No More WW2 Memorials?

Quite apart from the fact the idiot who wrote this can't tell the difference between England and Britain, he/she/it seems to think building memorials is 'glorifying war'-
"This summer another second world war memorial, this time to Bomber Command, will be unveiled in central London. Even if this were an uncontentious subject of scintillating design, 2012 is far too late to be building memorials to those involved in a war that ended nearly 70 years ago. Honouring the courage of the few who fought and the stoicism of those left behind had its place in post-war reconstruction, and remains important. But the record is being fashioned into something quite different. To understand the ambition of the memorialisers, watch the film that helped raise the £5m to build and maintain the monument: the war is reduced to being another chapter in Our Island Story, England alone, the last bastion of freedom."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/18/unthinkable-no-more-second-world-war-memorials
Yet compare with the same paper's attitude to the International Brigade-
In praise of

 

I agree Gordon, If building memorials is "gloryfying war", then allow me to build some on the writings of the ignorants who claim so.

I'd rather "glorify" Veterans who served and risked their lives for our freedom, than "gloriffy" people who criticise those who granted them the very right to criticise....

 

Guardian writers = the most ....................... on earth.

And I know from my very own experience what I am talking about!

 

I always thought memorials were for the dead who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I dont think that I've seen a single one which glorified war.

 

What a joke ! Another example of the selfish, it's all about me, segment of todays society.

Maybe this twit would support a "Good Old Days" memorial. It would celebrate the last 6 decades of freedom and prosperity these vets gave us.
Then she could have her politically correct memorial.

 

It's a sad fact to think that for many the further away from the war we get the lesser the memory of what actually went on gets. Be it people forgetting how brave the folks were back then or the atrocities that went on. I was gob smacked the other day when my daughters fool of a boyfriend was visiting and after discussing his school history homework with me (Nazi Germany) he turned round and said that Hitler wasn't such a bad person he just made a few mistakes i was gobsmacked and at first thought that in perhaps not such a long time the reality of what went on will be forgotten altogether, until I remembered someone in the early 80's telling me something similar. This person went to university so is well educated was born in the shadow of the war (1949) is British yet still claimed that the Nazis were on the right path trying to create a master race is they had got their way there wouldn't be the likes of disabled people by then (by then I mean the 80's) even as a child I remember being shocked by the naivety of it and pointed out that all sorts of things can occur for all sorts of reasons be it a bad child birth/pregnancy to name just one and you'll never stop it happening. My point is that even during the years straight after the war there was people who hadn't got a grasp on what went on and for why so I guess the people of today such as your journalist aren't that different. However a fair few of us are lucky enough to have a good understanding of what atrocities happened and more so what sacrifices were made and by who. So perhaps it's down to us to make sure we pass this knowledge onto others so as its not forgotten. My daughter hates history at school she says the teacher makes it boring yet she'll willingly listen to me recite war stories and is genuinely interested, all friends kids get a poppy from me and the story behind it every November 11th. I guess to some its of no interest but others I know for a fact take it all in and remember it. I guess if you throw enough sh*t some of it sticks. There is always going to be people who don't understand, care or want to know what went on but on the other hand there is ALWAYS going to be a lot of people who want to know more and who are eternally grateful for those that stepped up when they were needed. Just because a few people are ignorant to our past it doesn't mean that it's being forgotten there is plenty of people making sure of that. Like I said the kids at school nowadays are studying the war after looking at my kids work I realized she's doing the exact same curriculum in history I did 20 odd years ago. Starting from the treaty of Versailles and right through the war, I've just had to sign a letter saying I'm OK with her watching the full unedited version of Schindler's List in class (the edited school version misses out the nudity and some of the violence ) so it would seem that even the British education system recognizes the importance of making sure that its not forgotten and fair play to them.

I'm aware that this post may have wandered of on to my own crusade for that I apologize but it's a dear subject to me the education of future generations. I'll finish with this the cynic in me would be thinking now that the journalist is just cobbling together anything that they think will make good copy and possibly raise an eyebrow or two. But surely the British press would never engage in such acts. As per the memorial for Bomber Command they can stick one on every street corner for me as unless I've missed something of late (don't watch much news it bores me) they never got their chuffin medal.

 

Ah yes, the shortness of memory associated with warfare.

For Britons, how many of you have been to Trafalgar Square lately and stared up in memory at Nelson's Column? How many of you still celebrate 'Trafalgar Day?', (21st of October....also happens to be my step-daughter's birthday, so we have a double celebration in this house.

The Battle of Trafalgar laid the groundwork for EMPIRE and all that went with it in the modern age. The greatest sailor of his day and probably the most admired Briton of all has been relegated to a receptacle for pidgeon poo. At one time, British schoolchildren could name EVERY major capital ship in "The Fleet".

Such is the fate of monuments. World War Two will be no exception to this generality. Time and distance from the event mean memories fade as the participants and their children disappear. Don't feel as though something is amiss.

 

Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.

 

So the monuments to the jews are glorifying their end?? Statues to our explorers gloryfying the disposession of our natives of their land? A statue of a heart surgeon glorifying heart disease and cancer?? Of course not. A simple case of someone using the facts to their own end...clerics read and then translate the "word" for their own arguement...this is just another example of misrepresentation...i'd say deliberate in this case...but most often out of ignorance. Its up to people like us to explain to the monstrously ignorant, the "right' way to view these monuments. If we relied on the media, we'd all be up sh*t creek...

 

usually with disastrous consequences

 

A person has a pretty decent memory. People as a whole tend to have very short attention spans and memory retention. Most especially in this age of electronic instant-media. Why do research, when there's an authoritative talking head on TV, complete with well-coiffed hairdoo, expensive tie, and digitally-whitened teeth? Its so much easier to just believe what they're saying (since they're right most of the time! Well...some of the time....I mean...they pronounced the guy's name right, at least) than to go out and do research for yourself. I'm sure for every hobby or interest or pasttime or profession, there's the exact same conversation going on, "why can't _____ get it right? I mean, its basic quantum physics, the stuff Stephen Hawking was doing when he was 3 years old, for cryin out loud!" Sadly, most folks lose interest once they pass their finals in school, or graduate college. History isn't one of those things that will get you a good-paying job, unless its with a museum. So its up to us, the folks who've caught the history bug, to keep gently reminding* them, especially when someone in the media gets it totally wrong.

*gentle reminder = using a wooden bat, instead of an aluminum one with rusty nails welded to it

 

I don't just like that post, Alien ol'boy, it deserves a SALUTE!

It IS up to people like us to remind* people......and the comment about history not getting you a good job, it's about time something changed in that sphere.

 

I, or at least some members of my squadron, expect to be part of the commemoration of the 55k+ individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice whislt serving with RAF Bomber Command during WW2. In the region of 5000 veterans from Bomber Command are expected to be present when the memorial is unveilled. I feel honoured and priviledged to ba a part of this.

Roxy