Would that all television discussion could be conducted in such a civilised manner ...
But then, neither of them are politicians. The innate decency and humanity of both men shines through, despite their difference in age and opinion.
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Yikes! Two smart people on newsnight not trying to gut each other.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the poppy has become a British nationalist symbol.
The remembering of the war dead from WWI and WWII is entirely commendable as those youngmen went off either through a nationalistic fervour combined with naiveté (WWI) or without any other choice (WWII).
It is no longer the case, since WWII, almost all UK warfare has been in foreign lands, either related to contested property ownership or to political choice.
All warfare since the 'the Falklands confilct' which became 'the Falklands war' has involved British nationalism and a 'professional army'.
We have the case now where young women can go off and kill - one had always the hope that women were above that evil but clearly not. Today's soldier is much like the pre-war soldier and is paid to do a job - that job is killing and dying. It's their choice, they have the choice to do something else and I feel sorry for the human tragedy that befalls any family losing a son, or nowadays a daughter, but they made their choice to join the armed forces in peacetime - nobody forced them.
To compare the war dead of the two world wars to modern conflict is to me, personally speaking, to debase the tragedy of the unavoidable with the tragedy of personal choice.
I won't wear a poppy but I do confess, I'll give a donation.
I was in a cinema in Durham one time when a couple of 'Chelsea pensioners' in black caps and red jackets came in - I gave a donation - how could one do otherwise.
Still, Scottish blood spilt for British nationalism is unwanted.
You say nobody forced them to become soldiers. Young men, often without skills, and with few other employment choices, faced with powerful rectuitment inducements, are not exactly exercising a free choice.
ReplyDeleteBut some do, either because of family tradition or other, thought-out reasons. I don't like the Billy Connolly school of thought, e.g. "So they died - they knew the risks"
We will always need a defence force, and soldiers will always die. The fact that it is a job doesn't alter the fact that it is a job unlike any other, where kill or be killed is the stark option.
Soldiers may start out as ordinary men and women, but in conflict, they become extraordinary, and as the man said, we - the society - put them in harm's way.
I lived in Durham for seven years, Stevie - 1976-83, and I loved the city and the people.
You are of course right Peter - I am of course projecting my choice values on others and that is a tad close-minded of me.
ReplyDeleteI am always open to a different perspective - I always try to be anyway.
Durham - did teacher training in Durham.
Loved the place and the people and always wondered if they might wish to join a Scottish republic (shh... not supposed to talk about that at the moment - 2 battle fronts and all that).