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The point of Trump is that he is no longer in power in a fascist country he still would be. I’m not saying it’s not on the rise look closely at the old eastern block.
Trump in power was merely the Munich Putsch stage of fascism. Wait until something with the same beliefs and less excess baggage comes along.
My neighbour is properly racist. Pretty open about shouting to people on street his views. All his cars have these big plastic poppies, on all year round.
Unfortunately it has become part of the English superiority over all others attitude that some have, the EU exit also contributes to that.
Most of the dead did not ‘give’ their lives, their lives were taken. And for what? To satisfy the greed, stupidity and pride of their rulers. So remember and grieve for the dead by all means, but never forget why they died and who sent them to their deaths – and be angry enough about that to make sure it doesn’t happen any more.
Very true.
Just come back from marshalling the village parade.
Mixed views on it this year, RBL didn't want a parade in the village due to Covid, so the parish council picked it up and the Scouts/Guides got dragged in as we always parade from the school to our (apparently) distinctive memorial. So I volunteered to marshall as I love a bit of hiviz power me.
Surprisingly no issues with the drivers who ignored the road closed and diversion signs, they all saw me, stopped and turned round without a word, which is rare.
There's something about hearing the Scouts and Guides reading out the names from the memorial. We cover what were at the time two small villages but one had a working pit, and the number from there who joined up and never returned is eye opening. Lovely, practically non-religious service about peace and sacrifice, all the better for having a German born vicar.
Two things stood out for me - a little girl carried away crying by her dad because it "felt so sad", and a guy who was on his way to the village shop just as I'd closed the road, but who had parked up and watched the parade and service before doing his shopping. As he walked back to his car I apologised his trip had been a lot longer than he'd planned and he said "It was worth it though".
So no nationalism, no glory, just quiet reflection across the generations.
Let's keep challenging the idiots and keep it how it should be.
Those last two lines.
Nailed it.
being replaced by the jingoistic glorification of war in a highly nationalistic manner.
Not really, except maybe in your head. We live in a country where the armed forces can't recruit fully. Hardly a sign of successful glorification.
Fetishisation rather than glorification, I think.
That's how people get excited by war and 'venerating' veterans without actually respecting them.
Fetishisation sounds about right, had a few questions this morning that boil my piss every time they're asked.
Usually the same people who also spin dits about why they never joined.
I hate having to be polite.
Cringesome in parts, but one of many YT videos that maybe help define where we sit in relationship to Fascism today.
The thing is "Fascism" doesn't tend to go by that name anymore, and it definitely doesn't just happen overnight, it requires a few social/economic conditions and some people willing and able to take advantage of those...
I think we've drifted closer in West over the last few years, but an important distinction for me is still that those in the driving seat have generally been disaster capitalists of one flavour or another, keen to use a bit of RW nationalism and the "strong leader" imagery to gain power and control, ultimately though they like functioning free markets, under a democratic* system.
(*Which they can corrupt of course)
As for rememberence, that precisely what it is for me, recognition of the sacrifices made by others (some quite recently) so that we can live in relative peace, having these sort of debates without fear of persecution or suffering. That's what I buy a poppy for and why I observe a bit of silence. Those that would co-opt it for a bit of "national pride" have missed the point, but at least they have the freedom and the right to do so...
We live in a country where the armed forces can’t recruit fully. Hardly a sign of successful glorification.
I'd say your average tubthumping, "stick it up the argies/jerrys/frogs" red white and blue nationalist glorifiers are normally pretty happy to subcontract the messy bit of the 'projecting' British might to others. Or is it just that those with first hand experience of conflict have a more rational and realistic understanding that is it not glorious and no one really wins.
I was riding alone at 1100 today, thinking sobre thoughts about the past and wishing for as much conflict free time as possible ahead.
Surprisingly no issues with the drivers who ignored the road closed and diversion signs, they all saw me, stopped and turned round without a word, which is rare.
I met a friend at a cafe today and there was a parade going on in the village centre. I joined the edge just for the silence part. The marshal, maybe 50m up the road had no trouble at all - people drove up, got directed off a side road or had to wait until the service was over. No issues.
Compare and contrast for when I've been marshalling cycle races and drivers get massively arsey at even the slightest hint of a delay - unnecessary use of the roads, no road tax, blah blah.
None of that at all when the roads are blocked for a Remembrance Parade. Weird huh?!
None of that at all when the roads are blocked for a Remembrance Parade. Weird huh?!
Well, our road closure for the parade is an official, legal, notices up weeks in advance and barriers preventing entry type of closure, which tends not to happen on many cycle events I've marshalled, sadly.
This probably belongs here?
Sorry if been posted but this summed up my thoughts
(and I say that as someone who took poo art in my local scout group remembrance parade yesterday)
the person that wrote that article Kimbers is a 1st class cockwomble - im quite sure the many serving and ex service that have experienced conflict would disagree with the notion that the "UK" has not experienced "war".
Who TF actually wrote that - uttter utter w@ker..
the notion that the “UK” has not experienced “war”.
That's not what it says
"the notion that the “UK” has not experienced “war”.
In fact the article says the complete opposite but don't let that spoil your rant Sui.
Nothing more dignified & solemn than when the annual joyride through town by the mayor & councillor in a tank lark, ends with them running over the village war memorial
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/dads-army-gaffe-cheshire-idea-22184994
https://twitter.com/Otto_English/status/1460886086570414085?t=KljWqqNhNzLYy-yGq3XKig&s=19
That is both hilarious and quite sad.
My answer to poppy and help for heroes fascists is:
"These people died so I could choose how to live my life, that includes choosing how to remember them."