May the 4th
May 6, 2015 15:09:45 GMT -7
Post by Solus on May 6, 2015 15:09:45 GMT -7
Expecting a Star Wars joke? Too bad mates, after my last post in 2012 to show you guys what happens on the other end of the world here's a second one. Mainly spurred by seeing constantly those lame 'May the 4th' Star Wars jokes on the internet.
In the Netherlands the 4th of May is rememberance day. The day that we remember mainly the fallen of World War 2 (5 years of occupation), the fallen of any peace missions and fights after that.
Now what makes this interesting for you lot? What might be curious to you is the ceremony surrounding this. Everywhere around the country there are official remembrance meetings on places that have some history with the occupation and at all those places, just prior to 20:00 the last post is played. Then, as at exactly 8 o'clock the church bells start ringing 2 minutes of silence fall all around the country.
Trains stop driving, the trams and busses come to a halt, people pull over their cars to the side of the road, everyone who is going somewhere stands still, everyone turns off their music devices, there are no planes scheduled and except for the strange background noises you otherwise never hear everything is silent. Note during the two minutes how all (ex-) military personnel and ex-resistance fighters (excellent example of such a resistance fighter at 13:00 next to his weelchair, what a boss, even at an age of almost a 100) salute their fallen comrades, even if they did not know them personally. For two minutes, the entire country comes to a silent stand still in a strange symphony of silence, described by Chris Gardner as impossible in the USA, "Because Americans cannot be quiet for two minutes." At 2:25. Eventually, to the sound of the national anthem, all flags in the country are raised from their positions half mast that they occupied all day to the top at the same time, signifying the end of the mourning period of the 4th of may.
All those are remembered that day and their sacrifices so we could live in freedom. I was already silent for two minutes that day, but I am pretty sure you were not. I know I can only implore you to do this but maybe you should try it too. Just for two minutes. Turn off every device around you and ponder your freedom for at least two minutes and how it is that you live in freedom. The story might be a little different based on where you live, but no matter who you are or where you are, you are probably able to read this on the internet because you live in a free country, and there is no freedom for which no sacrifice has been made. And that alone, is worth to consider in silence, even if it is only for just two minutes.
In the Netherlands the 4th of May is rememberance day. The day that we remember mainly the fallen of World War 2 (5 years of occupation), the fallen of any peace missions and fights after that.
Now what makes this interesting for you lot? What might be curious to you is the ceremony surrounding this. Everywhere around the country there are official remembrance meetings on places that have some history with the occupation and at all those places, just prior to 20:00 the last post is played. Then, as at exactly 8 o'clock the church bells start ringing 2 minutes of silence fall all around the country.
Trains stop driving, the trams and busses come to a halt, people pull over their cars to the side of the road, everyone who is going somewhere stands still, everyone turns off their music devices, there are no planes scheduled and except for the strange background noises you otherwise never hear everything is silent. Note during the two minutes how all (ex-) military personnel and ex-resistance fighters (excellent example of such a resistance fighter at 13:00 next to his weelchair, what a boss, even at an age of almost a 100) salute their fallen comrades, even if they did not know them personally. For two minutes, the entire country comes to a silent stand still in a strange symphony of silence, described by Chris Gardner as impossible in the USA, "Because Americans cannot be quiet for two minutes." At 2:25. Eventually, to the sound of the national anthem, all flags in the country are raised from their positions half mast that they occupied all day to the top at the same time, signifying the end of the mourning period of the 4th of may.
All those are remembered that day and their sacrifices so we could live in freedom. I was already silent for two minutes that day, but I am pretty sure you were not. I know I can only implore you to do this but maybe you should try it too. Just for two minutes. Turn off every device around you and ponder your freedom for at least two minutes and how it is that you live in freedom. The story might be a little different based on where you live, but no matter who you are or where you are, you are probably able to read this on the internet because you live in a free country, and there is no freedom for which no sacrifice has been made. And that alone, is worth to consider in silence, even if it is only for just two minutes.