Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging thinktanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", 2019 parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, "Speedboat", "The Cockroach", eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Beating The Retreat
I was very moved to hear the list of our war dead from Iraq read out in Basra.
But if you did that at the Cenotaph, then you would be arrested. People have been.
Well the Cenotaph is a sacred place and should not be used as a political backdrop (although arguably it is increasingly used as such). Watching the News today I was struck by the dignity. But it was stage-managed (not a bad thing in itself) I wonder how many journos were flown out there at MOD expense thus ensuring a particular type of uncritical coverage. Although the solemnity of the occasion itself should ensure no critique. Not the time. Not the place. Yet the portrayal of the Basra experience as a "victory" may not stand up in 20 or 50 years time. Nevertheless from the perspective of a neutral....it was impressive.
Self explanatory surely. It means that my nation is not involved in the conflict. And the ethnic origins or birthplaces of those in the regiment are as little consequence to me as those serving say Australia, USA or Canada. I obviously wish them no harm. To wish anyone involved in that conflict more harm than the other side would be an immoral act and my conscience could not sustain such a thought.
Well the Cenotaph is a sacred place and should not be used as a political backdrop (although arguably it is increasingly used as such).
ReplyDeleteWatching the News today I was struck by the dignity. But it was stage-managed (not a bad thing in itself)
I wonder how many journos were flown out there at MOD expense thus ensuring a particular type of uncritical coverage.
Although the solemnity of the occasion itself should ensure no critique.
Not the time. Not the place.
Yet the portrayal of the Basra experience as a "victory" may not stand up in 20 or 50 years time.
Nevertheless from the perspective of a neutral....it was impressive.
A neutral? What about all those Irish Guards and RIR, complete with the shamrock on their vehicles?
ReplyDeleteA neutral yes.
ReplyDeleteWhatever that means.
ReplyDeleteSelf explanatory surely.
ReplyDeleteIt means that my nation is not involved in the conflict.
And the ethnic origins or birthplaces of those in the regiment are as little consequence to me as those serving say Australia, USA or Canada.
I obviously wish them no harm. To wish anyone involved in that conflict more harm than the other side would be an immoral act and my conscience could not sustain such a thought.