Happy Veterans Day to all those of who have served. In commemoration of the occasion here is an episode of the BBC’s Moral Maze podcast elegantly entitled “The Morality of Remembrance.” In England, their version of Veterans Day is Remembrance Day. Where we have the yellow ribbon, they adorn the poppy flower.
Although the debate is an English take on the holiday, many of the issues discussed apply in the American context. For instance, what is patriotism? What should we honoring? How should we be honoring? It is interesting that in the United States the holiday is marked by a status, whether or not one is a veteran; while in England, it is about an act, remembering past wars and warriors. In a sense, Veterans Day is simpler in the US, we know who and what to honor. In the United Kingdom, the issue is more contested. When the holiday is framed in terms of remembrance, the question becomes what should we be remembering?