Soldier mocked over loss of legs

[airmail]

Words fail me :mad:

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Somerset | Soldier mocked over loss of legs (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8309714.stm)

[Jabba_TG12]

Lowlife scumbags.

"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. Its the only way to be sure"

Nothing much in Birmingham would be missed these days.... :rolleyes:

[ArthurBorges]

I'd forgotten such mindless uncaring idiots existed.

Hopefully, the Royal Army takes better care of its vets than, um, other armed forces do.

[BEagle]

If this encounter took place in a shopping centre, there may well be CCTV recordings which could assist in tracking the offenders.

Regrettably though, it might be difficult to find a charge to bring against these low life idiots.

They will undoubtedly be local to whichever area of Birmingham this incident occurred, so should be fairly easy to find.

[BOAC]

Do understand that I am in no way inciting nor suggesting criminal activity, but IF CCTV was available I would have thought some of his friends might be interested?

Perhaps they could educate these appalling creatures?

[PPRuNeUser0139]

I'm afraid that reading a report like this turns me cold and hits my Charles Bronson gene.
It would be extremely satisfying to get hold of each of these unthinking low lifes in turn and point out the error of their ways.. (with, I'm ashamed to admit, the aid of a clenched fist).
How much lower can the chav scum underclass sink..? And what an indictment of our society..

[NutLoose]

Sad to say indicitive of some of the youth of today..... I hope this one is booted out of University and charged!

Carnage: Shame of drunken student caught urinating on war memorial during mass pub crawl | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220579/Carnage-Shame-drunken-student-caught-urinating-war-memorial-mass-pub-crawl.html)

[fernytickles]

Utterly sickening.

But, trying to make something positive out of it. What does the pprune community think about doing something to help this young man? Not just posting shock & horror comments on here. Can we as a group show him support, and show our gratitude for what he has done for his country in some manner?

Flying and an interest in aviation is what brings us all together. Can any pprune pilots local to his home offer to take him flying? It may not be of any interest to him, but maybe it will open up a whole new world to him?

Its very easy for me, here in Oshkosh, WI, miles away to suggest this, knowing there's not much I can do about it, but if someone does take up the idea, and he does show an interest in aviation, we'd be happy to host him at AirVenture should he like to come this way.

Edited to add:

I did a quick facebook search and find there's a support page on there for him too

Login | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Matthew+Weston&init=quick#/group.php?gid=144242635138&ref=search&sid=760558833.42103693..1)

[barnstormer1968]

I know the report uses the word "boisterous", but even if that is the word his mum chooses to use, I think it's mis placed.

Taking a guess, the youths involved were probably just mindless idiots, who seem to feel they have a right or need to make stupid comments on a random basis.

I encounter low forms of amoeba like these quite often, and they nearly always know all of their rights (including human rights), have fashion sense (?) well past ridiculous, and have been raised in new labour style schooling in which every one is a winner and no one should be punished for anything (but rather be understood). The things these idiots don't actually have is any sense of responsibility, manners, any self respect or even the brain power to know when it's best to shut up and be quiet.

During a recent meeting with such types, the only thing stopping me dishing out instant justice, was the fact that there WAS CCTV nearby, and I new the lads involved would instantly be wanting me arrested for upsetting them!.
(this encounter was also in Somerset, but in Weston Super Mare in this case).

[cornish-stormrider]

Could not the local regiment (or THEM) as they be not too far, pop round for a quiet word round the back of the hanger (as it was), as for the disabled soldier - someone must be able to get him some perks and a free trip or two. Gliding perhaps?

And as for the student desecrating the memorial i think he should be made to clean up Headley Court for a month. A month of SWO's marines at Headley should open his eyes, if nothing else it might get him to realise the sacrifices involved.

[November4]

Sad to say indicitive of some of the youth of today..... I hope this one is booted out of University and charged!

Carnage: Shame of drunken student caught urinating on war memorial during mass pub crawl | Mail Online

Has been charged

Student on public decency charge (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8309955.stm)

As for the original story - this was reported a week or so ago (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1217411/Hero-soldier-lost-limbs-Afghanistan-taunted-disabilities-teenagers.html) good to see BBC Someret finally catching up.

[dinoorin]

Being ex green job myself - I would gladly offer the spare seat to the young man in my aircraft.
Based in the Midlands between Shrewsbury and Birmingham.
If anyone knows him just PM me the details and I will make the offer.

[L J R]

A tear is in my eye....sorry.

[SPIT]

The trouble is ,when they "MEANING THE AUTHORITYS" do get (if ever ???) these low lives NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM :mad::mad::mad:

[madflyer26]

Words escape me. Utter trash not worthy of sharing oxygen with this brave young man. I am also ex forces living in Oban, Scotland. If this unfortunate soldier is keen on flying, I would be more than willing to take him up in my aircraft. I wish him all the best on his recovery, and hope his life will return to some semblance of normality.

Regards MF26

[Al R]

I'll get slagged off for this, but here goes. In the book 'Don't cry for me Sgt Major', there is an aprophical (?) story of a badly wounded woodentop screaming that he had lost his legs. The medic darkly said 'No you haven't mate, they're just over there - I can see them'.

My point is this. I am not being contrarian for the sake of it, but ffs - is this news? People of all dissabilities of all colours and of all shapes and sizes get taken the piss out of all the time by cretins. If we are going to be outraged, lets pick our battles. Lets pick them for those with a personal lives far worse off than this brave young man.. lets do it for the hundreds of ex squaddies out on the streets each and every night.

[4321]

Saw this young man interviewed last night on local news at his medal parade. What an incredibly brave and strong guy he was, unlike the cowards who abused him. Shame those idiots couldn't be taken to Headley Court (or even better Selley Oak) and see how real men and women are making the best of their lot. Shame on them

[ArthurR]

Al R, Yea, but lets get rid of the cretins first, think what a good job these morons could do clearing mine fields, Just march them across at gun point, it will save many worth while lives...

[Two's in]

I'll get slagged off for this, but here goes. In the book 'Don't cry for me Sgt Major', there is an aprophical (?) story of a badly wounded woodentop screaming that he had lost his legs. The medic darkly said 'No you haven't mate, they're just over there - I can see them'.

Sadly Al you are exactly right. Life is unfair, those weak or just different are mocked and taunted, but it's life. This story would do better to emphasize the courage and committment deomstrated in the first place by this 20 year-old to be fighting in war, when instead he could be out pi$$ing it up like the morons that taunted him.

[barnstormer1968]

I think you are both right and wrong here.
I am sure this lad could easily absorb mickey taking from his peers while in rehab. BUT, the thing that grips me is that these are just morons, who all well aware that folks like Gordon Brown tell them that this unfortunate lad had to lose his limbs in order for them to be able to gob off with NO comeback on the streets of the UK (due to our useless laws (laws!, meaning no slur on police).
The question is: Did they need to say anything in the first place (I'm guessing not), and what was their motivation for doing so?

If you and I met, and if I remember correctly, your background is a DPM'ish light blue, while mine is green, I am sure we could have a really good inter service banter session (and probably very offensive in civvy terms), but still have a good laugh. On the other hand, I would not ever call out to someone I had never met, and slag them off or abuse them for a lack of limbs.
So while I see and agree with your point above, I guess I would still hope that something could happen the the morons in this case, to show them the errors of their ways (and while a good beating springs to mind, I think the above idea of them visiting Selly Oak would be more effective and long lasting)

[ArthurBorges]

The root issue is our indifference to the suffering of others, or even our ability to feel joy and superiority in their suffering.

We can't all take this lad flying.

We can however sharpen our awareness of suffering among those we meet and see in the course of our daily lives.

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

Having seen Matt Weston on 'Wounded', I have no doubt that he is made of strong stuff. The mindless abuse from this scum is something that I am absolutely certain that he will have dealt with like water from a duck's back. The individuals can only be thankful that Matt has lost his legs - 'cause I wouldn't have given them much of a chance against a fighting fit Sapper Weston!

Duncs:ok:

[TBM-Legend]

Power to Sapper Weston.:ok:

Pox on those morons...:*:*:*:*:*

[ArthurR]

ArthurBorges quote

We can't all take this lad flying.


There are others as well sadly enough. need not say more..:ok:

[JessTheDog]

In this age of Facebook, tw!tter and mobile phones which take photos, there must be someone out there who knows someone who knows of these people. So they can be named and shamed. Possibly losing their undoubtedly-unskilled jobs or getting a random beating.

[Double Zero]

I am quite in favour of letting it be known his mates are in town, asking questions - that should give this scum something to think about !

Meanwhile, where virtually every corner is covered by CCTV and well paid police, where are they when one needs one ?

I fitted a 120db alarm to my mid - range mountain pushbike the other day; when I took it into the local bike shop ( that's bicycles, not Bangkok ) the owner thought it was great, he'd just had to cut off the lock on his girlfriends' bike - she'd lost her keys - and lots of people passed, seeing him busy with his hacksaw, and none mentioned it !

I am no Arnie Scharzenneger, but if faced with that situation of the chap in the wheelchair would feel I just HAD to help, even if it was only delaying tactics and I later got charged with assaulting some ****'s fist with my face, as seems the way it goes...

While the above is not military, my point is couldn't ' we ' give veterans an aerosol can of indelible paint of the type used ( I understand ! ) against bank robbers, a can of Mace, and let the scum anywhere around know that, + that the vet's chums will be around pronto ?!