What you said about Singles’ Day on November 11 being disrespectful to servicemen and women

A war of words has kickstarted over the latest shopping trend that has taken over Australia. HAVE YOUR SAY

Singles’ Day is the biggest of the lot but the timing is terrible, writes Kylie Lang.

Australia’s latest shopping sales day is now accompanied with an almighty debate.

Courier-Mail columnist Kylie Lang highlighted the Singles’ Day frenzy falls on November 11, raising questions over whether Rememberance Day should be left alone.

“ … It’s the 11/11 sales pitches that are particularly offensive,” she wrote.

“It’s one thing to plead ignorance to the day’s historic significance because Singles’ Day originated in China, but when Aussie retailers are jumping on board it smacks of disrespect.

“A friend of mine nearly blew a gasket this week after seeing Amazon’s Australian website advertising, “It’s 11/11: Get $11 off your haul”.

“’Personally, I find this promo absolutely insulting to the spirit of Remembrance Day,” she fired off in an email, attaching the ad’.”

The sacrifices of our servicemen and women deserve more than a minute’s silence that is sandwiched between a shopping frenzy, argues Kylie Lang. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

So what is the wider issue?

“The sacrifices of our servicemen and women deserve more than a minute’s silence that is sandwiched between a shopping frenzy,” she wrote.

“When we talk about Australian values being eroded due to globalisation, and rampant individualism replacing collective mateship, surely 11/11 Singles’ Day sales are a prime example.

“It’s all very well to import ideas that enrich us as a society, but we don’t need excuses to indulge what is essentially hedonism.”

Readers quickly piled into the debate, with many slamming the shopping day as disrespectful.

Others, though, said people continued to show support on that day regardless of where they were, while some claimed wider problems remain with Australia.

In an online poll more than 90 per cent of readers voted that November 11 should be left alone for shopping sales.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Disgraceful

Big Bad Wolf

I was having coffee with a friend on 11.11 and I was very pleased that the local Westfield put announcements over that there would be a minute’s silence at 11am and they played the last post just beforehand.

My friend and I stopped drinking and talking for that moment, unfortunately most shoppers just carried on as though nothing was happening.

Roger

Because most shoppers wouldn’t know what 11/11 means.

This just seems like people cant find enough things to be outraged about.

And yes I am an ex serviceman of 17 years.

maree

If anyone advertises on 11/11, then tax them 110%.

Margot

It’s all becoming too much. Let’s all have a ‘Zero Day’ – no shopping in any way at all. Our bank balances and sanity would be much improved as well. Btw – that used to be a Sunday way back before the internet and shops open 24/7. Seems like a good idea now.

Posits

365 days in a year (366 leap years) and Remembrance Day is taken over as a gimmicky singles day to shop for bargains. Australia welcomes other nationalities but wants and needs them to respect our traditions.

Uncle Bob proud Queensland man

Well said Kylie. Hear hear. April 25 and November 11 should be treated with respect and dignity.

Intentional or not, when retailers in general are screaming at people to spend, spend, spend, the message received is not one advocating quiet reflection on the sacrifices our servicemen and women have made and will continue to make.

We still showed respect

Ian

I was also at Westfields Chermside at 11.00am. I noticed when the last post was played, all the people around me stood and observed a minutes silence. People in the centre just stoped where they were and stood still.

Denis

Respect the past is also respecting yourself – Lest we forget!

P

Relatives of mine used to live at Chermside, one a WW2 army nurse, her older brother served on the Somme. Remembrance Day and Anzac Day have always been important to our family. Young people should be taught the significance.

Lynne

Never heard of singles day.

Wider issues

gayle

We have generations who have not seen conflict but are great and advocating for other countries that they’ve never been to? We can’t defend ourselves we have government who is pretty useless.

R Bay

I find our adoption of Halloween and Black Friday equally insulting.

Nick

Our “PM” is the most unpatriotic leader of any country on the planet … I am appalled at how he and his Govt are pursuing an agenda of social re-engineering towards Marxist socialism all whilst prioritising the UN, Minorities and Net Zero over the livelihoods of Australian families and businesses.

Wayne

How many extra Politicians would a Republic create? We are over governed now.

Letitia

And at the time Albo was talking about a republic, my father, a Vietnam veteran laid a wreath for the brothers and sisters who never came home. Albo is an absolute disgrace to this country, and those who voted for him and his preferences should hang their heads in shame.

Originally published as What you said about Singles’ Day on November 11 being disrespectful to servicemen and women