This year the world will observe its 105th Remembrance Day. Every year on the 11th of November people worldwide hold a vigil to remember soldiers that lost their lives.
This originally commemorated the day the First World War ended and was used to remember the loss of life in that war. The day has adapted to more generally remember the loss of life in both World War One and World War Two.
The 11th of November is known globally as a day of remembrance whether it be through national minutes of silence or symbolic wearing of poppies. The argument has been made for decades now on whether the commercialisation of remembrance is actually an act of forgetting.
Is the lumping together of millions of lost lives in a couple minutes of silence a disservice to the individuals who died fighting for their country?
Moreover, it should be stated that there is a particular emphasis on remembrance in Western and historically allied countries. Rather than fostering compassion, many focus solely on the victories of the allied forces.
The UK and US’ ceremonies often focus on a nationalist perspective of this loss. Emphasising the bravery and righteousness of these soldiers and the sacrifice they made.
This of course can be an accurate telling of the events of the war, many soldiers were selfless, brave and kind in the face of warfare. However, this generalisation and romanticisation of these wars often leaves little room for wide scale criticism of soldiers and World powers. Conversations around the morality of sending young men to war are silenced and disregarded under the guise of remembrance.
It can be argued that these orchestrated demonstrations of patriotic remembering allow for government and world powers to also forget their actions.
Very famously during the battle of loos for example, it was the failings and incompetence of the British military planning that caused so many British soldiers to lose their lives to their own gas.
This argument of forgetting will be particularly poignant this year due to the recent anniversary of a year of “conflict” in the middle east.
Will the vowing of “never forgetting” and “never again” feel almost mocking this November?
When the constant coverage of death and destruction is paused to allow for decadent displays of remembrance, will the sacrifices of soldiers in the World Wars have finally been forgotten?
I predict that this year, for many, the calls to never forget will ring particularly hollow for an increasingly disillusioned population.
The Palestine solidarity campaign in Britain already predict 800,000 attendees to their 2024 Armistice day march.
Moreover, according to a recent YouGov poll 56% of the British public now support stopping all arm sales to Israel and 69% calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
I think this November will highlight a clear disconnect on what people are willing to forget.
