Lest we forget the real purpose of Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day has never been about glorifying war. People who think that are forgetting the symbolism. Why do we hold 2 minutes of silence on the 11th month of the 11th day at the 11th hour? To reflect on the stark reality that humanity is on the verge of destroying itself with war.

Remembrance Day is also a good time to keep in in mind that war is insane. Given war has been a constant presence in the world since the dawn of civilization, sometimes it's easy to forget.

Even though war exemplifies the banality of evil, sometimes it’s a greater evil to do nothing while evil flourishes. It would've been a greater evil to do nothing while Hitler enslaved Europe and attempted to destroy democracy. We should remember the sacrifices our ancestors made to pass down the freedoms we enjoy today.

We should also take note of the other way we are destroying ourselves: with environmental degradation. Let's keep in mind, we are not required to lay down our lives to preserve the world for our children. We merely have to take responsibility for our actions. If that's asking too much then Remembrance Day is surely a farce and our ancestors died in vain.