"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place ..."
Those lines (and they continue) were written by a Canadian officer in WW1. He was later killed but even had he lived he would by now have died, as have all the survivors of that appalling war. The slaughter on the Somme and elsewhere was dreadful and subsequently British generals in WW2 tried their hardest to minimise casualties.
But both those wars were a long time ago. We owe a huge amount to those who died on our behalf and we should never forget them, but they are now the past.
What concerns me - and I believe should concern every adult in UK - is what is going on in Afghanistan. Never mind the rights or wrongs of whether we should be there or not, think about the servicemen on the ground. Think of having to brace yourself mentally before every patrol, knowing that you'll be facing hidden bombs and incoming rocket launchers and sniper bullets. Think of the gallantry of those who having been caught in an IED explosion then go back to rescue their wounded mates, despite the risk of further devices waiting to maim or kill them in their turn.
These are today's heroes. You can see on TV the unlucky ones being offloaded at RAF Lyneham and the cortege through the streets of Wooton Basset. You can also sometimes see on TV the enormous bravery of those who've been maimed and now have to adjust to living the rest of their lives in a limbless state.
They need our support. Give to the Poppy Appeal - these guys are doing it for you.
I love in Flanders fields it's the only poem I know by heart it's just haunting.
I have yet to buy my poppy but shall do in due course
Xox
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I've bought a poppy.
its on my bag because I'll only lose it if I attach it to myself.
However....soldiers do choose to join the army these days.
They know the risks, horrendous as they may be.
My sympathy lies mostly with those conscripted in the world wars.
Though I do feel for the soldiers today, and they are brave. But at the end of the day, it was their choice. Perhaps that makes them more noble and selfless? I don't know.
I do absolutely love that poem, although as Cam said, it is haunting.
It's so important to remember and respect the troops, but I think it's also important - if we're going down the humanitarian path of "imagine this" - to remember the impact that this war is having on the civilians, who neither chose to be involved or have any control over what happens.
I know I've already posted this somewhere else, but I like it so am going to whore it out:
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.
Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King jr.
Last edited by Dreaming. : 09-11-2010 at 12:55 PM.
Its almost always civilians that start the wars and the soldiers left with no choice but to lay down their lives down for the screw-ups of others - and to protect the many who often don't give them a second thought.
I heard on the radio this morning that a young Royal Army Medical Corps woman soldier was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry by the Queen at Buck House, for her dedication in going in to treat/rescue injured soldiers in Afghanistan. This is apparently the first time that a woman has received this award which until recently was for officers only. But the medics have a very longstanding tradition of risking their lives by going into highly dangerous situations in order to deal with the wounded. The only VC and Bar (i.e. the VC was awarded twice) was to an RAMC officer in WW1.
And no doubt this young woman when interviewed will say something like "I was only doing my job". Well, just for a moment compare her job with yours!
As for the assertion that those in Afghanistan volunteered to join the Army (and therefore, by inference, deserve what they get) I can only say that in my own experience there are many times when meagre pay or other rewards pale into insignificance. In Northern Ireland I had on many occasions to go into premises to confirm that there really was a suspect device which warranted calling the bomb disposal experts out. Any one could have been a "come-on" with me being blown to bits, as was a friend of mine. So, would those who say "well, he volunteered" be prepared to put their own lives on the line for their country. I strongly suspect not ...
I will donate to both the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes this year. It so easily could have been my father who never came home, and Im only beginning to appreciate this the older I have become.
I have the utmost respect for all service personnel.
As much as I respect the armed forces and those who choose to do that job (and I do a lot), I really dislike the emotive use of the word 'heroes'. I'm not saying that a soldier 'deserves what he gets', but they all know the risks as soon as they sign up. It's part and parcel of the job. Jobs that similar people do here as well, think firemen, police men, etc.
I have a friend out in Afghanistan, doing a job in a place where the civilians hate him and the Taliban are going out of their way to kill him. Frankly, if he comes back alive I'll view it as a success.
Prince Harry today opened a 'Remembrance garden' for all those who have died in Afganistan by Wootton basset (though don't listen to the news the garden is actually in swindon) there was a lot of hooha at the park this morning, trucks and cars, bunting etc. I'm going to visit the garden sometime this week.
People tend not to 'choose to go to war' but they choose to join the army. I wanted to but due to health reasons I couldn't. I didn't want to go to war, I wanted to fly helicopters, learn some discpline, learn skills and earn a small amount of money and in this day and age, it's a main recruiter.
I don't agree with war, I hear some things and think "Why" Like for example I was watching TV the other day and they were saying that until 11am on the 11/11/1918(thats the right year right?) that the Americans were telling the troops to keep fighting until 11am even though Germans were telling them 'go back' Why, once the armistice had been signed (at 5am) did they need to keep fighting till 11am.
Make tea not war.
Life can be beautiful if you let it.
Step back, breathe and take it in
i met a man with two poppies. one red and one camaflage. He's trying to promote the camflage one with the british legion so rememberence day can be recognised as still being current and important and to encourage younger people to buy the poppies and take part. I thought it was interesting and wanted to share.
Claire, of course they're not all heroes - they're ordinary men and women doing the job which they've been trained to do. But it's amazing how many of them do show heroism when stuff hits the fan, particularly when their mates are wounded or in serious danger. Their primary loyalty is actually towards those mates with whom they've trained, worked and shared dangers with, not towards some nebulous idea of Queen and Country.
I don't want to be drawn on the comparative dangers of soldiering, fire service or policing, though I'm quite clear in my own mind that Afghanistan must come top of any list. And soldiers don't go on strike as did the firemen recently, cynically choosing Guy Fawkes night to do so despite their already cushy terms of service (I can remember when the Army first manned the Green Goddesses years ago when the firemen were striking for a rise greater than the total pay of the soldiers who stood in for them - sheer bloody greed, a habit which they don't seem to have lost).
As to the police, I vividly remember an occasion in Northern Ireland when we fought a four hour gun battle with the IRA in the Ardoyne area of Belfast. Throughout, the senior RUC officer with whom I was liaising remained skulking in his HQ making no attempt to assess the situation on the ground (he was of course getting substantial overtime) while we soldiers had to deal with the situation on the ground.
I'm not of course saying that the police and firemen don't occasionally face danger, but overall it is far, far less than that faced by soldiers in Afghanistan who only earn a relative pittance compared to their police and fire service equivalents.
This is very important. There are about 10 guys in my year that are joining the army or the marines. Within the boy scouts about half of the people i camp, hike, and work with are former, current or future members of the armed forces.
There are whole families that are marines. The youngest is in my year and is going to sign up when he is 18. The middle one is in last half of basic and is going to go off to Afghanistan. And the oldest is back home with a purple heart.
I hope one day this can end.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
As much as I respect the armed forces and those who choose to do that job (and I do a lot), I really dislike the emotive use of the word 'heroes'. I'm not saying that a soldier 'deserves what he gets', but they all know the risks as soon as they sign up.
That is what makes them heros. They know they could get their legs or face shot off and they sign up anyway - while their mates stay home and binge drink and worry about football scores.
The thing with today's soldiers in armies in western countries like England is that, unlike most of the ones in the world wars, they CHOOSE to be in the armed forces. So, you know, they have all CHOSEN to be facing hidden bombs and sniper bullets etc. So I don't think it really compares.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break
that its heart may stand in the sun,
so must you know pain.
There are only two ways in which one can live their life. One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is.
So, would those who say "well, he volunteered" be prepared to put their own lives on the line for their country. I strongly suspect not ...
Tony.
No, I wouldn't. I choose to provide a service to the people in the country I live in in a different and entirely more positive way through my choice of profession. One which (hopefully!) won't kill me.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break
that its heart may stand in the sun,
so must you know pain.
There are only two ways in which one can live their life. One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is.
