The People of Wootton Bassett are Just The Best!
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Omega,
Agreed.
Airmail,
.. and again - our local towns are all turning out in force and its good to see. Making sure that our Armed Forces remain above the foibles of public opinion, yet embedded within public affection is a tough balancing act. We've all seen the Bud ad I suppose, which is a beaut. I suppose it represents the spontaneity which now seems to be lacking in Bassett (and I don't mean to be disrespectful to those who old soldiers, sailors and airmen who polish their shoes and turn out with metronome like dedication or those who simply see events unfolding stop what they're doing for 5 seconds to say a silent thank you).
YouTube - Budweiser Commercial
But I don't think its being hypocritical to try and steer things in a particular direction - coverage for the sake of coverage isn't the B all and end all but we only see that with hindsight. You only have to sift through some of the current 'on the front line' TV trash to recognise that - but it all serves a purpose for different segments. Channel 5 might make the serving blokes cringe with shots of birds flirting in air conditioned slipper city offices, but it gets the yoof interested. In a similar way, the WB coverage might be a little tasteless to some (it is to me) but you I think, make the very valid point that to the bereaved, this is probably a vital part of the grieving process and we serve their interests too.
So I guess the only thing we can do - is look back in 5 years and try and survey the bigger picture and see what has been achieved overall and say 'well, that might have worked, that didn't - but this overall, is what we're left with'. And overall, the swing has been a positive one, yes. But the idea that WB is 'rewarded' with a 'Royal' epithet makes me want to hurl though, sorry. I agree with the point that it would be nice to see Royalty at some burials and ceremonies too but once you start going down that route though, you devalue the whole process - again though, what would the families of the bereaved want? The fact that we don't see politicians at any of them is indicative of how out of touch the political class is with the country.
I thank god we haven't yet seen a politician walking at the head of a cortege yet. There would be a lynching.
Agreed.
Airmail,
.. and again - our local towns are all turning out in force and its good to see. Making sure that our Armed Forces remain above the foibles of public opinion, yet embedded within public affection is a tough balancing act. We've all seen the Bud ad I suppose, which is a beaut. I suppose it represents the spontaneity which now seems to be lacking in Bassett (and I don't mean to be disrespectful to those who old soldiers, sailors and airmen who polish their shoes and turn out with metronome like dedication or those who simply see events unfolding stop what they're doing for 5 seconds to say a silent thank you).
YouTube - Budweiser Commercial
But I don't think its being hypocritical to try and steer things in a particular direction - coverage for the sake of coverage isn't the B all and end all but we only see that with hindsight. You only have to sift through some of the current 'on the front line' TV trash to recognise that - but it all serves a purpose for different segments. Channel 5 might make the serving blokes cringe with shots of birds flirting in air conditioned slipper city offices, but it gets the yoof interested. In a similar way, the WB coverage might be a little tasteless to some (it is to me) but you I think, make the very valid point that to the bereaved, this is probably a vital part of the grieving process and we serve their interests too.
So I guess the only thing we can do - is look back in 5 years and try and survey the bigger picture and see what has been achieved overall and say 'well, that might have worked, that didn't - but this overall, is what we're left with'. And overall, the swing has been a positive one, yes. But the idea that WB is 'rewarded' with a 'Royal' epithet makes me want to hurl though, sorry. I agree with the point that it would be nice to see Royalty at some burials and ceremonies too but once you start going down that route though, you devalue the whole process - again though, what would the families of the bereaved want? The fact that we don't see politicians at any of them is indicative of how out of touch the political class is with the country.
I thank god we haven't yet seen a politician walking at the head of a cortege yet. There would be a lynching.
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What is particularly satisfying to see, is that the street lining crowds are not being policed or barriers put up to hem them in. That's the very last thing one wants to happen.
If people want to get a bit closer to the cortege to throw flowers, as happened yesterday, let them. For heaven's sake keep this amazing spectacle as low key as possible.
If people want to get a bit closer to the cortege to throw flowers, as happened yesterday, let them. For heaven's sake keep this amazing spectacle as low key as possible.
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Airmail, I think you hit the nail on the head. I'm a civvy, I'm not a local, and I wouldn't be anywhere near as aware of this without the media (although I was aware of it). The whole country would not be coming out in support of the forces in general without the media - Afghanistan and Iraq were becoming forgotten wars!
Yes, the coverage is perhaps tasteless and gratuitous, but I think you need to seperate the press from the public - they're not the same thing.
I doubt that many of the people turning up at Wooton Bassett are doing it because the media are there. Yes, they may be turning up because the media have brought it to their attention, but I think they are genuinely doing it for the right reasons. WB may have become the focal point for people wishing to show their support - I don't see that anything is wrong with that.
perhaps the town needs to put forward a request to the media to restrict their coverage to a shared feed and a few cameras? You're not telling them to bugger off, but you are telling them to respect the dignity of the moment. Low key - yes. Invisible, no.
As for the politicians... Al R - thats most likely exactly why the politicians wouldn't turn out! Anyway, why would anyone want this turned into a party political press spinning event?! All I can say is THANK GOD the politicians are keeping their damn noses out of it!
Yes, the coverage is perhaps tasteless and gratuitous, but I think you need to seperate the press from the public - they're not the same thing.
I doubt that many of the people turning up at Wooton Bassett are doing it because the media are there. Yes, they may be turning up because the media have brought it to their attention, but I think they are genuinely doing it for the right reasons. WB may have become the focal point for people wishing to show their support - I don't see that anything is wrong with that.
perhaps the town needs to put forward a request to the media to restrict their coverage to a shared feed and a few cameras? You're not telling them to bugger off, but you are telling them to respect the dignity of the moment. Low key - yes. Invisible, no.
As for the politicians... Al R - thats most likely exactly why the politicians wouldn't turn out! Anyway, why would anyone want this turned into a party political press spinning event?! All I can say is THANK GOD the politicians are keeping their damn noses out of it!
We've all seen the Bud ad I suppose, which is a beaut
Whether you think the goings on at WB are over the top or not (and they will inevitably fade in time), they have to be better than what went on in the US (and Australia) 40 years ago when returning troops were routinely spat on in public as if they themselves were responsible for the Vietnam fiasco
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Tanker,
Agreed. But we will never see the likes of that behaviour again anyway.
Then, society was full of orphans who had their dads kiled in war and boy, were they angry. Now, we have kids who cry if they have their PS3's taken off them. Add to that, in this Socialist dreamworld where expression is forbidden, its soon going to be an jailable offence to gaze at someone with anything more intrusive than a quizzical glance.
Agreed. But we will never see the likes of that behaviour again anyway.
Then, society was full of orphans who had their dads kiled in war and boy, were they angry. Now, we have kids who cry if they have their PS3's taken off them. Add to that, in this Socialist dreamworld where expression is forbidden, its soon going to be an jailable offence to gaze at someone with anything more intrusive than a quizzical glance.
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Just seen this in the weekly update e-mail from my MP James Gray
Letter published in today’s Guardian
Letter published in today’s Guardian
Sir
We who represent the people of the town of Wootton Bassett, are honoured and humbled that the way we have paid our respects to our fallen soldiers in every weather and for upwards of two years now has touched people in the way it has, and that in a way we stand proxy for the grief of the nation.
But we are simply the ordinary people of a very special town standing still and quiet for a few moments in a mark of sorrow and gratitude for those who have given their lives in service of the Nation. We welcome people from all over the country who come to join us, and we are proud that the national media has broadcast our moment's stillness to the world, although we'd be grateful for slightly less intrusive media coverage in the future. We welcome visiting generals and senior politicians, if they would like to come, and simply mingle with the crowds. But we'd prefer no pomp, nor militarization. It’s the people of the town; no more nor less than that.
What’s more, as a town, we'd much prefer that there was no further discussion of any recognition for what we do, or at least certainly not until its all over and that happy day has arrived when there are to be no more of these "repatriations." We really do NOT want to be "Royal Wootton Bassett", nor be awarded the GC, nor rename our High Street in any way at all. It’s not about us. Its about our fallen brothers and sisters, husbands and friends. The power and pathos of the occasion is its simplicity; its peace and quiet in an angry world. And we, the people of Wootton Bassett, want it to stay exactly like that.
Yours
James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire (07831 552 529)
Steve Bucknell, Mayor of Wootton Bassett
Maurice Baker, President, Wootton Bassett Royal British Legion
Chris Wannell, Leader, Wootton Bassett Town Council
We who represent the people of the town of Wootton Bassett, are honoured and humbled that the way we have paid our respects to our fallen soldiers in every weather and for upwards of two years now has touched people in the way it has, and that in a way we stand proxy for the grief of the nation.
But we are simply the ordinary people of a very special town standing still and quiet for a few moments in a mark of sorrow and gratitude for those who have given their lives in service of the Nation. We welcome people from all over the country who come to join us, and we are proud that the national media has broadcast our moment's stillness to the world, although we'd be grateful for slightly less intrusive media coverage in the future. We welcome visiting generals and senior politicians, if they would like to come, and simply mingle with the crowds. But we'd prefer no pomp, nor militarization. It’s the people of the town; no more nor less than that.
What’s more, as a town, we'd much prefer that there was no further discussion of any recognition for what we do, or at least certainly not until its all over and that happy day has arrived when there are to be no more of these "repatriations." We really do NOT want to be "Royal Wootton Bassett", nor be awarded the GC, nor rename our High Street in any way at all. It’s not about us. Its about our fallen brothers and sisters, husbands and friends. The power and pathos of the occasion is its simplicity; its peace and quiet in an angry world. And we, the people of Wootton Bassett, want it to stay exactly like that.
Yours
James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire (07831 552 529)
Steve Bucknell, Mayor of Wootton Bassett
Maurice Baker, President, Wootton Bassett Royal British Legion
Chris Wannell, Leader, Wootton Bassett Town Council
