fuschiagirl

You had the right idea initially - Canada has far more respect for their forces than the UK.
I found the article very moving - I'm very, very proud to be Canadian.
I felt the same sense of pride at last year's Remembrance Services here in Canada - the first one I had experienced. My father and grandfather served in the Canadian Forces during the Second World War and it was such an experience to realise the Canada REALLY remembers both the soldiers who gave their lives AND those who were fortunate enough to return safely. (My grandfather served in the First Worls War as well!).

Karma sent.

Jo

bazzz

Oh great. I clicked on that, and now I've got the Daily Mail in my browser history. I've had to spend hours browsing midge porn for it disappear far back enough that no-one will suspect anything.

JAJ

I don't think that this represents something inherently bad about the British people, but says a lot about the wretched government that is currently in office.

Much could change if a sense of national purpose and leadership was given from the top.

Rich_007

One cannot speaky badly enough about these miserable grunting pukes.





R.

bazzz

I doubt it. I don't think most people are very interested in politics or politicians. Gordon Brown doesn't strike me as a particularly bad sort. He's certainly got a zillion times more integrity than an oily shite like Cameron.

moondevil

I saw that
Well done you, my 10yr old didnt understand about poppys etc, but now she does, just been reading the online paper, (thanks for the link)
I am shocked that the uk doesnt do anything and these guys should have the roads closed out of respect.
But that is what is happeing to the uk :curse:

bazzz

I thought the purpose of the army in the UK was to ship the chavs and otherwise unemployable people overseas where they could be SEPs.

MarkG

While I agree with your opinion of Cameron, Brown is a sleaze-ball who will be lucky to last another month now his own party have realised what a liability he is. Amongst other things, this is the man who promised 'no more boom and bust' while presiding over the biggest credit bubble the UK has ever seen.

Back on the original topic, I think the big difference is that Canadians are allowed to proud of their country (and, by extension, the people who fight for it), whereas in Britain that's practically a 'hate crime'.

bazzz

Being proud of one's country is idiotic in the extreme. It's an arbitrarily defined chunk of land - what's to be proud of? The idea of national pride is only of any use when trying to persuade people to daft things that they otherwise wouldn't want to do. Like getting blown up by some nutjobs in a far-away country.

Cassie 10000

I am so glad that this got posted in the end. I think it is a shame that we do not treat our English troops the way the Canadians/American soilders get treated.

These Men and Woman go to war places and fight for us. Many people would not do what these guys do.

I support our troops, and the Brave job they do for our country.

NatsnSid

I'm glad the mail did that article - I hope it showed quite a few people how lost this country is!

Its bloody shameful and we should be standing up and SHOUTING our praise and thanks to the forces - regardless of the politics surrounding their cause - they didn't choose it but regardless of whether they agree - they still go and do what they are trained to do.

There is a UK site up and running now to leave messages of support for our serving army - I'll google and add in a mo.

The day I see children/adults and elderly standing in line with their hand on their hearts, with a union in their hand will be a day I will say Great Britain - I fear I will never utter those words again.....what is wrong with us!

Winston Green

Bazz

The reason you can have this opinion and post it is because thousands of people have served their country and died doing so to allow free speech and liberty. They did not think it was idiotic to fight and give their lives for an arbitrary chunk of land, they had a sense of National Pride.

As somebody who has served his country I did not do it for the government I did it for my Queen, my Family and my comrades in arms ( we lost two more this weekend). In the forces we have long been aware of how certain sections of our society view our sacrifice and commitment, we are just thankfully it is not all.

As for the pages of the Mail on Sunday and its report. It is sad that we do not get the recognition afforded by other countries but we are reminded of the word of the poem below:

"Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circles flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die."

Enough said I will just go quietly now and get on with what you tax payer ask us to do!

The_Bax

Unfortunately National Service is a thing of the past!

LiffyB

As the wife of a serving member of the Armed Forces I can confirm that our Sailors/Soldiers and Airman are treated like second class citizens here in the UK. Some of you may not be aware that just recently Airmen from a base near to Peterbrough have been banned from wearing their uniforms in public following abuse from members of the public. Don't get me started on the treatment they recieve when returning injured to the UK - that's truly appauling!

Having served and lived amongst Canadian and US Armed Forces I can say that they are all treated with honour and respect from their country's citizens and government - unlike our own here in the UK. This country is going to the dogs! My husband has a year left to serve after serving his country for 33 years and he can't wait to see the back of an government that will no longer give him a care of duty and treats our young servicemen and women as cannon fodder.

My Grandfathers went to war to protect this country from tyrants such as Hitler - now young people are sent to war for oil revenue!

LiffyB

amberdayz

And then this gov wonders way so many people leave, these fallen hero's left to fight through the traffic...they gave their lives and how are the received (traffic jams)

It makes me ashamed to say that I'm British, a total disgrace