what no annual poppy bunfight thread?

[Sasaferrato]

speshul forces dontcha know...

The Rock Apes? Special needs more like.

 

[toggle]

Today's liberal interventionists do exactly the same thing as imperialist conquerors did - invade and impose regimes that serve their ends - but do so in the name of peace and democracy.

if you look at the main period of territorial expansion of the empire, it was most often done in the name of maintaining peace and imposing good government, equality and freedom, by a liberal government whose stated aims included avoiding the military entanglements they regularly hand wrung themselves into.

 

[Pingu]

The Rock Apes? Special needs more like.

hey if i EVER need someone to sit in a portacabin watching TV and have a deep understanding of the local pizza/kebab establishments I know which regiment would be top of the list for the duty

 

[friedaweed]

hey if i EVER need someone to sit in a portacabin watching TV and have a deep understanding of the local pizza/kebab establishments I know which regiment would be top of the list for the duty

Call of duty. Kebab Ops

 

[Sasaferrato]

Nearest thing to indoctrination is value and standards and equal opportunities lecture you have to sit through yearly.

Didn't even have to do that in my day.

On reflection, I suppose the 'Army in the contemporary world' bit of EPC* and EPCA* could have been regarded as political, about four hours in 14 years of service.

*Educational courses that had to be passed in order to get promotion, however, they were universal, the same course taken by everyone from the Pioneer Corps to the RAMC. Not overly taxing, I got distinctions in all subjects on both courses.

 

[Sasaferrato]

motivation, belief in the righteousness of the cause, loyalty to crown and country. I've heard some shocking cold war propaganda from the mouths of old soldiers, decontextualised shit like food queus in 50s russia like that was unusual for that era. Wether it comes from the BBC or the prevailing military culture- it is there. With the caveat obviously that individuals are susceptible to soft propaganda in varying degrees from arch skeptic to total gullible.

Didn't need the army to establish the veracity of that. Except it wasn't 50s Russia, it was early 80s East Berlin. Saw it with my own eyes.

East Berlin around Alexanderplatz was rebuilt in the 'average tourist' area, but go a bit further into the city, and WWII damage was still very visible, nearly forty years after the war. it wasn't just queues for food, it was queues for all consumer goods.

 

[dylanredefined]

Didn't even have to that in my day.[/QUOTE

You are not missing anything. Death by badly acted videos your supposed to have discussions about the issues that are raised.If your bosses hate you could
drag it out for a week.

 

[Pingu]

they both wanted the carrot

 

[brogdale]

Good effort from the quakers.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Meanwhile, in Daily Fail Land yesterday...

'FREE' 'Beautiful' 'giving away' 'lucky readers'

um.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Good article here:

"Why are Veterans For Peace walking on Sunday 9th November?

We think that the annual campaign run by The Royal British Legion has little to do with remembrance and is waged in order to promote unquestioning support for the military and war. We have been told by the RBL that the official ceremony is only to remember British war dead and that foreign veterans are not welcome. We want to remember all of those killed in war including civilians and foreign soldiers. We also want to send a clear message that we have experienced war and it should not be glorified."


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...ry-whitepoppy-wreath-to-cenotaph-9833246.html

 

[friedaweed]

Seperated at birth?

 

[dylanredefined]

Good article here:

"Why are Veterans For Peace walking on Sunday 9th November?

We think that the annual campaign run by The Royal British Legion has little to do with remembrance and is waged in order to promote unquestioning support for the military and war. We have been told by the RBL that the official ceremony is only to remember British war dead and that foreign veterans are not welcome. We want to remember all of those killed in war including civilians and foreign soldiers. We also want to send a clear message that we have experienced war and it should not be glorified."


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...ry-whitepoppy-wreath-to-cenotaph-9833246.html

Well I went to the remembrance parade in Portsmouth as usual not one word of glorification.

 

[DotCommunist]

Meanwhile, in Daily Fail Land yesterday...

'FREE' 'Beautiful' 'giving away' 'lucky readers'

um.

claiming unique and thousands of em in the same breath is funnier

 

[coley]

Well I went to the remembrance parade in Portsmouth as usual not one word of glorification.

Ditto the festival of remembrance last night, in fact it was a plea for peace amongst nations more than owt else.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Didn't need the army to establish the veracity of that. Except it wasn't 50s Russia, it was early 80s East Berlin. Saw it with my own eyes.

East Berlin around Alexanderplatz was rebuilt in the 'average tourist' area, but go a bit further into the city, and WWII damage was still very visible, nearly forty years after the war. it wasn't just queues for food, it was queues for all consumer goods.

You can still see pockmarks from firearm and artillery on loads of Berlin buildings, even the Reichstag. They look like they've got chickenpox.

 

[dylanredefined]

Ditto the festival of remembrance last night, in fact it was a plea for peace amongst nations more than owt else.

Though a mate came up with a better act of remembrance all the assembled soldiers are issued Stella Artois then get drunk and start fighting. Its what the fallen would appreciate.

 

[coley]

Though a mate came up with a better act of remembrance all the assembled soldiers are issued Stella Artois then get drunk and start fighting. Its what the fallen would appreciate.

Nowt for the navy and Air Force? A shortage of rum and pink gin?

 

[dylanredefined]

Nowt for the navy and Air Force? A shortage of rum and pink gin?

Rum for the navy. White wine sprizters for crab air.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Well I went to the remembrance parade in Portsmouth as usual not one word of glorification.

Really? Not a "they gave our lives for us" or a "they fought so we could be free" or "they did their duty"? Just "It's sad that they died, isn't war terrible"?

 

[dylanredefined]

Really? Not a "they gave our lives for us" or a "they fought so we could be free" or "they did their duty"? Just "It's sad that they died, isn't war terrible"?

I don't see those statements as glorifying war or the services in general. Pacifism only works if both sides are not prepared to use violence.

 

[Pickman's model]

Really? Not a "they gave our lives for us" or a "they fought so we could be free" or "they did their duty"? Just "It's sad that they died, isn't war terrible"?

i heard on radio 4 earlier that the people who were killed in ww1 (at least our lot) died in the quest for peace. and then i heard later that they died for king and country. i don't think both can be true.

 

[Lo Siento.]

I don't see those statements as glorifying war or the services in general. Pacifism only works if both sides are not prepared to use violence.

Seriously?

 

[Lo Siento.]

This shit just makes me:

 

[Shirl]

i heard on radio 4 earlier that the people who were killed in ww1 (at least our lot) died in the quest for peace. and then i heard later that they died for king and country. i don't think both can be true.

I think they died because they were conscripted or because they signed up because they believed the bullshit they were fed. Poor sods

 

[Lo Siento.]

Seriously. The idea that you could read these three statements:

"they gave our lives for us"
"they fought so we could be free"
"they did their duty"

And not see that they glorify war, that they glorify military service, that they are massively ideological statements about what war is for and what soldiers do, is just...

 

[Pickman's model]

I think they died because they were conscripted or because they signed up because they believed the bullshit they were fed. Poor sods

yeh "killing for peace" is a curious concept.

 

[weltweit]

Seriously. The idea that you could read these three statements:

"they gave our lives for us"
"they fought so we could be free"
"they did their duty"

And not see that they glorify war, that they glorify military service, that they are massively ideological statements about what war is for and what soldiers do, is just...

I don't think remembering those lost in WWII is glorifying, even if you use those statements. The Nazis wanted all of Europe including the UK, people fought to keep Britain free of the Nazis.

 

[Lo Siento.]

I don't think remembering those lost in WWII is glorifying, even if you use those statements. The Nazis wanted all of Europe including the UK, people fought to keep Britain free of the Nazis.

It is though, isn't it. Just because it's a war you approve of doesn't change that. All that's changed is that you think the purpose they died for was glorious.

 

[weltweit]

It is though, isn't it. Just because it's a war you approve of doesn't change that. All that's changed is that you think the purpose they died for was glorious.

I think we have a different understanding of the common usage of the word "glorious".

Those who died fighting the Nazis died as a result of a nasty and brutal war, I don't see glory.