QUOTE=RobbL;45589252]I don't mean to be insensitive, but I've never understood this sentiment regarding ww1 What I read is "our side were the goodies and the other side were the evil baddies out to enslave everyone"; as if they're saying the world would have descended into a degenerate state had the central powers been victorious[/QUOTE] History is written by the victors.

[QUOTE=smurfy;45589143]America should really stop with this silly independence day shit, come on it was over 200 years ago it's time to move on [/QUOTE] On that note, 2076 will mark our 300 years since becoming a Sovereign Nation. Hope I'll be alive to see it.

[QUOTE=RobbL;45589252]I don't mean to be insensitive, but I've never understood this sentiment regarding ww1 What I read is "our side were the goodies and the other side were the evil baddies out to enslave everyone"; as if they're saying the world would have descended into a degenerate state had the central powers been victorious[/QUOTE] It was a fight for freedom for Slavs, A-H was "prison of nations". One thing that disgusts me about WW1 is historical revisionism where people are trying to downplay A-H's fault and try to go for "everyone is equally at fault" bullshit. Do you really think Serbia wanted to go to war after 2 Balkan wars and after claiming loads of new territory with depleted resources? If assassination didn't happen some other reason would eventually be found as A-H wanted to conquer Serbia regardless of the current events. Serbia lost 62% of it's adult male population, was backstabbed by Bulgaria and refused to surrender thus being forced to retreat trough enemy oriented Albania where killing and looting of tired Serbian soldiers and civilians was a common thing. To top that off Italy, France and Great Britain refused to supply boats and board on Serbs until Russian emperor threatened them that he will break off the alliance. Pretty much everyone apart from Greeks and Russians were against Serbs and then people wonder why Serbia is so "blinded" about being close with Russia and disliking the west. I don't really hate anyone nor do I approve of blind hate or extremism, but I can see that side of story those people have. Quite a shame how people only care about western front and completely ignore timeline and story of eastern and Salonika front.

I'll be at work so I can't do this but I'll be holding an hours silence in remembrance.

This took place in my hometown, my sister was there and managed to get closeup pictures of Harry and William. RIP to all those who gave their lives. I remember we'd have a moment of silence during Remembrance Day in primary school.

[QUOTE=darkedone02;45588781]Not to be an asshole, but have we already moved on from WW1? All of the WW1 Vets have passed on and I think it's time to end any event about ww1 to end permanently. WW1 will forever be in our history books and I think it's time we put WW1 in the back of our minds. I would say the same thing with WW2 but I don't think that will happen until 2040 or later.[/QUOTE] Uhh what. You know, national days often celebrate events from centuries ago. Christianity celebrates the birth of Christ, an even that in Christian belief is 2000 years old. The Napoleonic Era and The World Wars were the hammer and anvil which molded the foundations of modern Europe. And the Great War is barely a century old, which really isn't a lot of time for an event of such enormous effects.