Enough is Enough

[Dan D'air]

I went to a funeral yesterday, RBL, Flags, UJ on the coffin, lots of old men in blue blazers with many regimental, RAF and even some RN patches on them and very moving it was too. Old Fred had had an amazing life, lived out in an old-fashioned, selfless, completely giving way. I left the church with quite a lump in my throat, chin a-wobble, wet eyes because it was windy etc. etc.
What happened next however, has absolutely changed my view of this country forever and I have had enough.

I was wearing a suit with black tie (G10 at a funeral surely?) and having only just got back from downroute had only had about 15 minutes to shave, shower and get ready. Mme. D'air had done her usual trick of tidying everything off the 'scope and I couldn't find my RBL or old RN tie, so in a flash of inspiration I put last years poppy into the buttonhole on my lapel thinking that it would at the very least be some sign of solidarity and support for this marvellous old soldiers funeral.

Anyway, slightly choked, I went into the nearest newsagents to buy a packet of cigarettes, (I know, I know but special circumstances etc. etc.) and was accused by the Asian newsagent of being racist and taunting him by wearing a poppy.

I was absolutely incensed, especially with the Wittering thing being in the news, to the point that I have had to wait 24 hours to calm down enough to post this but I have had enough. I am going to put the house on the market and leave this Stalinesque hell-hole. What on earth has gone wrong and how did we sleepwalk into it??

[Occasional Aviator]

Dan,

I read your post and felt sad, really sad. I wanted to reply and metaphorically stand by you, but I'm so moved I have absolutely nothing to say.

[Magnersdrinker]

Blimey thats a disgrace. No wonder you are mad , If I was you I would write to local press and name and shame his shop.
What right has that person got , Cant really say anymore as that could be classed as racism :bored:

If this is what the UK is turning out to be its no wonder you are moving on.

[pr00ne]

It is NOT what the UK "is turning out to be"

Dan D'Air,

Did you say anything to this guy? Did you ask him just how the wearing of a poppy can in any way be construed as racist?
Did you ask him how on earth your poppy was somehow "taunting" him?

If this incident occured as described then it is merely another totally meaningless jibe that has no foundation and would not have stood up to the most superficial counterargument. The Poppy comemorates the sacrifice of all races, creeds and colours and is in no way some white propaganda.

This smacks of Daily Mail type hype such as the unearthing of a single incident that ocurred in December 2006 that led to a decree by the Station Commander of RAF Wittering in January 2007 somehow being trumpeted as headline news in March 2008.

FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pr00ne
In total exasperation.............

[Not Long Here]

This smacks of Daily Mail type hype such as the unearthing of a single incident that ocurred in December 2006 that led to a decree by the Station Commander of RAF Wittering in January 2007 somehow being trumpeted as headline news in March 2008. - pr00ne

It smacks me more of one individual who has just had enough pr00ne

I left the Uk 3 years ago and cannot believe how much it has changed and I am not a Daily Mail subscriber but rather someone who stays in touch via the BBC website - allegedly rather opposite in attitude to the Daily Mail

[Beatriz Fontana]

I still can't believe this happened the day after being told this experience first hand.

It leads in to a line that I heard from a couple of correspondents on "Any Answers" on Radio Four just now. The discussion included the Peterborough uniform story - sadly I missed "Any Questions".

The point is, the correspondents said that the core issue was being missed. Who are the people shouting the abuse? Who are they that hate the Armed Forces so much - despite the freedoms the AF brought them?

There were no accusatory fingers pointed, but the average listener could quite easily read between the lines.

If symbols of our freedoms are so abused, categorised as taunting and racist, then we are, indeed, in a very sorry state.

[Roadster280]

do we really need another "What on earth has gone wrong and how did we sleepwalk into it??" thread?

It rather seems we do. Lots of them. Not just here, but in every information medium. Sufficient in number that the disgraceful state of the nation becomes in the forefront of the electorate's minds. Such that the abysmal mess that the current government has sponsored sees them cast into opposition with such ferocity that they don't get back in for 20 years.

I remember 1979 and the "Britain's not working" posters. They were everywhere. Unless the issues that force ordinary reasonable people into posting "Enough is enough" is brought into the collective consciousness of the voters, it isn't going to change.

I'm so sorry Dan D'Air, this should never have happened. But we really do need to have it brought out. Every single time.

[effortless]

Innit wierd? I go all over this benighted country. I mix with most races and creeds as part of my work. I always wear a poppy at the appropriate time but I have never heard anyone say anything like this. Chichester must really be a hotbed of racial tension.

[Laird 'o' Balmullo]

Unless the issues that force ordinary reasonable people into posting "Enough is enough" is brought into the collective consciousness of the voters, it isn't going to change.


Sadly a major disaster is the only thing that is going to realign voters thinking me thinks!

LoB (defending an ungrateful nation since 1996)

[Dan D'air]

Chichester must really be a hotbed of racial tension

Actually it was in Farnham.

[formertonkaplum]

AIDU Said....
Good luck with the sale of your house. Don't forget you need a HIPS pack now. Anyway back to my point, do we really need another "What on earth has gone wrong and how did we sleepwalk into it??" thread?
Why don't you just add your comments to one of the numerous other "What on earth has gone wrong and how did we sleepwalk into it??" threads. This is supposed to be a rumour website. This is not news or a rumour.:ugh:


Actually this is News and its disgraceful.

And another FACT; your Clerarly and evidentally a WAN*ER !

[minigundiplomat]

Actually it was in Farnham


Save your venom guys. A few more years under our IF pattern will soon have them begging for mercy!

[Dave Angel]

AIDU

Well done, you're the first person on my ignore list.:D
Now I don't ever have to see your inane drivel again :ugh:
Your parents must be so proud!

DA

[davejb]

Given the current topic of hot debate, 'how unappreciated the forces are', I'd consider the thread opener perfectly valid - I admire Dan's restraint in waiting 24 hrs to vent his spleen.... (as a side thought, has anyone else noticed that ours speeens get more splenetic as we age?) Consequently, I think the second poster - not exactly renowned for lack of said organ, might show a little more understanding of the anger this must have caused...burying a mate doesn't tend to put one into the best frame of mind for a kick off.

Nice to see, on a totally unconnected topic, that the forces that are currently (effectively) at war are being asked to make cuts whilst Gordon hands umpty extra million to the probation service and bumps up the handout to foreign criminals to "encourage" them to offski. Here's my alternative, to cover both issues -

Naval press gangs hang aroung outside magistrates' courts to provide crews for several sail training ships, kept on the go by the RN. They'll probably be needed eventually as CVF escorts as the RN won't actually have any DDG's or FFG's left.

Dave

Edited to note that the second post has disappeared!

[Pontius Navigator]

"Asian" is this a euphemism?

My grandfather fought in Iraq with many Indian levees. The Chinese were very active on the western front in WW1. Many Indian sailors served and perished in WW2.

Why not commemorate with a poppy?

[Grabbers]

Name and shame, alongside a letter to the rags - both national and local. Get the Daily Hate working for us for a change.

[EngAl]

Dan D'Air - don't despair.
It's clearly an education problem and I agree with Pr00ne it would be interesting to understand this individual's particular misconception(s) about the meaning of the poppy and try to counter them.
If he understood the history - going back to WW1 and really understood the sacrifices which have been made by people from throughout the commonwealth, perhaps he would feel differently. I have spent some time in the vicinity of Monte Cassino and, in addition to the over a thousand Poles buried there, the commonwealth war cemetery contains British, Kiwi, Gurkha and Indian troops and of course this is just one example of many.

[johnfairr]

Dan,

Speaking as a resident of said town, was the newsagenty place about half a mile from the pub that we last drank in together? In a southerly direction, ie NOT towards the station?

Or if not, was it near the railway bridge, heading downhill, towards the police station?

Either way, I'm more than a touch pi66ed off that my home has seen fit to treat you this way. Mind you, at least you weren't wearing your uniform!!

jf

[Al R]

Dan,

I'd just report it to the local newspaper. Given the current vibe, he deserves everything he gets. The local rag will leap at a tale like this, justifiably so. Its time to put a stop to it. What a shame that it happened on such an occasion.

Dave Angel said;

AIDU,

Well done, you're the first person on my ignore list.:D
Now I don't ever have to see your inane drivel again :ugh:
Your parents must be so proud!

I did it a couple of months ago. Its liberating, knowing that whatever smarmy insults he's firing off (usually after stop tap) will be going totally ignored by the intended recipient (me).