{"id":120860,"date":"2023-11-02T09:29:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T09:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=120860"},"modified":"2023-11-02T09:29:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T09:29:07","slug":"ex-british-army-colonel-fires-warning-over-threat-to-wreck-remembrance-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/politics\/ex-british-army-colonel-fires-warning-over-threat-to-wreck-remembrance-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-British Army Colonel fires warning over threat to wreck Remembrance Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The British people will not be intimidated by threats to sabotage our national day of remembrance next weekend, a former top British Army commanding officer, the Royal British Legion and political figures said.<\/p>\n

Colonel Richard Kemp, who was awarded the King’s Commendation for Bravery, was responding to a rallying cry to boycott Remembrance Day traditions, with some groups now calling for a \u201cnational march\u201d on November 11, sparking fears of a dangerous \u201ctipping point\u201d in community tensions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Issuing a word of caution, the Army veteran pointed to the array of people from different cultures and religions who fought and died for the liberties and freedoms we enjoy today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The retired British Army officer, who served from 1977 to 2006, told Express.co.uk: \u201cIt is up to every individual whether he or she wishes to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of our armed forces in war.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who are thinking of boycotting acts of remembrance are at liberty to do so but it is worth remembering that many Muslims as well as Christians, Jews and members of other religions or no religion fought and died for the freedom and liberty we enjoy today.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll that I would ask is that those who do not wish to take part do not attempt to politicise, protest or disrupt these solemn events which mean so much to so many of our people in this country, including families recently bereaved by sacrifice in war.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Royal British Legion also weighed in, reminding potential disrupters about the Poppy Appeal\u2019s role in honouring the fallen and not making political points.<\/p>\n

A spokesman told Express.co.uk: \u201cWhile we respect the right of people to protest within the law, we believe the Poppy Appeal is a time for Remembrance, and not for political protests or public disorder, as we honour those whose service and sacrifice protects our rights and freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colonel Kemp and the Royal British Legion\u2019s warnings come after the deputy editor of a leading online publication called on his social media followers to boycott the two-minute silence traditionally observed on the sombre occasion.<\/p>\n

Dilly Hussain, of the website 5 Pillars UK, said the mark of respect at 11am on November 11 would be rejected for many years to come in comments posted on X, formerly Twitter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He wrote on the platform: “We are expected to observe a two-minute silence on Remembrance Day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The defeat of the Ottomans in World War One, the colonisation of Palestine by the British Mandate, and the 1917 Balfour Declaration is when the idea of Israel was actualised.<\/p>\n

“There will be a resounding rejection of this silence this year, and for many years to come.”<\/p>\n

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