Letter: War dead who reject the silence

Sir: Britain may well be obsessed with the past, and nostalgic compared with countries overseas, particularly about the Second World War (letter, 18 November).

The point about the two-minute silence, however, is not merely to continue some rose-tinted tradition, but to remember those who died not only in that war, but in conflicts all over the world. Throughout Europe, extreme right-wing groups who share Nazi ideals still proliferate and have widespread support. The tragedy of the Bosnian conflict, which echoed so many of the horrors of the Second World War, made it clear that the world has learnt very little in the past 52 years, and two minutes of reflection a year is therefore still terribly relevant. It is a small but significant gesture, and should not be dismissed.

MAJA PAWINSKA

Croydon, Surrey