Almost got arrested today.

[kenkew]

Today is Nov 11th. I'm an hour ahead of the UK here in Belgium and got back from my annual attendance at the cenotaph to see the BBC news showing pic's of ordinary people stopping and observing the 2 min's silence. Enough to move the heart, well done the UK. Now my bit over here;
As an ex squaddie of a few years standing and knowing a few people of various organisations here, I was asked to present a wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of minor countries which supported the allies during WWI and WWII. I was probably asked because I was the only one wearing a recognisable dress; vis-a-vis the blazer, medals and such like. (The Belgium army were ordered to stop fighting by their King fairly early on so there isn't much in the way of uniforms from those days.) Plus the Belgiums suffered a great deal during the German occupation and were pretty pleased when the allies eventually got round to doing something about liberating the country so a Brit in a recognisable dress was more than acceptable I suppose. (One soldier 'rescued' the village I now live in, in 1945.)
So, there I was with my wreath ready to step forward when this 'person' burst forwards with a loudhailer and a sandwich board declaring that America and the UK should be held to account for war crimes during the Afgan/Iraq war. Now, this guy has the right to demonstrate, but I just saw red. There's a time and place for that, and today was not the time, and the cenotaph certainly was not the place, I was there with many others to give thanks to those who fell, those who no longer have a voice and to give thanks for their sacrifice which actually gave this person his freedom and right to voice his opinion. This was THEIR day. One day in the year when we should all give thanks for what they gave.
I'm sorry to say that I handed over my wreath and grabbed him by the collar and marched him off...the police on traffic duty came running up and pulled me off him. Handcuffs were in sight and it was only the intervention of the crowd that convinced the police I did the right thing. The police got the point and I was let loose, the protester was marched away and the ceromony continued.
Me had a whisky after the service!

[kenkew]

[ken (69)]

Good for you Ken. Like you say, he had the right to protest, but selfish to hijack someone else's parade.
Would have done the same, perhaps more.

[the_snail]

I understand your feelings. I would have done the same also. Very inconsiderate of the person with the load megaphone! He has no respect. What he does not realise is that is the war had not happened and europe was liberated then he would not be able to do that stuppid thing. I am all for protest and democracy but like you said there is a time and a place!

The_Snail

[Mimi]

Happy to say I am with you there Ken.. Well done you.

[myrtle]

Yes, same here. Well done you! Glad the police saw sense as well!

[petemason]

I took my Dad back to Arramanche last summer where he landed with thousands of other Allied soldiers on D-Day. the reception he got was incredible. People shook his hand, had their photos taken with him, bought him drinks etc etc and all he kept saying was "I was only a medic"
Well he might have just been a medic but he helped save thousands of lives and it is a fair bet that the man who you mentioned has some family who were freed from or involved in freeing Europe from the Germans.
I'm all for free speech but as others have said, there's a time and a place. My Dad's 82 in a couple of weeks, still very active and if it was Dad instead of you today, the chap would have got a kick in the pants as well as being marched off!

[tim]

ken - in the vernacular, it makes me spit!

pete - in a nutshell.

[chriszog]

Well done Ken, I for one support what you did. A thick ear wouldnt have gone amiss either.
Regards
Chris

[spacehopper]

What the bloke with the loudhaler needs to get through his thick skull is that if you and the other brave souls like you did not fight for our freedom then he would not have the luxury of free speech in the first place.  >:(

[undercarriage plan]

Yes, in total agreement, Ken, right and brave move..
Lottie

[joji]

My OH and I say to bloody right too. Well done mate.

BIG THUMBS UP to you ;D

[rosebud]

A very brave well done to you Ken. I hope you are alright. Everyone has said just the same thing as i would have said, bloody idiot he was. >:(

[Motherwoman]

Well done Ken,my 83 year old Dad gave a bunch of of young Japanese tourists a right ear-bashing for climbing about on a war memorial in Scotland a couple of years back,he gave them a lecture on respect.Do you know what?,they got down.

[Glyn]

Good on yer mate.

[tim]

Motherwoman - a nice first post!!

[tim]

Those gone would be proud of you.

[Derekthefox]

I endorse your actions too, well done.

Derekthefox

[lorna]

Wardy Well done . IMHO,    RESPECT does not have to be sombre.. but woe betide any of us kids if we dared to make a noise during the 2 mins silence.. Funnily enough my middle daughter rang me this morning to ask about my Father who died before my children were born, He won the Military Medal 1st world war. This is now with my nephew (my eldest brothers son) who lives in S Africa. My daughter now wants to search for details  on the internet. Lorna.

[Merlins Mum]

Good for you KK, with you 100%. 
MM

[the_snail]

If you read my previous post please read this.

I will try and make my previous post sound more like English. Pete Sir I am sorry for the total ignorance of the youth of today! I Stand and bow my head every 11/11 in the thought that many who have sacrificed there young lives to give the person who you are addressing about there freedom my respect! Still it is only education that makes them realise. Its like discipline? Where has that gone to?

The_Snail