The
story of six British Army rugby players beating a New York cop to a pulp in a bar room brawl incited by a racial slur may come across as nothing more than a display of clashing alcohol-fuelled egos but, at the same time, it is important that we encourage servicemen and women to at least try and maintain some sort of dignity, even in their drunkenness!
Yes, bravado and willy-waving can take place (if they must) but the modern soldier should remember (as those before have done) that in such circumstances a degree of restraint is in fact the greater show of strength and decidedly more British.
The armed forces might be one of the last places where some sort of decency and decorum for all "classes" of Brits are taught. Let's keep it that way and lets hold on to our enviable heritage of self-control and basic good manners.
In a related theme and
without getting into a religious debate I would add the following: Military Chaplains should have a more rigorous selection process so as to ensure that the Forces not only have "real men" serving as Chaplains in their ranks but those who can contribute towards the cultivation of decent morals, behaviour and good manners. There is so much more that Chaplains could do in the military if they were properly organised and much of it doesn't have to be religious per se but would dovetail with their overall aims of serving others. Notwithstanding the latter, there are of course one or two good Padres in the Forces, but there could be more and again, its something we should hold on to against the tide of politically correct anti-Christian, anti-patriotic and anti-British sentiment which threatens to sweep across our land.