Veterans Day/ Thank You and OP/ED

[I_am_not_mafia]

Great suggestion Thumpalumpacus. Yeah, everybody get up on that soapbox and exercise your freedom of speech. That's what its all about. That ought to be a Veteran's Day tradition. Get loud and obnoxious - even if what you have to say is anti-veterans. Some people will get pissed but the people who did military service for the right reasons will understand.

I hate war and I especially hate the glorification of it. But I also hate how war veterans are badly treated, especially by the British government. Or for example the animosity towards Vietnam vets because it reminded the public that their country had lost a war.

I like the idea of getting on a soapbox and exercising the freedom of speech, but not for just one day of the year but for all days of the year. That way other countries may avoid having to send off their own men to die to stop your own country from being tyrannical.

What makes me nervous though is how remembrance day / veterans day can become highly politicised. It's a small step from honouring the soldiers that sacrificed themselves to glorifying the armed services so that politicians can attract another batch of young lives to secure resources and influence around the world so that the politicians can enjoy their jobs that little bit more. Because ultimately, that's always what war comes down to. The egos of some leaders and securing / grabbing resources. Unfortunately, since Tony Blair, we have crossed that line in the UK.