Still alive
Posted on November 13, 2006
Filed Under Current affairs, Football, Life, Work |
I’m still alive. I survived the Sunday working/boring websurfing experience and am in a decent semblance of order on a Monday for the first time in a while.
I actually feel terrible about complaining. I was in bed reading my WWI book last night and was suddenyl hit by how petty my grumblings were in comparison, particularly given that yesterday was remembrance Sunday. Having to go into work on a Sunday is obviously nowhere near as bad as dossing down in a muddy trench with the risk of death hanging over you. I’m rightly ashamed of my griping.
I was in town on Saturday and bought a poppy from an old soldier. I got talking to him and found out that he fought in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. He had a string of medals on his coat and his regimental beret on. I duly purchased my poppy and made a point of thanking him for everything he had done.
Rhetoric about soldiers defending our freedom spews out of politicians mouths these days without much in the way of thought as to whether they really are or not. I certainly didn’t feel I needed protecting from Iraq or that we were in any particular danger from Saddam Hussein. I don’t feel like the Iraq war has protected my freedom at all. It has actually contributed to creating a bigger threat to me and mine as we have created an army of home grown extremists as a result of the war.
None of the above should be taken as a lack of support for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Far from it. I see these men and women as absolute heroes and support them in what they do day to day. I just feel that our governments justification for going to war was somewhat dubious to say the least.
The point I’m making is that the men who fought and died in the Second World War were truly protecting our freedom. At one point Britain stood alone against the Nazis and the fate of the free world lay in these mens hands. They should be applauded. They shouldn’t have to stand, freezing and rattling a collection tin in Edinburgh in November. I salute them and thank them. This blog is an example of the freedom of speech we would likely have been denied if they had not stood up to be counted when they did.
On a different note, I think this is going to be a tough week emotionally. I don’t know why but I think there will be some critical turning points this week with my Grandad. He’s becoming quite down in the dumps and is very confused and I have this overwhelming feeling that something has to give. He’ll either turn the corner and get better or potentially (and hopefully not) he could start to decline. I’m not generally a religious man but I’ve prayed before and I’ll pray again. Spare him a thought this week.
I should probably get back to work now. The proverbial shit is about to hit the imaginary fan. Oh joy.
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I hope your grandfather ends up being okay. I had one grandfather die recently from illness and the other is on his way, it’s not an easy thing to deal with.