mijopo
in
canpolitik
On Remembrance Day
I'm posting an excerpt from my personal journal. I'm interested to know if this accords with your impressions and, if so, what might explain it.
... It seems to me that Canadians make a much bigger deal of remembering their war dead, and do so more solemnly, than do Americans. Veterans Day and Memorial Day strike me as a bit of a joke around here (I live in the DC metro area) and poorly observed. But I have recollections of attending some fairly moving and dignified Remembrance Day ceremonies, either at local cenotaphs or at my school and more recently at the Canadian embassy. And I also remember most people wearing poppies during the days preceding Nov. 11, I have yet to a single one here this year. If I'm right, and my evidence is admittedly largely anecdotal, isn't this a bit counterintuitive given all the stereotypes of both countries and the fact that the US has participated in far more military action since WW2?
... It seems to me that Canadians make a much bigger deal of remembering their war dead, and do so more solemnly, than do Americans. Veterans Day and Memorial Day strike me as a bit of a joke around here (I live in the DC metro area) and poorly observed. But I have recollections of attending some fairly moving and dignified Remembrance Day ceremonies, either at local cenotaphs or at my school and more recently at the Canadian embassy. And I also remember most people wearing poppies during the days preceding Nov. 11, I have yet to a single one here this year. If I'm right, and my evidence is admittedly largely anecdotal, isn't this a bit counterintuitive given all the stereotypes of both countries and the fact that the US has participated in far more military action since WW2?