Remembrance need not involve going to church

Published on 7th December 2006 in Letters

Sir - I was a little dismayed to read last week's letter entitled 'Shame on those who forget'. Whoever wrote it certainly has a warped sense of the liberty mentioned in the letter.

The last time I checked, freedom of thought, conscience and religion were at the very core of the liberty our brave men and women have fought for. Honouring them on Remembrance Sunday does not require church attendance.

Thankfully, church attendance in this country is based on personal choice. The writer of the letter claimed to be ashamed that people in the villages of Faxfleet, Blacktoft and Yokefleet did not attend church on Remembrance Sunday. Ironically, it's this type of intolerance that often deters people from reaching out to organized religion.

Please don't assume that just because you are a practicing Christian everyone else in the area is. People of all faiths, even athiests and agnostics, can demonstrate their respect for our heroes without mandatory church attendance.

Charlotte Mann

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