The Poppy Appeal is once again subverting Armistice Day. A day that should be about peace and remembrance is turned into a month-long drum roll of support for current wars. This year's campaign has been launched with showbiz hype. The true horror and futility of war is forgotten and ignored.
The public are being urged to wear a poppy in support of "our Heroes". There is nothing heroic about being blown up in a vehicle. There is nothing heroic about being shot in an ambush and there is nothing heroic about fighting in an unnecessary conflict.
Remembrance should be marked with the sentiment "Never Again".
Ben Griffin (Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Iraq)
Ben Hayden (Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Iraq)
Terry Wood (Northern Ireland, Falklands)
Ken Lukowiak (Northern Ireland, Falklands)
Neil Polley (Falklands)
Steve Pratt (Dhofar, Northern Ireland)
(Taken from The Guardian)
Erm.. A soldier does not choose which war to fight, they simply go where they are told. And as for the mention of it not being heroic to die in a car bomb, I would argue that any man or woman who puts their life on the line for their country is a "hero"...
As for the war being unnecessary, after seeing the pictures of the young lady with no nose and no ears thanks to Taliban style justice, I would argue that a war with these people is in the interests of humanity as a whole!
A British soldier should refuse to fight in Afghanistan (or Iraq, but that is over).
Now that is real bravery. Unlike what some others get up to.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.