Remembrance Sunday
November 13, 2011
I was fortunate enough to have been born long after World War II ended and, as I have lived most of my life in the UK, have never experienced the horror of any war first hand. Thank God.
I usually watch the very poignant Remembrance Sunday events every year when more than 7,000 ex-servicemen and women march past the Cenotaph, followed by civilians including 60 war widows and charity representatives and it never fails to bring a lump to my throat.
During the two minutes’ silence I reflect how lucky I am that I live in a free country and give silent thanks to those who gave their lives to make that possible.
The last time the Cenotaph was featured prominently on the news was during the student riots last December when Charlie Gilmour, son of the Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour, was pictured swinging from the Union flag on the Cenotaph. He has recently lost his appeal against his 16 months sentence for violent disorder including breaking a window in Oxford Street, theft, attempted arson and throwing a rubbish bin at the Royal car containing Prince Charles and his wife. The crown court judge had accepted that the incident at the Cenotaph did not form part of the violent disorder, but described it as “outrageous and deeply offensive behaviour”.
Indeed. What I find most “outrageous and deeply offensive” is that the best defence that 21 year-old Charlie could muster – a Cambridge history student no less – was that he did not realise the Cenotaph is a War Memorial. So that’s OK then.
For sheer pig-ignorance alone, this pampered disrespectful little twonk deserves every minute of his sentence and should probably serve a further six months for the criminal waste of his parents’ money on his highly privileged education.
The Charlies of this country should remember that countless thousands of lives have been lost so that we can enjoy the genuine privilege of living in a democracy where peaceful protests are possible, and this privilege should never be abused.
Perhaps Charlie was watching the Remembrance Sunday coverage on the TV in his jail cell this morning. If so, I hope he will have learned what the Cenotaph represents, and maybe a bit of humility too. He will also have seen an interview with ten year-old Lydia Cross who was going to be marching past the Cenotaph with those much older than her.
Lydia lost both her legs due to meningitis when she was two. She has raised over £60,000 for Help The Heroes and is planning to do a sponsored mountain climb to raise more. Maybe Charlie could join her.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15711333
