I hope over the course of my tumblr existence I have brought you joy in the humorous things I post, and I do love that, I love making people laugh and smile more than anything, but I also have a more sombre side of myself, shall we say.

What are you on about?

Today is Remembrance day. Remembrance Day is a day in the United Kingdom, specially put aside for remembering those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives for their country. People think of Remembrance day as remembering the million British soldiers who were butchered in the fields of Passchendaele and on the banks of the river Somme, but really it’s remembering any British subject who has given their life in a theatre of war.

Why should we be grateful?

A lot of people I know make the argument that because these people are soldiers, they knew what they were getting themselves into and as a result we shouldn’t be grateful. The way I see it, it’s exactly the same as if a fireman pulled you out of a burning building or a paramedic gave you emergency life support. We would owe them our lives. With soldiers, whilst it is not as direct as that, we still owe them more than we can imagine. They prevent us living in fear with a threat from Al ‘Qaeda from terrorising us freely. They prevented Nazi Germany taking over all of Europe. They will continue to allow us to live in peace long into the future.

Why do we owe them anything?

Because if soldiers didn’t put their hand up and swear allegiance to their country then their country would be forced to make people go to war. No country can survive without an army, just like no country can survive without an economy. It is only because these people volunteer to do it that we don’t have to. In the words of Michael Moore,

“They serve so that we don’t have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is, remarkable, their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm’s way unless it is absolutely necessary.” 

I think he sums it up perfectly.

I’m not British, why are you telling me all this?

I talk about ‘britain, britain, britain’, but really it is a chance for anyone to think about soldiers who have died. No matter where you live and where you come from, there has been a soldier, in the past, who has laid down their life to protect you.

This day isn’t about criticising the government for its wars, it’s not about debating the rights and wrongs of taking life. It’s about remembrance. Just take a moment or two to think about those brave people who went to a foreign place, never to return, so you could enjoy freedoms such as tumblr.