2 minutes silence

[sasguru]

And maybe they shouldn't. After all, there are still wars and still people dying on all sides.

Isn't that his point? What is the point of Remembrance Day if we just carry on on doing it ad infinitum?

[cailin maith]

Isn't that his point? What is the point of Remembrance Day if we just carry on on doing it ad infinitum?

But that wasn't his point, was it? It was that he couldn't give a crap about what happened in WWI (or any other conflict) it meant nothing to him.

Soldiers were/are either morons or nutjobs (or in EO's case both).

[RichardCranium]

What is the point of Remembrance Day if we just carry on on doing it ad infinitum?

That strangest of human weaknesses: hope.

[RichardCranium]

Anyone stupid enough to sign up to the Army are either morons or nutjobs.

The British Army does try to weed out the nutjobs and morons are not terribly useful in a modern army. Anyway, why sign up?

This comes from a booklet produced in 2000 called "Soldiering – The Military Covenant":

“Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices – including the ultimate sacrifice – in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.”

How many of us contractors, and how many permies, can honestly say they are "able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected"? We're either disposable effort or wage slaves.

Joining the army offers benefits that are simply not available in civilian life. And if you don;t fancy being one of the 1 in 5 young unemployed, it provides somewhere to go where you can make a difference, learn skills, become part of a 'family', be given opportunities to do things that you would otherwise never get to do and at the end of your military career be a bigger and better person because of it.

It often might not turn out that way, but the potential is there. There is bugger all potential available in the Job Centre or being a chav sitting on a park bench drinking White Lightning.

[EternalOptimist]

The British Army does try to weed out the nutjobs and morons are not terribly useful in a modern army. Anyway, why sign up?

This comes from a booklet produced in 2000 called "Soldiering – The Military Covenant":

“Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices – including the ultimate sacrifice – in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.”

How many of us contractors, and how many permies, can honestly say they are "able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected"? We're either disposable effort or wage slaves.

Joining the army offers benefits that are simply not available in civilian life. And if you don;t fancy being one of the 1 in 5 young unemployed, it provides somewhere to go where you can make a difference, learn skills, become part of a 'family', be given opportunities to do things that you would otherwise never get to do and at the end of your military career be a bigger and better person because of it.

It often might not turn out that way, but the potential is there. There is bugger all potential available in the Job Centre or being a chav sitting on a park bench drinking White Lightning.

It was the best thing I ever did, I never have a second of regret, I recommend it to my lad and if I had my time over I would do it again.

[Diestl]

Isn't that his point? What is the point of Remembrance Day if we just carry on on doing it ad infinitum?

Exactly my point, we remember it but there are wars going on all the time. Time to cancel it, complete waste of time and money.

The post about the world cup, al least it provides entertainment, Rememberance Day is like watching paint dry, they should just show Blackadder 4.

[Diestl]

The British Army does try to weed out the nutjobs and morons are not terribly useful in a modern army. Anyway, why sign up?

This comes from a booklet produced in 2000 called "Soldiering – The Military Covenant":

“Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices – including the ultimate sacrifice – in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.”

How many of us contractors, and how many permies, can honestly say they are "able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected"? We're either disposable effort or wage slaves.

Joining the army offers benefits that are simply not available in civilian life. And if you don;t fancy being one of the 1 in 5 young unemployed, it provides somewhere to go where you can make a difference, learn skills, become part of a 'family', be given opportunities to do things that you would otherwise never get to do and at the end of your military career be a bigger and better person because of it.

It often might not turn out that way, but the potential is there. There is bugger all potential available in the Job Centre or being a chav sitting on a park bench drinking White Lightning.

Theres no way in hell I would ever sacrafice my life for the nation, for my family yes. Like sacraficing yourself for the EU.

[Churchill]

Theres no way in hell I would ever sacrafice my life for the nation, for my family yes. Like sacraficing yourself for the EU.

Somehow I think we've arrived at that conclusion.

[administrator]

I think this thread has run its course.