Last November I read a provocative article in a magazine which commented upon the increasing presence of the military at football matches and not not just during the course of Rembrance Sunday. reference was made to soldiers being presented to crowds and how representation from the army is being seem as part of football tradition in the final of tournements such as the F a Cup. The author made some salient points and although I have always felt that the commemoration of fallen servicemen and women was always appropriate where this celebrated those who had been conscripted into service or fought against Nazi tyranny , I must admit to being less comfortable about the wide-spread presence these days. Irrespective of our feelings regarding the necessity and indeed legitimacy of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the article raised the question as to whether it was appropriate that football in this country should embrace the military quite as enthusiastically as it has during the last ten years. The journalist concluded that giving free tickets to servicemen should be no more legitimate than doing the same for doctors, nurses , fireman, etc who also carrying out a function as important as our national services and may similarly put their lives at risk. It is noticeable just how frequently local regiments have been marched around football grounds after a tour of duty. Since I read this article with it's conclusion that some matches now have the air of either old-style Soviet pageant or perhaps a show tin-pot nationalism, it is true to say that it has been noticeable how more visable the celebration of the British military has been at a number of sporting venues whether it is football or the Olympics. Upon reading the article I thought that it would prompt some reaction in the next month's letters page but it appeared to go unnoticed or at most tacitly accepted. Over the last 12 months, it has been noticeable that servicemen and women do have a far greater profile at sporting events than I had previously appreciated. Personally, I feel proud of the fact that my relatives served and in some cases died for the cause of their country but can't help feeling that in 2012 that the message has been highjacked in an era when nationalism and jingoism should not be made welcome in all walks of life and not just sport. I do feel very strongly that football and sport in general should have a day for reflection each November yet feel uncomfortable in the way that the military has been accommodated into sport so easily where it is probably not appropriate in these times of wide-spread media coverage and multi-culturalism. Given the range of nationalities who play in the UK, you could question the sensitivity of this. I wondered of anyone else had a view regarding this matter.
Yes I'm inclined to agree, it's a bit strange how we fetishise the military in this way. It's appropriate for remembrance Sunday and maybe the FA cup final, but I feel the parading around before England matches is a bit much personally.
If people are risking their lives on my behalf, then whatever I think about the rights and wrongs of the wars being fought, I have no objection to showing them some respect and gratitude.
It's very debatable whether the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are actually benefitting us, but respect and gratitude are certainly due nonetheless, I just think free tickets and parading them around the pitch is a bit unwarranted. As Ian says, many other people go above and beyond the call of duty and don't get the recognition. What is different about the military?
An ex army friend of mine recently remarked that when his generation went to war (in Northern Ireland) the rest of the country was ashamed of them and treated them as pariahs, while todays returning soldiers, coming back from Afghan and Iraq, are labelled "heroes". No idea why that is really. If you join the forces, you don't get to choose where your country sends you.
