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A Day To Remember
On the day of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of every year people solemnly remember the lives lost. The focal point of this day of remembrance for most is to remember the lives lost by the allied soldiers exclusively. There are no enemies in death but this, “Remembrance Day,” does not commemorate the lives lost by the former enemies of the allied forces. Also, the poppy is a symbol of this day. There could be a far greater reason the poppy was chosen than because it was simply there on the battlefield. On this day in which we keep in mind those who have died, there are many that deserve to be remembered but never are.
On Remembrance Day we remember those patriotic men and women who lost their lives in the great wars of the millennia. Those men and women, who fought valiantly to preserve people’s lives and most importantly obtained true freedom for millions around the world, should be honoured and never forgotten. Society has chosen to immortalize all these people by giving them a day to commemorate their former existence and reflect upon people’s own lives. Although these lives will not be remembered individually, they will be forever engraved into every mind collectively which is a far greater legacy than being forgotten.
Though the lives of the fallen allied soldiers will not be forgotten, the lives of the innocent, and those of the enemy will be forgotten. The citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not honoured in the ceremonies held on Remembrance Day. Their lives are no less significant than those of the allied forces are, nor are the lives of the allied soldiers more important than those of their enemies. These forgotten casualties of war do not exist because they were the enemy. However, was the enemy a five-year-old girl? Or was their enemy possibly an elderly couple? The enemy of the allied forces was in fact neither. These people were massacred and their homes desecrated and yet society does not remember their lost lives. Furthermore, there are no enemies among the dead, only the living. Though they were enemies, they died in the same manner and for the same reason. Simply because they believed in what they were fighting for and still they are not honoured as they should be but they are forever seen as an enemy soldier. These soldiers and people will eternally remain casualties of war and not seen as precious lives lost who fought for their beliefs just as this society’s heroes did.
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row,
that mark our place; and in the sky.” The Poppy has become the prominent symbol of Remembrance Day. Most believe this is due to the popularity of the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” written by Doctor John Mcrae during the Second World War. There is a possibility that the poppy was chosen to symbolize the sacrifice or life to protect life itself and not simply because Doctor Mcrae saw the poppies. The main colours of poppies are red and green. In many cases red is a symbol for blood, which in turn is something, used to inadvertently conjure up a feeling of death. The colour green may symbolize life, due to the fact that when spring comes and flowers are growing there is an immense amount of green everywhere. Therefore because on a poppy red, symbolizing death, is encircling the green, symbolizing life, it is as if death and sacrifice of life are protecting life, which is in the center of the flower. Given this analogy, the selection of the poppy to remind all of death and life is nothing less than a perfect one.
It is said that, “History is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace and revolution continue on forever.” Remembrance Day is not only a day of remembrance but of reflection and appreciation. Society is told to not forget the mistakes of it’s past and yet this circle continues. As this cycle goes on, more and more lives will be forgotten instead of honoured.
I couldn't send the file to a friend so I thot I'd post..and I figured you pplz might find this interesting too.
it's an english essay I have to hand in tomorrow.
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"cuz no matter how long U've known them or how well U think U know them..the friendship can be over in a second" ~Indecisive
"you don't realize how much of a luxury cup holders are until you don't have em" ~Indecisive
Last edited by indecisive on 11-08-2002 at 10:20 PM
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11-07-2002 05:34 AM
