Figured this rendition would be doubly appropriate
Wow. Good choice, Eric. Enjoy your Remembrance Day. Too bad about Leonard Cohen.
Lest we forget, this poem was discussed on this forum last year! I have no objection to continuing that excellent discussion, but why start a new thread?
What is this obsession that people have here with not starting new threads? Is there some kind of tax on them?
So we should discuss the same poem every November 11th, with a fresh thread every time, lest the old one bring up uncomfortable memories?
Hey Song
I’m trying to figure out what your actual issue is with this thread. I could be wrong but reading your posts I would guess that you are somewhat anti-imperialist, in which case would you not be one to celebrate the Armistice of November 11, 1918?
I probably would have chosen something else but the rendition of “Flanders Fields” by Leonard Cohen was especially fitting seeing as he passed just a few days earlier.
Sorry for being Canadian.
Yes, you’re right, I am against imperialism. I have no real problem with the present thread, though, I just liked the one you started last year and thought it was a shame to let it go to waste, seeing as we are still discussing the same poem, and because the stuff people said last year was interesting enough to be worthy of remembrance in its own right.
I had never even heard of Remembrance Day before, and had only previously encountered this poem once while working as a translator. Fortunately “In Flanders Fields” wasn’t part of what I had to translate, as translating poetry is tough, but it made an impression on me, even though I knew nothing about it, so the comments on last year’s thread, and the high level of disagreement among them, were a real eye-opener.
You’re right that the ending of World War 1 would have been cause for celebration, but I gathered last year that “In Flanders Fields” was used as a propaganda poem by the very people -imperialist tycoons- who had waged that war for their own personal gain. As an anti-imperialist, perhaps I was remiss in not starting a thread this year on November 7th, a few days before Remembrance Day, to mark the 99th anniversary of the October Revolution. By some accounts, “October” was what truly put an end to the Great War. I would normally hesitate to mention this on a unicycling forum, even in the “off-topic” section, but the world is currently in a state somewhat similar to the start of World War 1 or maybe 2, and besides, you asked!
There is absolutely no excuse for this unforgivable fault of yours. What were you thinking?
Thanks Song. I’m glad I didn’t completely miss-read you.
I re-read the other thread with this in mind. Your posts make so much more sense now. I just thought you had some sort of hate on for Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, Poppy Day, etc. I am glad my thread was educational and if I ever end up in New York we will have to go swim off the cost of Coney Island and I will buy you a hot toddy.
I still have to make it down for one of your birthdays. I’ve heard that Canadians can be in high demand around then.
Good idea! For recreational activity, open water swimming is one of the best things this archipelago has to offer. It is illegal for most of the year (or at all times in most neighborhoods), and many or most New Yorkers do not know how to swim, but there are people who swim all year at Coney Island. From about November to April their swims are usually fairly short, though!
Illegal??!! I think that overstates it. No one gets tickets or arrested. People surf all year long in NYC beaches (Rockaway) and Long Beach.
I just found out the Naked Cowboy voted for Trump. Supports giving extensive power to a racist!
Did you accidentally drag your political rhetoric and agenda into an Armistice Day thread, Billy?
People most certainly do get ticketed and/or arrested for swimming in NYC waters! I’ve seen it happen on You Tube, know a guy who’s been picked up several times for swimming, and have heard many stories.
Even at some authorized swimming beaches, during the authorized swimming season, but during the long hours when swimming is not authorized, there are police vehicles equipped with loudspeakers that go back and forth, threatening swimmers with arrest.
If you are near a surf board, kayak or jet ski that you appear to own, you can usually get away with swimming, though, or so I’ve heard.
You’re absolutely correct. Especially since Trump bashes the military, claims he’s a better strategist than the generals, and mocks parents of dead war heroes, we should agree to not mention him on this thread. Agreed.