My thoughts are very much in the yes camp.
Introduced by a government who marched us off to war at the drop of a hat because a few body bags came back from dirka dirkastan.
Thanks to this and the general hatemongering towards anyone who may not consider every soldier a true British hero but rather some bloke who chose to do what he did in the first place and let's face it getting shot at goes with the job.
Where's the Emergency services day after all they're getting raped by the government because of their giant pensions and outrageous salaries (accrding to Dave anyway) so a nice day would cheer them up.
And why when that dirty public sector word is bandied around they never use it in conjunction with the armed forces?
Armed forces day..jingoistic rubbish?
Re: Armed forces day..jingoistic rubbish?
I agree with you Gentleman. There are lots of occupations which are dangerous - deep sea fishing is one - but we're not encouraged in the belief that these people are 'heroes' so why is it different in the case of the Armed services ?
They sign-up voluntarily, the information that war is unpleasant isn't secret knowledge, by the age of 16 you will have seen enough news footage and fairly realistic depictions of war in films, if that's what you want to get into then so be it.
I think that the kind of unquestioning acceptance of orders expected of military personnel is being encouraged in civilians inasmuch as Governments don't really want you to question whether or not this war or that war is 'right' or justifiable, they just want you to 'get behind it'.
It's a nonsense.
They sign-up voluntarily, the information that war is unpleasant isn't secret knowledge, by the age of 16 you will have seen enough news footage and fairly realistic depictions of war in films, if that's what you want to get into then so be it.
I think that the kind of unquestioning acceptance of orders expected of military personnel is being encouraged in civilians inasmuch as Governments don't really want you to question whether or not this war or that war is 'right' or justifiable, they just want you to 'get behind it'.
It's a nonsense.
Salary cuts?
Interesting point about the idea of it making wars to be unquestioned.
Am i correct in thinking the military aren't having their wages being stuck at present levels for the next couple of years like the rest if public sector.
Am i correct in thinking the military aren't having their wages being stuck at present levels for the next couple of years like the rest if public sector.
Re: Armed forces day..jingoistic rubbish?
Absolute bollocks! You choose a job which involves fighting be prepared to accept the consequences.
Same as all the pish that comes out when a copper is killed.
Don't want to be shot at? Don't join the army!
Same as all the pish that comes out when a copper is killed.
Don't want to be shot at? Don't join the army!
Re: Armed forces day..jingoistic rubbish?
I have to congratulate this pernicious government on how it has branded and marketed Armed Forces Day.
As their website says...
"It's an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces, Secondly, it gives the nation an opportunity to Show Your Support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to cadets"
By putting the "to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces", bit first it incorporates the veterans from World War Two and the poor sodding National Service consripts who had no choice but to fight in Korea, Suez, Kenya etc, etc.
By doing that they can make out that anyone criticising Armed Forces Day is really insulting those veterans.
I have nothing but respect for those veterans.
I do think though that ever since National Service ended being a member of the armed forces has been a job with risks that anyone taking that job needs to understand.
I also think the last several governemnts (back to Thatcher's time) have sent "our boys" to war for their own political aims.
I also think you can always count on politicains to wrap themselves in the flag when they get desparate.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"
As their website says...
"It's an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces, Secondly, it gives the nation an opportunity to Show Your Support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to cadets"
By putting the "to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces", bit first it incorporates the veterans from World War Two and the poor sodding National Service consripts who had no choice but to fight in Korea, Suez, Kenya etc, etc.
By doing that they can make out that anyone criticising Armed Forces Day is really insulting those veterans.
I have nothing but respect for those veterans.
I do think though that ever since National Service ended being a member of the armed forces has been a job with risks that anyone taking that job needs to understand.
I also think the last several governemnts (back to Thatcher's time) have sent "our boys" to war for their own political aims.
I also think you can always count on politicains to wrap themselves in the flag when they get desparate.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"