Remembrance/Armistice Day

[cerneARB]

I rembered it as usaul. My great grandad gassed in WW1 ,my mates from JNBCR serving in Kuwait and Iraq and to all soldiers who put there lives on the line for freedom..i salute you all lads.

 

There were lads at work talking yesterday at 11...i could have decked them for their lack off respect:mad1:

 

 

war should be the last resort for anything!

[treewizard]

i have the up most respect for all the soldiers who lay down there lives for us, i had my poppy on till this morning. thoughts go out tothe family of paul harding whos from winchester and a friend of my gfriends he died in 2007 in iraq

[skyhuck]

One thing we should always remember is that most of the boys and young men who fought and died in WWI and WWII were not "solders" they were either volunteer's who wanted to do their bit for king and country or conscripts.

 

It heart breaking to hear of the suffering they endured, and I am so grateful for their sacrifice on all our behalf's.

[Rob Hornett]

like the Idea of the van sticker, most squaddies I know have a "Help for Heroes" sticker or support this cause some way or another

please see below web addresses for more details

 

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk

 

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

[Jason James Gairn]

There were lads at work talking yesterday at 11...i could have decked them for their lack off respect:mad1:

 

 

war should be the last resort for anything!

 

Somewhat a contradiction in philosophy.

 

 

Am I alone in counting all the deaths on all sides of such conflicts as the reason for reflection, silence or respect. The war in Iraq has claimed nearly 1 million lives. Most of those are civilian lives. I support all combatants, for there are many reasons why people find themselves in the theatre of war. Some do it for God, country and some actually get paid. Many would say that the conflicts this country is fighting are about Oil. The war would be futile if we were less dependent on the black gold. I like to think that driving my little car hasn't contributed to the reason why British troops are being shot and blown up on foreign soil. Just one of the reasons why driving the BMW X5 et al is not a patriotic act.

If we want to help our ex service men, then we should take it seriously and put pressure on our MPs to not send them in the first place and more importantly don't treat them so appallingly on their return. You'd be surprised how many homeless folk are ex servicemen. That's why i give money to beggars and don't observe the mins silence. I actually want to make a difference. I want to show real respect in a real and practical way.

 

OOOh! Sorry bit of a soap box moment.

 

I wore my poppy for all.

Edited December 4, 2008 by Jason James Gairn
syntax revolution

[Mr Ed]

Soldiers live and die on the battlefield, and I have little 'sympathy', as thats what they signed up for, and barring invasion, most of them are fighting for big business rather than 'freedom.

 

HOWEVER...

 

I think it is absolutely appaling the way these men and women are treated upon their return. Yes, they signed up for the job, but they deserve to be looked after once that very nasty job is complete.

 

The suicide rate amongst ex combatants from the Falklands is horrendous, the suffering many troops are going through from Gulf war syndrome, Exposure to Depleted Uranium shells et al - all points to a gross lack of care and respect from the Government.

Is Food, shelter and understanding counselling that difficult to provide?

[Jason James Gairn]

Soldiers live and die on the battlefield, and I have little 'sympathy', as thats what they signed up for, and barring invasion, most of them are fighting for big business rather than 'freedom.

 

HOWEVER...

 

I think it is absolutely appalling the way these men and women are treated upon their return. Yes, they signed up for the job, but they deserve to be looked after once that very nasty job is complete.

 

The suicide rate amongst ex combatants from the Falklands is horrendous, the suffering many troops are going through from Gulf war syndrome, Exposure to Depleted Uranium shells et al - all points to a gross lack of care and respect from the Government.

Is Food, shelter and understanding counselling that difficult to provide?

 

I agree almost completely. I have sympathy as the government recruits from specific social groups. Groups with limited opportunities, who find the macho recruitment films seductive. I think some young people are too easily persuaded as to the definition of patriotism. Thank Christ (he he) we are a secular society, or we'd all be there as well.

[arbogrunt]

We are all entitled to voice our opinions, but we should never forget that these 'entitlements' come at a price. We must not confuse politics with remembrance.

[Jason James Gairn]

Every single thing we do is a political act. We shouldn't shy away from politicising our world. The blinkers of apathy allow the evil that men do.

[Lee Winger]

We must not confuse politics with remembrance.

 

Well said