What is happening to this once proud nation?
Brown needs to do more
The news that personnel in our armed forces are being advised not to wear the Queen’s uniform in certain areas for fear of “offending” certain ethnic minority groups is abhorrent and a move in the wrong direction. So too is the news that university students have voted to ban the armed services from recruiting at University College, London.
There should never be any “no go” areas in this country for any of our citizens, each has their own individual freedoms and liberties under the law, and each has their own personal responsibility to act within the law. Gordon Brown’s “encouragement” to service personnel to wear the uniform with pride is a step in the right direction but it doesn’t go far enough, he ought to have made it very clear indeed that the full force of the law will be brought against those who abuse or assault members of the armed forces.
These people voluntarily decide to serve their country and one day someone in a minority ethnic community may well be in need of their protection, one day a student may think he/she might have wished to join one of the services.
Makes you wonder if these so called “citizenship” classes should be brought into the university curriculum as well.
Just where is the pride in our people these days?
Curly,
Re the abuse of our troops.
I (very briefly) saw something on Sky News recently about something that happened in Peterborough, I believe. Alas, I’m not totally aware of the detail of the incident but I did just want to express some thoughts on the matter.
The behaviour of those who abuse our armed forces is utterly disgraceful. People who engage in such acts are, in my opinion, arrogant, ill-informed, moral cowards.
It is one thing to oppose government foreign policy (that is our democratic right and must be expressed for democracy to properly function) but entirely another to direct criticism at our brave troops merely for doing their jobs. By all means have a go at the politicians but don’t attack those risking their lives to protect us.
Whilst I cannot possibly comprehend the challenges faced and the courage, valour and commeradery of our full time troops, I did serve in the RNR for a few years and we wore our uniforms with pride. Fortunately I was never verbally abused by any member of the public. We must remember that 99.9% of people in this Country do respect and appreciate our armed forces.
The tiny minority of people who verbally or otherwise abuse our troops should be treat with the shame and contempt they deserve.
I know our troops will continue to walk proudly in their uniforms and serve our nation and the World to the best of their ability in these times of grave uncertainty and danger.
Comment by David Potts — March 8, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
Surely I can’t be the only person who detects a whiff of a spin doctor at work here with the Peterborough story? Before we know it they’ll be giving us a 45 minute warning of WMDs!
Comment by Bryan — March 9, 2008 @ 6:49 am