Remind your friend that if it weren’t for the allies in WW2, China would have been conquered by the Japanese. Also, ask him how he thinks other smaller Asian countries (Taiwan in particular) feel seeing China celebrate their national day every year with massive military parades.
My son lives in Shanghai and he and his neighbours are more unhappy about this thread being hijacked than any thing Ian says!
Of all the nonsense you post, this is the lowest of the low from you. Shocking disrespect of our war dead. Have a day off you unpatriotic mess
That context being about international games and poppies (fair enough), rather than games played in the English Premier League, which you appear to have missed, along with this apposite line - "No one would object to a minute’s silence to remember the war dead".
Fair enough. I understand that but i agree with the comment that the presence of the military at football matches and the unfluence of the Far Right is not a good thing. Football would appear to have learned nothing from the days in 1914 to 16 when it was used to drive up recruitment.
I am thinking that his ignorance about the real purpose of todays event is to blame. It's main purpose is to commemorate former Southampton Football Club employees (including players) and associates who paid the ultimate price while defending King and Country. Just that.
Can’t speak for anyone else , but . I like Chinese , They only come up to your knees , Yet they're always friendly, and they′re ready to please .
Here's all the context you need. https://www.southampton.gov.uk/arts...onuments/cenotaph/southamptons-fallen-heroes/
Osprey Thanks for your response. I understand that but at what point football continue to do commerate the war dead from 20th century wars ? Why has nothing been made of the non-combattants killed in Luftwaffe air raids on Southampton ? More civilians were killed in WW2 than service personnel. Why does the army have to be present at the football match ? I do not recall anything beyond collection tins in 1970s and 80s when i first started going to The Dell. Why have some clubs offered concessions for military personnel to attend football matches ? And to answer LTL's comment , of course army recruitment at football matches was abhorent just as it is to send recruiters from the services to schools and colleges today. We have learned nothing from previous experiences and the fetishisation of Rememberance Sunday just perpetuates the same lies told for generations. My grandfather fought in France and Italy during WW1 and was an amateur footballer during 1920s . A proud Labour supporter, he was very much against Rememberance Sunday because he knew that the rich who did not fight were the ones to benefit. I think the reality of this tradition is far more nuanced than some here suggest. Football is supposed to be a working class sport but bringing the military into football stadia on a poignant day just seems hypocritical. It is celebrating the very system that puts ordinary people down and the very antithesis of freedom of expression which is what football is about. Football should be about bringing people together .
You are even thicker than I gave you credit for, many of those that died, did so in the armed services, others were civilians, there is no difference in the fact that they perished.
Recruitment for the army is abhorrent? Okay, going to leave this one as it’s straying way too far into politics, but I find that an utterly bizarre comment.
I think the conversation is getting too personal. Shame Osprey has become impolite - usually find him to be normal. Usually only get from IOAG.
