I am surprised that there has been little comment on this thread with regard to the calls for restraint regarding the potential clash between pro-Palestinian protests and the services of remembrance next Sunday. No one has commented upon Suella Braverman's comments regarding the pro-Palestinian "hate march" and even Gary Lineker's tweets have somewhat failed to identify what the real "issue" is. It is staggering that the two gatherings are being considered as two entities when, in reality, they are one and the same. I feel that the original issue of the Remembrance Sunday was something that I used to be passionate about but I feel it has increasingly out-served it's purpose. Originally it commemorated the fallen of the two World Wars and, as such, I think merited it's place on the national calender. In 2023, this seems to be less and less the case and most of the "fallen" gave their lives for conflicts such as in Ireland, the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq where the presence of British troops has been far more controversial. I feel that the whole sentiment of Remembrance Sunday is now hijacked by the increasingly hawkish right wing to the extent that is almost seems a celebration of British military prowess whereas the original intention was to reflect upon those who gave up their lives to defend liberty and within a system where conscription meant that many people did not have a say in this matter. Thankfully, society has moved on. What I do feel strongly about is that Remembrance Sunday should recognise that people are still losing their lives in military conflicts and I feel that it would be far more appropriate not to celebrate British military endeavours but rather reflect upon the consequences for people who have become the victims of military action. In this respect, I feel it is entirely appropriate that people are taking to the streets next Sunday to protest about the genocide being meted out by the Israeli's in Gaza and that this is an entirely appropriate time for British people (many of whom are Muslim) to reflect upon the death and destruction caused by the IDF. I would imagine that many of the British service men who lost their lives in the two world wars would feel ashamed that the government is couching the pro-Palestinian protests in such volitile terms as "marches of hate" and would be equally hostile in their understanding of what is going on in Gaza. Many of these servicemen would have lost their lives fighting the Nazi's and ultimately liberating their death camps and they would have been shocked to learn that the descendents of those they had liberated are not better than the Nazis themselves. In conclusion, I do not feel that the two "events" are mutually exclusive. I would be pleased for the Services of Remembrance to be opened up to embrace those demonstrating for a ceasefire and the ceasing of attrocities against the citizens of Gaza. Braverman has got this totally wrong and no one seems to be making the obvious connection in that the Service of Remembrance reflects upon the kind of issues which are now happening in the world in real time. It does make me feel ashamed for be British. If 11th November is continue to be relevant and sincere, it needs to recognise that all war is bad and that the consequences for innocent civilians cannot be ignored. If the demonstrators were invited to contribute to the service and opposed to be considered objectionable by the Govt, I feel that this would genuinely make a statement that the whole world could see as opposed to being a fossilized and irrelevant. I woud love to see representives from Ukraine and Gaza invited to attend next Sunday.
Firstly, crimes of violence should always get the most severe penalties over other crimes IMO. The problem here is that although 33 years is still a substantial sentence the fact that it has been reduced gives the impression of McSweeney getting more justice than he deserves. In other words the law that he quite obviously and disgustingly ignored is now there for him to reduce his sentence. Although capital punishment is rightly obsolete in this country there are some people for whom jail doesn't seem appropriate. This guy is almost inhuman.
I would imagine that many of the British service men who lost their lives in the two world wars would feel ashamed that they sacrificed themselves to enable ****ing nutters like you the right to spout **** like this. You are a disgrace.
No-one is a disgrace or a nutter on this platform. Not even Os!! OK, IT has a different point of view where he wants to embrace all in the fight against war and injustice. He is certainly not critical of the service people who have put their lives on the line. Much of the criticism is reserved for Braverman who merits all the brickbats flying for being so divisive.
I am lost for words. This is one of the most insane posts I’ve read on here. Hamas terrorists STILL HAVE hundreds of hostages. The “peaceful march” today have attacked police, members of the public and contained anti-demotion and calls for global Jihad You and others like you have ****ed this country. England is going to be unrecognisable within a few years. It already is. Meanwhile liberal sheep cheer it on. Insanity. I for one will choose to remember those service men & women that gave their lives to give us the amazing country we grew up in… without sparing a single thought for any other conflict - especially one caused by disgusting Palestinian terrorists
Apparently the latest rantings from Braverman is that homeless people, sleeping in tents, have made a lifestyle choice to live in tents AND the charities that supply the tents should be fined. WHAT A BITCH.
That woman is genuinely wicked (not 'wicked' in a good way). Vile person who seems to delight in dehumanising the most vulnerable in society.
If Dianne Abbot had said that, the right wing media would be going batshit crazy now…..but strangely quiet when this wicked woman has said it.
I don't think men like my auntie's first husband (who is buried in a military cemetery in Normandy) sacrificed their lives so people people like Ian would be shut down for voicing controversial views. Quite the opposite, I think.
Yes, solid proof that propaganda is working and that people here in the UK would happily cheer on terrorists. It makes me laugh to think of how Hamas would treat liberal westerners. I see things like “Queers for Palestine” and just laugh at the sheer insanity of it. Hamas would behead them all on sight.
What propaganda is that then Os? Seems to me the media has been very sympathetic to Israel. Perhaps you think the sight of children's bodies being pulled out of the rubble is propaganda, but I think it's what used to be called news. For the record, I'm not pro any side nor any ethnic, religious, or political group; I'm pro peace, in Gaza as in Yemen, Sudan, Ukraine etc.
As am I. But this narrative that Israel are the aggressor is what I’m talking about. They were brutally attacked and are responding the way any other nation would. I hope there is peace too. But still no one has been able to answer me - what should Israel do when faced with this existential threat?
I don’t really have a problem with anything she’s said here. I have been to San Francisco and seen first hand the tent cities that have spring up there. I saw people ****ting in the road, injecting heroin on the sidewalk. All this is just 5-10 minutes away from some of the biggest companies in the world. I definitely want to avoid that situation happening here. As long as they do actually provide the support she talked about. Creating tent cities is not the solution.
