11/11/11

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11/11/11

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Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

11/11/11

Well Folks,
Its that time again when we honour the brave fallen here in the UK.
They wheel out the same old Chelsea Pensioners, play some military music, The Queen and family lay a wreath and the officials from the Ministry of Defence have a quick sniff of an onion so it looks good on TV.
No mention of the fact that a lot of deaths and injuries are due to M.O.D lack of money for protective armour, equipment, aircraft maintenance etc etc.
The emphasis in how "very proud" we are of them, when in actual fact nobody I ever speak to really gives a toss.
Even while these soldiers are serving, there have been so many complaints from the servicemen's wives with young families living in army funded housing, about damp and mould and general state of repair which the M.O.D don't put right because of cost.
Once you are critically injured, like a leg blown off or something, the Military have no further use for you, so you are tossed back into civilian life having to fend for yourself and nobody wants you 'cos you are mentally screwed up and disabled.
The camera scans across the names on the Cenotaph and halts at the inscribed words.. "Lest We Forget".
Forget?
Christ..who can forget when new deaths and injuries are on the TV News practically every day!

What a farce!

I've nothing against the Armed Forces, just the way Governments choose to use them.
Soldiers may die bravely in trying to help their friends and comrades.
Let's not mix that up with dying for Tony Blair or George W or any country.

Well, at least the ones who die over the months to come will be remembered next year as heros.

Sheesh..

Instead of all this solemn and dignified music, in my imagination I'd really like to hear just after the 2 minute silence, a really LOUD rendition of Country Joe and the Fish singing the "Fixing to Die Rag" blasted out all over the P.A. system, Central London and the TV Networks.

"Be the first one on your block to have your boy sent home in a box."

OK...rant over,

cheers,

Ron

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2007 22:36:39

val

Posts: 800
Joined: Apr. 4 2007
From: London

RE: 11/11/11 (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

"Lest We Forget"

But what about the "old Chelsea Pensioners" and the generations they represent? They were, in the main, young boys who either volunteered without a clue of what they were getting into and conscripts who had no choice.

My father (85) died recently and in his final months talked, for the first time about his WW2 experiences. Horrific. Lack of equipment and support for the forces is nothing new.

I agree with your sentiment -"the way Governments choose to use them" - it stinks.
Let's not forget
Val

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 12 2007 1:04:19