9/11

Two pictures that convey the importance of today's date.

BBC

People across the north west of England have taken part in Remembrance Sunday tributes to honour those who died in past and current armed conflicts.

This year's events fall just two days before the 90th anniversary of the armistice - the end of World War I.

In Liverpool, a service was held at St George's Hall at 1100 GMT ahead of a fly-past from a Dakota aircraft and a Tiger Moth biplane.

The Dakota which flew over St George's Hall took part in the D-Day landings and the assault on Arnhem.

In Manchester, the city's Lord Mayor, Councillor David Sandiford, led a procession from the Town Hall to the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square.

He and the Lady Mayoress, Christine Sandiford, were joined by senior representatives from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Royal British Legion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and Reserve Forces.

Representatives from the Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish communities also joined clergy from the Free Church, Church of England and Catholic Church in the parade.

Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor David Sandiford, said: "Remembrance Sunday is a time for the city to unite and remember all those who have served our country and those who continue to do so.

"It is also an occasion to reflect on current global conflicts and strengthen our resolve to work for peace.

Memorial to Russian dead at Buchenwald Concentration Camp, E. Germany. Tonight is the 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht when the Nazi persecution and annihilation of Jews began in earnest. In addition to beatings, killings and systematic smashing of Jewish property, thousands were deported to camps such as this one.

Lest we forget.

I attended my local commemoration. During my teens I was a member of a youth organisation and I was on occasions used to place the wreath. I then, like Ian Aitch, writing in The Guardian, went through a period of objectionable conscientiousness. As I pointed out previously, I felt it to be out of kilter with my pro-CND views.

I remember being confronted at a local British Legion and admonished for not wearing one next to my Cole Not Dole badge. I meekly claimed that it must have dropped off rather than saying that this was a protest at the fact that they had flags of the Allies apart from the hammer and sickle. Like others, I think it is a matter of choice as to whether to wear it in the same way as Red Nose Day should be. To make it compulsory as the BBC seems to do makes a mockery of what was being fought for in at least one conflict............

And this leads us to the inevitable attack on the hypocrisy of the BNP.

Deputy Darby, at a parade in the West Midlands, attempts to portray the party as respectable and respectful:

• One can only speculate as to what the reaction of those killed in two world wars in defence of this country would be to the fact that this gaggle (other politicians) now strolling down the road have contrived to reward the vociferous Islamic population of this historic English town with a giant mosque and "Pakistani" village. I don't think in the circumstances it would be too presumptuous to assume that the actions of Mr Austin and the rest of Dudley's political elite would not go down very well at all.

Whenever I see this filthy racist make comments about stopping the building of mosques I think of Kristallnacht and the burning of synagogues, and often wonder what the BNP policy on the Royal Pavillion, Brighton is.

If ever you wonder about the mindset of these hatemongers, then even a throwaway remark about a bottle of wine can give a clear indication of what grinds their gears (to quote Peter Griffin):

• Emanating from California, which when I last looked was not yet part of Mexico, I can recommend it wholeheartedly.

On a more cheerful note, it is now 10th November in Japan, so happy birthday, Emi in Nagasaki!