Current Affairs Don't mention the War !

[Bruce Wayne]

Not the Tories though is it? It’s the BBC. I’m not sure where this whole isolation thing is coming from either. We have a generation of young people that are shown in studies to be feeling the effects of loneliness and isolation- should they qualify for a free license too on those grounds?

It also makes me uneasy this instant association of WW2 veterans as heroes. A fundamental basis for heroism is that it's entered into voluntarily, and that was a time of conscription, so a great many of the poor sods that faught in that conflict would have had little choice in the matter. That's not to say that they aren't to be appreciated, but this suggestion that asking them to pay the TV license nearly 80 years after the war is somehow a desecration of their memory is a bit of a stretch.

 

[zzr45]

It also makes me uneasy this instant association of WW2 veterans as heroes. A fundamental basis for heroism is that it's entered into voluntarily, and that was a time of conscription, so a great many of the poor sods that faught in that conflict would have had little choice in the matter. That's not to say that they aren't to be appreciated, but this suggestion that asking them to pay the TV license nearly 80 years after the war is somehow a desecration of their memory is a bit of a stretch.

It’s getting to a very bizarre point really. Yes people fought in the war and went far and beyond what anyone should for their country, but they are still people. The amount of vets that were interviewed who refuted the ‘hero’ status and said that they were just people doing what they had to do should give people some indication of how they want to be treated. That includes paying for a TV license.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It’s getting to a very bizarre point really. Yes people fought in the war and went far and beyond what anyone should for their country, but they are still people. The amount of vets that were interviewed who refuted the ‘hero’ status and said that they were just people doing what they had to do should give people some indication of how they want to be treated. That includes paying for a TV license.

There does seem a high number of Mark Francois types who want to live vicariously through the valour of others. It's a bit weird tbh.

 

[orchard]

Didn't the tories literally remove the war widow's pension?

 

[Barnfred 55]

As we've seen on these very pages however, that generation are not averse to vicariously living off the glory of those who did actually serve, so it's perhaps not surprising.

Yet another of your throwaway insults. You seem to have a locker full.

You appear to not know the difference between "living off the glory" and showing utmost respect for those who actually did serve. You will find that those that served were actually the parents of the baby boom generation. Of course we're proud of them.

As regards the free TV license, I personally don't see why over 75s should have them free. They already get additional tax benefits and, as people get older, their actual outlay usually reduces (until they start needing care). They tend to stop owning cars, they tend to go on fewer holidays, and they certainly tend to eat and drink less. Yes there are exceptions to the rule, but if there are to be free TV licenses let it be for those who actually need them. Or preferably do away with them altogether and let the BBC become commercial.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yet another of your throwaway insults. You seem to have a locker full.

You appear to not know the difference between "living off the glory" and showing utmost respect for those who actually did serve. You will find that those that served were actually the parents of the baby boom generation. Of course we're proud of them.

As regards the free TV license, I personally don't see why over 75s should have them free. They already get additional tax benefits and, as people get older, their actual outlay usually reduces (until they start needing care). They tend to stop owning cars, they tend to go on fewer holidays, and they certainly tend to eat and drink less. Yes there are exceptions to the rule, but if there are to be free TV licenses let it be for those who actually need them. Or preferably do away with them altogether and let the BBC become commercial.

It's a shame then as when you actually listen to many of those who are still alive, not only do they not wish to be thought of or treated any differently to anyone else, they also tend to think it a crying shame that the peace they sacrificed so much for is being compromised by jokers wanting to divide Europe again. So I'm sorry, but I have nothing but disdain for those who use these people's existence to push for things and make points that I suspect few surviving veterans would support. That's not showing any respect whatsoever.

And lest we forget, those politicians are doing that precisely because it has a willing audience in the baby boomer generation who make up the vast majority of Tory party membership. They're playing to their gallery.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

There does seem a high number of Mark Francois types who want to live vicariously through the valour of others. It's a bit weird tbh.

The way it's emotionally spoken about the vast majority of our 55 plus Brexit supporters where there on the beaches in 1944, those under 55 lived it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The way it's emotionally spoken about the vast majority of our 55 plus Brexit supporters where there on the beaches in 1944, those under 55 lived it.

On the beaches with a towel and 99'er perhaps.

 

[peteblue]

Yet another of your throwaway insults. You seem to have a locker full.

You appear to not know the difference between "living off the glory" and showing utmost respect for those who actually did serve. You will find that those that served were actually the parents of the baby boom generation. Of course we're proud of them.

As regards the free TV license, I personally don't see why over 75s should have them free. They already get additional tax benefits and, as people get older, their actual outlay usually reduces (until they start needing care). They tend to stop owning cars, they tend to go on fewer holidays, and they certainly tend to eat and drink less. Yes there are exceptions to the rule, but if there are to be free TV licenses let it be for those who actually need them. Or preferably do away with them altogether and let the BBC become commercial.

An excellent post. I find it depressing that some on here appear to denigrate the respect we have for our parents who fought and lived through the war. I just hope that whatever respect these people have for their own parents is not abused by yet another younger generation.....

On the subject of BBC licenses I believe they should be abolished anyway...

 

[Barnfred 55]

Excellent post. I think you are probably fighting a losing battle though. Remember, the war was fought by people who are now old. Ergo, the new enemy.

So so true.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

lol For the hundredth time. This thread is not denigrating to people who fought in the war. It’s highlighting the use of this event by mainly tories and brexiters to further their own nationalistic and anti Europe agenda. Which is oddly enough, exactly what we were supposed to be fighting against all those years ago.

 

[Barnfred 55]

It's a shame then as when you actually listen to many of those who are still alive, not only do they not wish to be thought of or treated any differently to anyone else, they also tend to think it a crying shame that the peace they sacrificed so much for is being compromised by jokers wanting to divide Europe again. So I'm sorry, but I have nothing but disdain for those who use these people's existence to push for things and make points that I suspect few surviving veterans would support. That's not showing any respect whatsoever.

I'm not sure how you came about this thinking Bruce. Yes, that generation are very unassuming and generally reluctant to speak about the war full stop. But I watched a lot of the D day commemorations last week and I don't believe I recall any of the old timers even make reference to Brexit, never mind come out in support of remain in the way you are suggesting.

And if you listen to half of the posters from the Brexit thread, they are boasting that Remain would win a second referendum because a lot of the old people who voted to leave would have died in the 3 years since the last referendum.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I'm not sure how you came about this thinking Bruce. Yes, that generation are very unassuming and generally reluctant to speak about the war full stop. But I watched a lot of the D day commemorations last week and I don't believe I recall any of the old timers even make reference to Brexit, never mind come out in support of remain in the way you are suggesting.

And if you listen to half of the posters from the Brexit thread, they are boasting that Remain would win a second referendum because a lot of the old people who voted to leave would have died in the 3 years since the last referendum.

 

[Barnfred 55]

So the views of one veteran now represents the hundreds who attended the D Day commemorations?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

So the views of one veteran now represents the hundreds who attended the D Day commemorations?

You said you watched the coverage and didn't recall seeing anyone mention it. I'm merely pointing out one that did. Maybe you prefer this chap?