On November 11, 2024, the school gave a minute of silence to remember the fallen soldiers of the World Wars. The traditional trumpets played on the speakers along with the poem, In Flanders Fields, but the absence of the usual Remembrance Day assembly confused students and staff alike.
The yearly assembly was usually a solemn time to reflect upon our nation’s past. While many criticized the assembly for not looking at the harm Canada has caused, especially in the Middle East, they also believe that it is still important to remember the sacrifices that the soldiers made in the World Wars. Spanish philosopher George Santayana stated, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” and the lack of our assembly showcases the increasing distance that our present society has from the World Wars.
Local students were interviewed to understand their opinions on no assemblies this year. Interviewee Brooke Lu said, “I like the assembly…I assumed we would have one every year,” but she doesn’t feel that people think the event is that important or talked about. I asked her if she thought that it was forgettable. She clarified that it was not, but rather that no one actively talks about the assembly, except maybe Mr. Chagani.
Another interviewee is a student who wished to be anonymous. When asked what he thought, he said, “It is sad that we don’t have that much for Remembrance Day, just a small announcement while some other things have full assemblies.” He said that he enjoys them and it is sad that they are gone.
Lastly, the final interviewee, Vaishnav Kethiri, stated, “I don’t think the assembly is the important part of Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day is meant to honour the soldiers who fought for us in World War One and Two but has become more of a Veterans Day as of recently. I think that it doesn’t matter if the assembly is gone but rather it’s the idea of what Remembrance Day is that should come back. This shouldn’t be a day to glorify modern Canadian wars.”
Overall, while the majority of the interviewees did proclaim support for the assemblies, it is important to note that they might be feeling socially pressured into it, because Remembrance Day is typically seen as a day of peace and has good connotations. If one were to not care about or dislike it, they would feel pressured to lie about their opinions. Whether this trend of no assemblies continues or not is yet to be seen.
Image Credits: Simar G.
THE NORTH STAR 