two minute silence, beards and the power of costa

After three cups of chai (Dutch courage… or Indian) and since it is November 15^th I don’t think it would be too obscene to post my views of 11/11/11.  My own disclaimer is that this is definitely not meant to insult anyone who took part in the two minute silence, wore a sparkly poppy or to offend anyone’s family who may be serving or who may have served in the military.  I am just questioning the attitudes surrounding the two minute silence and the way in which people are obliged to take part wherever they may be and the way in which some people and tabloids manipulate this tradition to excrete some very ugly views.


And so... the two minute silence.  My argument is that respect is not something that needs to be enforced or controlled within the confines of a mass two minute silence and by 'enforced' I mean no option to 'opt out'.  It's inescapable.. at work, walking down the street, sitting in Costa (more on this later).. and that war is complex and means different things to different people.  Something so fundamentally English and ‘patriotic’ is not engaging people from all walks of life at all.  I realise the significance of the date being Armistice Day but the two minute silence is to remember not just the casualties of the First and Second World Wars but the casualties of any conflict across the world. Whilst at first this may seem inclusive and the 'right' thing to do it seems to be neglecting the fact that every conflict is different. Whilst you may think about your own personal family history; another may think about the brutality inflicted in the city of Derry on Bloody Sunday or the obliteration of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and so this public expectance to take part in a two minute silence to mark something as provocative and emotive as war and those that serve in them seems strange and illogical.


On an internet forum I frequent, a poster mentioned that she was in Costa and just before 11 the doors were closed and the staff did everything within their power to maintain silence.  Presumably this involved pressing a scorching cup of mocha latte to the throat of a crying baby or flinging some fair-trade coffee beans into the eyes of a man who had just received a business call on his blackberry.  This is insane.  Since when did a commercial coffee house have the right to shut the doors and enforce silence on its paying customers?  This example would have been far more ironic if it were Starbucks who incidentally top the bill as one of the most unethical coffee houses but alas. 



The pressure continues on telly. Moving onto an organisation that is far more credible... Youtube! Check out this fodder on the right:    Look at Bob Hoskins, Paul O'Grady, The Saturdays et al looking grave and sombre. Gawp at the scars on the soldier's face. Oh look there's Example looking like he wants to nut me. I don't know about anyone else but I'd much rather watch a documentary or read a Terry Deary book then have to stare into the empty eyes of Franki from the Saturdays.



Yet it is sad and ironic that a tradition that is supposed to celebrate freedom can be twisted and manipulated in such a disturbing way to assert the opinions of the bigoted and ignorant.  The Sun; sensitive as ever, run a story on Muslim extremists breaking the two minute silence.  They felt the need to highlight that not only are they Muslim men but worse still, they have BEARDS..



Unfortunately this is not the only example, The English Defence League have chosen to hijack the poppy to use as one of their emblems.  It is disappointing how something so innocent can be unfairly adopted by an organisation that is so dependent on fear and hatred but then it seems far too easy to turn residual national pride into something quite sinister and destructive. 


And so to summarise, despite what the media and other goons try and tell you.  Those that didn’t take part in the two minute silence may not be enemies of the people, Muslim men with beards or about to defecate on a war memorial .Thanks.