Jeremy Paxman is concerned.
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Jeremy Paxman is concerned.
Reported on the BBC, Jeremy Paxman states his reservations about the style of the UK government led "celebration of WW1". I presume that details of the planned events next year are starting to leak out? I wonder if there is a little party politics involved, in the form of jingoism and "celebration", rather than sad reflection?
Surely the commemorations should centre on a memorial day parade led by the Royal Family in July? Combined with the Rememberence Day in November, that would give two sombre days for reflection.
OAP
Surely the commemorations should centre on a memorial day parade led by the Royal Family in July? Combined with the Rememberence Day in November, that would give two sombre days for reflection.
OAP
And people would complain if the Government did not take a lead. However, I would hope that thy would listen to, and heed, advice from RBL and other service charities and organisations.
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But as we already said before, why celebrate (as quoted) the beginning of the war?
It just seems to be a 'good idea' to succeed the feel good effect of 2012, the Royal Birth of 2013, now 2014, and hallelujah an election in 2015.
Cynic, moi? Oui!
It just seems to be a 'good idea' to succeed the feel good effect of 2012, the Royal Birth of 2013, now 2014, and hallelujah an election in 2015.
Cynic, moi? Oui!
The centenary of the start of WW1 should not pass unmarked, but IMHO major ceremonies/commemorations would be more appropriate in 2018.
PS: What has it got to do with Paxman anyway - was he there? He is jus a "reporter", not maker of news, again IMHO
PS: What has it got to do with Paxman anyway - was he there? He is jus a "reporter", not maker of news, again IMHO
Last edited by Wander00; 8th Oct 2013 at 09:12.
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He has just released a book on the subject of World War 1 (Great Britain's Great War).
..
Last edited by NutLoose; 8th Oct 2013 at 10:22.
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Paxman's Great Uncle died in WW1.
I agree with him and have visited Flanders and Somme in last 2 Septembers and really believe that you need it to be a sombre reflection of WW1 not a hyped up XFactor style piece of crap.
A really good idea would be to ask every single school pupil to find a name of an individual who never came back and find a little bit of history about them as a way of remembering them.
I know my littlies are interested because I have pictures to show of the visits I made and we find a bit of history about random names whose graveyard photos I have taken.
There is no glory in war and CMD I don't think will understand that.
I agree with him and have visited Flanders and Somme in last 2 Septembers and really believe that you need it to be a sombre reflection of WW1 not a hyped up XFactor style piece of crap.
A really good idea would be to ask every single school pupil to find a name of an individual who never came back and find a little bit of history about them as a way of remembering them.
I know my littlies are interested because I have pictures to show of the visits I made and we find a bit of history about random names whose graveyard photos I have taken.
There is no glory in war and CMD I don't think will understand that.
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I believe some countries (like Germany) don't celebrate the war, as there see war as a bad thing not be be glorified.
Also, it's a naive British misconception that the French are a set of surrender monkeys. In reality the French had 1.69 million deaths and 4.26 million wounded during ww1 (much more than us, so much that I got confused thinking I had put the decimal point in the wrong place) and the French do not want another repeat. Therefore agreed to an armistice with the Germans in ww2 to protect their people.
Also, it's a naive British misconception that the French are a set of surrender monkeys. In reality the French had 1.69 million deaths and 4.26 million wounded during ww1 (much more than us, so much that I got confused thinking I had put the decimal point in the wrong place) and the French do not want another repeat. Therefore agreed to an armistice with the Germans in ww2 to protect their people.
Last edited by gr4techie; 8th Oct 2013 at 12:44.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
We were invited to a memorial air show at Oldenberg one November. It was an 'at home' for the local townsfolk as well.
And of the French, they had an historically low birth rate approaching WW1 so their losses were proportionally worse as well.
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Also, it's a naive British misconception that the French are a set of surrender monkeys. In reality the French had 1.69 million deaths and 4.26 million wounded during ww1 (much more than us, so much that I got confused thinking I had put the decimal point in the wrong place) and the French do not want another repeat. Therefore agreed to an armistice with the Germans in ww2 to protect their people.
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The centenary of the start of WW1 should not pass unmarked, but IMHO major ceremonies/commemorations would be more appropriate in 2018.
PS: What has it got to do with Paxman anyway - was he there? He is jus a "reporter", not maker of news, again IMHO
PS: What has it got to do with Paxman anyway - was he there? He is jus a "reporter", not maker of news, again IMHO
Ref the PS: No he wasn't, were you?
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Just a few observations.
Although I believe there is nothing great about a war, that does not mean that truly great things don't happen during wars. Conflict often shows not only the very worst of humanity, but also the vest best.
I know the phrase cheese eating surrender monkey very well, and also know the French people have fought on both sides in a world war, but I also know the French soldier to be as brave as any other. The French had some major successes in the Great War, and often out performed the Brits.
Also, I feel the French military has been shown to be a capable force in recent times, and has demonstrated a willingness to get involved where others have steared clear.
Although I believe there is nothing great about a war, that does not mean that truly great things don't happen during wars. Conflict often shows not only the very worst of humanity, but also the vest best.
I know the phrase cheese eating surrender monkey very well, and also know the French people have fought on both sides in a world war, but I also know the French soldier to be as brave as any other. The French had some major successes in the Great War, and often out performed the Brits.
Also, I feel the French military has been shown to be a capable force in recent times, and has demonstrated a willingness to get involved where others have steared clear.
Last edited by barnstormer1968; 8th Oct 2013 at 14:26.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Many 'reporters' are also authors. The first man into Port Stanley was a journalist and author. Sandy Gaul was a reporter par excellence but made as much news reporting Afghanistan as anyone.
Why, one journalist reported even became Prime Minister, he certainly made news.
Why, one journalist reported even became Prime Minister, he certainly made news.
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One has only to visit to the war graves at Ypres to realise what a dreadful waste of good men...from both sides, WW1 was. Nothing to celebrate next year but it should be an occasion for thoughtful reflection and remembrance.