Christmas decorations before Remembrance Day

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I voted yes, but I didn't really like the question.

Sorry about that. I worded it the way I did to focus on the Remembrance Day issue specifically, trying to separate that from the opinion of if it's just too early to decorate.

The thread popped up from a buddy who's opinion I quite respect, and has always observed Remembrance Day. He doesn't usually re-post random stuff so I was kind of taken aback and questioned him. Just wanted to see what the CP collective thought. His response was well thought out, even if I don't really agree. I'll ask if I can re-post his comment here.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Somewhat related- has anybody seen these for sale at a retail store in Calgary? I know I can buy them online, but that means I likely won't get it in time.

A few of the legions in town have them. Horton Road and No 1 downtown in particular.

[Russic]

I always thought I was in the minority for thinking the Christmas complainers were a little odd. Your ability to care about things isn't finite... you can hang christmas lights and not have to sacrifice any appreciation towards war veterans in the process.

I get that some people get exhausted by the season, but unless you work in an environment where you can't escape (retail for example), I don't feel it's difficult to control.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Somewhat related- has anybody seen these for sale at a retail store in Calgary? I know I can buy them online, but that means I likely won't get it in time.

You can also buy the pins at the Calgary MFRC, 4225D Crowchild Tr SW.

http://www.calgarymfrc.ca/

[Leeman4Gilmour]

I'm not a veteran so can't really answer the question, but don't consider decorating until December. Remembrance Day should not be overlooked or overshadowed imo and, as others have said, Christmas doesn't need to be a 60 day deal.

Anyone try those projection Christmas lights? I'm thinking of making the switch.

[adc]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Sorry about that. I worded it the way I did to focus on the Remembrance Day issue specifically, trying to separate that from the opinion of if it's just too early to decorate.

The thread popped up from a buddy who's opinion I quite respect, and has always observed Remembrance Day. He doesn't usually re-post random stuff so I was kind of taken aback and questioned him. Just wanted to see what the CP collective thought. His response was well thought out, even if I don't really agree. I'll ask if I can re-post his comment here.

Hopefully he lets you post it because the only responses I have seen have been crap or basically I don't like Christmas decorations up this early and this gives me a reason that doesn't make me look like a whiner/people may not question.

[Ducay]

Veterans fought for our ability to like two things simultaneously. Being pro-Christmas doesn't in any way mean you are anti-veteran.

Those who think such are ridiculous.

[FurnaceFace]

I think it's a very important day and time period we should truly observe. It is a much more tangible and meaningful day to me than Christmas is. It's the marketing engine of Christmas this early which takes the focus off of Remembrance Day that would bother me the most not someone who put up their lights last weekend before the weather turned.

I'd rather Christmas remain understated until after the 11th to give it the respect I feel everyone who has or is serving deserves.

[PepsiFree]

Sad thing is that giving the Christmas season a hard start date (the 12th) might make it a lot worse.

Imagine, to the people that love Christmas, that it starts on the 12th. That the Starbucks drinks, Christmas decorations and displays, lights, trees, everything "starts" to be sold on that day.

What do you think they'll be thinking about on the 11th? Veterans? Or that the Christmas season starts tomorrow?

[pylon]

I personally think it is disrespectful we basically commit an entire month to a fantasy flying man in the sky that that hands out iPads and enslaves elves that doesn't exist, who was somehow inexplicably conceived off of a religious myth that never happened, the impossible birth of a man that was supposedly conceived by another fantasy man that never existed.

Yet we barely give a day, to the actual men, that suffered horribly both physically and mentally, to give us the freedom to believe in such utter nonsense. If anyone is deserving of a month of celebration, it is our veterans. We owe absolutely every single thing we have to them.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by pylon

I personally think it is disrespectful we basically commit an entire month to a fantasy flying man in the sky that that hands out iPads and enslaves elves that doesn't exist, who was somehow inexplicably conceived off of a religious myth that never happened, the impossible birth of a man that was supposedly conceived by another fantasy man that never existed.

Yet we barely give a day, to the actual men, that suffered horribly both physically and mentally, to give us the freedom to believe in such utter nonsense. If anyone is deserving of a month of celebration, it is our veterans. We owe absolutely every single thing we have to them.

thank you

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I don't think decorating for Christmas before November 11 disrespects Veterans.

I do think that decorating before November 11 shifts a focus to Christmas which I believe should be spent on Veterans.

I think it would be great if society shifted the attention, effort and focus that we spend on holidays to Remembrance Day from November 1 until November 11.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but if the attention we give holidays is finite, then I think we should maximize the attention we give Remembrance Day.

Then again, I'm of the belief that Remembrance Day is the most important holiday we have, and should be held the most sacred. So anything that detracts away from the attention of Remembrance Day I'm not a fan of.

So does it disrespect Veterans to decorate for Christmas before November 11? No, but I'd prefer we as a society focused on the Veterans rather than Christmas during that time period.

[combustiblefuel]

Just say no to Christmas decorations before December first. Period.

[btimbit]

I think it's odd that we prioritize Christmas over showing respect to our veterans, but simply having the decorations up doesn't really take anything away from it either.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by adc

Hopefully he lets you post it because the only responses I have seen have been crap or basically I don't like Christmas decorations up this early and this gives me a reason that doesn't make me look like a whiner/people may not question.

So this was his response:

I get angry when things as trivial as halloween and the commercialized version of Christmas are more important than the memory of our fallen; our history. The wars are distant memory now, we live in a time when, for the most part our population of North American born (including myself) have no concept of war. The terror of being there, the hurt of losing a loved one, a heroic sacrifice to save a brother...all concepts I can only imagine through memories of my elders sitting around Grandma's table, Playing cards, talking about the war. And of course, the hollywood version coupled with "Call of Duty".
I never met my Mothers father, he passed away from war injuries. When traveling Europe I was amazed at how much WW2 damage was still evident and still being repaired today. My point? While most if not all of the people actively involved in the World Wars are gone those wars are still touching people today.

More recently Canada has a proud Peacekeeping history. Our military have been involved in many conflicts around the world and we continue to have military casualties that should, no must be remembered. For them, their family and their sacrifice.

So yes [kunkstyle], I think the answer is Respect. And that's reason enough.

More or less echos what undercover and pylon and others were getting at. I think it's more the issue of Christmas and other holidays getting so much more attention than the specific act of decorating early.