Shunning Remembrance tradition

9:42am Monday 19th November 2012 in Letters By Readers' letters

IN HIS observations (Letters, November 15), Frank Veasey quite rightly pointed out the total lack of respect again shown by our dear leader, Coun James Alexander, for failing to wear his blue robes of office on Remembrance Sunday at the Museum Gardens parade.

I castigated him in this column last year for this disgraceful act of defiance, but he rejects any form of criticism outright. He just won’t listen.

Furthermore, his deputy leader, Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing also failed to don robes.

What is it with these Socialist councillors? Why do they always have to be different by shunning tradition?

Geoffrey Widdows, East Mount Road, York.

 

• ANOTHER Remembrance Sunday has gone. As I stood in silence, I wondered how many future generations will be standing in memory of loved ones and all those others who have died in conflict and war.

I do not know if men in their arrogance, fanaticism and greed for power will ever learn there is more to life than that.

When you look at all the troubled areas in this world, they haven’t learned yet. I sometimes think God must wish he had rested on the sixth day not the seventh and left this planet to the animals.

Mrs M Robinson, Broadway, York.

Comments(16)

Even AndyD says...
11:13am Mon 19 Nov 12

My grandad fought in the war, Mr Widdows and lost a lot of his friends. He always said he fought for freedom and though the sacrifice was terrible, it was worth it. He is dead now and I cannot ask him what he'd make of people judging others merely by what they wear, but I can have a pretty good guess.

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Micklegate says...
12:19pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Even AndyD wrote:
My grandad fought in the war, Mr Widdows and lost a lot of his friends. He always said he fought for freedom and though the sacrifice was terrible, it was worth it. He is dead now and I cannot ask him what he'd make of people judging others merely by what they wear, but I can have a pretty good guess.
When he fought in the war could he choose what to wear? No of course not, he will have had to wear a uniform as will the millions of military personnel killed, yet Alexander can't even wear the robe. Alexander says it 'puts a barrier between him and the people', yet he wore one for the Queen's visit - he was clearly told to show her respect but cannot do the same for our war dead. You could ask him why on your next cringeworthy tweet to him about how wonderful he is. Of course under you double identity 'Andy' has said he is not party political, so that is different to your persona on twitter where 'you' are ready to toast a Labour election victor in 2015.

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Even AndyD says...
12:27pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Sigh. I made a perfectly reasonable comment, based on my own opinions. I don't disguise my political preferences, most people don't. But I do try and see things both ways, if I think Labour are wrong, I say so and have done on numerous occasions - Beckfield Lane tip, FSA lack of regulation under Labour, ATOS under Labour, selling our gold cheaply - Gordon Brown.

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Micklegate says...
12:59pm Mon 19 Nov 12

I don't know/care whether you do criticise your Labour. This is the 2nd letter criticising Alexander not respecting the war dead and sure enough you defend him on both. You also totally ignored my whole point that military personnel can't choose what to wear or why Alexander wore the robe to see the Queen. As you claim you are unbiased why not ask him?

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Even AndyD says...
1:10pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Fair enough re the Queen thing, I can see your point there. I would prefer to see consistency - a stance is a stance, but it becomes a little ridiculous if it isn't applied consistently. Not so sure about the uniform point, JA isn't a member of the armed forces. Can we agree to disagree there?
I don't claim to be totally unbiased on here, more that for certain topics political bias either doesn't belong or is irrelevant. It irks me when people argue a point based purely on supporting their 'side'. This is one of those topics, I commented on both letters as both letters made the same point and I disagree with it. Were it Mr Gillies who was being berated, I would say the same thing. It is something I feel strongly about because my grandfather made a big thing of personal freedoms and was a huge influence in my life.

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Big Bad Wolf says...
1:48pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Has Mr Alexander ever explained why he doesn't wear the robes of office to the remembrance service?

I would think that there would need to be a very good reason for not doing....

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ColdAsChristmas says...
2:09pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Even ex military veterans wear berets and medals as a part of their respect in remembering the fallen.
The fact is as I see it; JA doesn't respect even the Council tax payer, otherwise why would he want to support increased charges upon us all when lots of people simply can't afford it. His idea of supporting development on a certain car park said it all really.

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Micklegate says...
2:45pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Even AndyD wrote:
Fair enough re the Queen thing, I can see your point there. I would prefer to see consistency - a stance is a stance, but it becomes a little ridiculous if it isn't applied consistently. Not so sure about the uniform point, JA isn't a member of the armed forces. Can we agree to disagree there?
I don't claim to be totally unbiased on here, more that for certain topics political bias either doesn't belong or is irrelevant. It irks me when people argue a point based purely on supporting their 'side'. This is one of those topics, I commented on both letters as both letters made the same point and I disagree with it. Were it Mr Gillies who was being berated, I would say the same thing. It is something I feel strongly about because my grandfather made a big thing of personal freedoms and was a huge influence in my life.
Have you asked Alexander to explain it then as you are so unbiased you claim and you certainly regularly contact him?

The point is millions did not have a choice about DYING for their country, nevermind what they could wear in doing so; why is Alexander so jumped up that he can't wear the robe all his predecessors wore?

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ColdAsChristmas says...
4:34pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Andy, when you are in a hole, stop digging. Taking your Q from the Guardian isn't a good idea either, especially on environmental issues!

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roadwars says...
5:50pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Is the first letter a joke? someone is bothered about what someone else wears to a remembrance parade...Get a grip. The day had far more importance than "what clothes a councillor wore"

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CaroleBaines says...
7:16pm Mon 19 Nov 12

roadwars wrote:
Is the first letter a joke? someone is bothered about what someone else wears to a remembrance parade...Get a grip. The day had far more importance than "what clothes a councillor wore"
Absolutely its disgraceful. This should be about more than having a go at a councilor. Some folk have no shame, years ago people respected anyone who turned out, no matter what they had on.

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last of the mandms says...
7:40am Tue 20 Nov 12

If anyone needs to know why this country is in the state it is in read the above letters and comments following. This endless pontificating about "respect" I would ask all of you to answer the following honestly "Do any of you bother at any time other than Rememberance Sunday show any interest in the welfare of ex armed forces? and if you do what form does that interest take? visiting old soldiers? volunteering with e.g British Legion? anything other than standing in silence for two minutes once a year and feeling smug about yourself?".Before any of you bother asking me what I do the answer is nothing but at least I don't pretend I do it by managing to dedicate 2 minutes of silence once a year so I can lambast others on their lack of "Respect"

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ColdAsChristmas says...
3:44pm Tue 20 Nov 12

Yes: Help for Hero's donations, dontations to former soldiers in a certain care home each Christmas, participated in Armed Forces Day last June, attend our local troops home coming parades and I always buy popies each Autumn plus attend a Rememberance Service.
What JA wears is not of the greatest importance, where as attendance is BUT, why is he breaking with tradition on this of all days?

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last of the mandms says...
5:55pm Tue 20 Nov 12

ColdAsChristmas wrote:
Yes: Help for Hero's donations, dontations to former soldiers in a certain care home each Christmas, participated in Armed Forces Day last June, attend our local troops home coming parades and I always buy popies each Autumn plus attend a Rememberance Service.
What JA wears is not of the greatest importance, where as attendance is BUT, why is he breaking with tradition on this of all days?
I owe you a deep and profound apology there CAC, still mainly standing around being "respectful" but in a variety of venues, does that cover it?

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ColdAsChristmas says...
1:25am Thu 22 Nov 12

No worries last of the mandms, I would rather have you say your piece than not.
We may be in the age of the Internet but there remains forces out there to stop you stating fact.
I suspect you are correct what you are saying for the many. However, I do believe our Civic leaders should be setting a good example and keeping with tradition. JA is not bigger than York and its traditions, even if he and Andy D think he is!

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last of the mandms says...
7:54am Thu 22 Nov 12

The issue regarding the wearing of robes etc is very simple, if you are attending a function as a dignitary you should fulfill requirements of that position, i.e "You are not you you are those you represent" if attending as an individual "you are you". ps agree with you and Matthew re Nestlegate" Not too computer literate myself but I intend to look at the Government website re on line petitions and see if anyone has stared anything on these lines yet.

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