I remember when women were given equal ops in the military and the opponents of it were saying that the first time a female was brought home in a body bag there'd be a national outcry. We've had women killed out there and to be honest the nation doesn't actually seem to care much, we had to have a national newspaper campaign to get the hearses of soldiers killed escorted by the police after landing at Brize Norton. They showed Canadians standing at the kerbs saluting their fallen as they drove past escorted by police outriders, ours were shown stuck in a traffic jam. We are having to fundraise for medical care for wounded service people.
I watched CSI the other night, they'd gone down to the evidence room to pick something up and were dealt with a police officer with one arm, they asked how, she answered Iraq and then they said "Thank you for your service" I've seen it on other programmes and on here, I've never heard it said over here not even on a fictional programme. In fact when dealt with in fiction it's usually a squaddie running amok because he's got PTSD.
I've seen on here too all the freebies, things you can do for your forces and the support they get from the general public and I get so mad that it isn't the same here.
The British Legion is busting a gut to do all it can but then it's made up of ex service personnel, the Princes William and Harry are also trying to help but we just don't have the same appreciation here of the sacrifices service people are making for this country. We don't even have anyone from the government to meet the bodies when they arrive in the UK. Soldiers are told to change into civvies after arriving back as they are being insulted. They changed on the runway.
Sorry better stop now, I can literally rant for Great Britain on this subject.
Shesulsa, it's such a good thought. We shouldn't forget.
Twas ever thus in the UK, Tez. Remember Rudyard Kipling's great, immensely bitter poem 'Tommy'?
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
True then and, alas, still true, from what you say.... Tommy's answer has been given to him: the Widow's Uniform
is the soldier-man's disgrace, so you'll be changing out of it now, please...on the runway, if need be.
.
