Lest we forget

As crime rates soar, our writer reflects on the growing disregard for the values and sacrifices that secured our freedoms…

November marks an important event. No, I don’t mean the annual Black Friday bonanza (although while we’re on the subject, exactly when did it become a month-long marathon!?!) I’m talking about Armistice Day. That one day a year when we pause to remember those who sacrificed everything so we could live freely. A freedom that sadly seems increasingly taken for granted. At Advantage One we often use humour to help us through our day. But we also know when to put the banter on hold. So at 11AM on Monday, the team and I will observe he two-minute silence. And yes, for those who never miss an opportunity for backchat, it probably is the only time of the year I’ll actually get a quiet office for a full two minutes! I’ve even bought Esme her own poppy pooch pin for the occasion (a much more dignified look than the doggy zombie costume she begrudgingly sported last week!)

My colleagues Scott and Craig are both passionate students of WWII, and I’ve spent many lunch breaks over a sandwich, discussing the courage of those young soldiers who faced unimaginable horrors. Of course, bravery wasn’t limited to the battlefield. Back home, legions of unsung heroes did their part, surviving on rations and working tirelessly to support the war effort. Not that we’d know much about ration packs here… thanks to my steady supply of sausage rolls and sweets, our Business Development Manager Sam says he’s put on a stone since he joined us last month – no joke!) Those who lived through the war endured hardships we can barely imagine. They sacrificed everything to protect the freedoms we hold dear – just as our brave servicemen and women continue to do today.

Yet here we are, in a time where respect and appreciation for these hard-won freedoms seem to be missing in many in our Country. In my opinion theft, violence and general disregard for community values are now so common that we almost expect them. How sad is that! Just this week I read an article on the BBC about giant poppies in Eastleigh that were destroyed by vandals, prompting the council to remove them. I’d like to say this inconsiderate attitude is just a passing phase, but I’m not so sure. With last week’s Budget news, I think things could get even tougher… Employers are bracing themselves for the double hit of national insurance and minimum wage increases, and many retailers are already warning that prices may have to rise as a result. And if costs climb, I’m concerned that we could see an increase in theft, violence and other crimes too.

Worryingly, all of this comes at a time when shoplifting and attacks on retail workers are already at record levels. I understand that times are undeniably tough for many. But they were even tougher during the wars – for those fighting and those at home. And yet the sense of unity and camaraderie held firm. Today, we’re lucky if we even exchange a nod with our neighbours! (Although I do count myself fortunate on that front – my new fellow villagers are more than generous with their neighbourly greetings and idle gossip!) Now, I’m not suggesting we should all be singing We’ll Meet Again every time we walk into the office (although I’d love to see the team give it a good go!) But I do think obligatory ‘Public Service’ might help.

Whatever the solution, it’s hard to ignore the fact that respect for the freedoms and liberties we’re fortunate enough to enjoy seems to be eroding. We mustn’t let it. I hope that a sense of unity and respect for one another will return one day. In the meantime, my team and I will continue to do what we can to keep the spirit of Armistice Day and our camaraderie alive.