Cameron wants nation to appreciate armed forces

[Nixt]

I think it is wrong to generalise the behaviour of a select few to the whole religion of Islam. Yes there are some who are outrageous in their behaviour and beliefs but this is not the case for the whole Muslim community and a great many support the British Armed Forces as much as anyone else would.

that's it 'soldiers are doing their job' and that's what being a soldier is - a job. A poorly paid one, because as sad as it sounds, unemploy(-able/ed) young men are 'a dime a dozen' in some areas and unfortunately their only choices are being on the dole or earn a bit more being a soldier. I'm sure some people go into the army for the love of their country or the job itself but some simply have to go to better themselves as they didn't have the opportunity to do so beforehand. You see it on the adverts on the TV for the army, they almost portray it as a training camp rather than really the seriousness of the job.

It's a job, but a job that requires such bravery and commitment that I don't think you appreciate. I think it is outrageous that you should suggest a great many of those who join up are there simply to get a bit of money or better their lives. I, for one, joined because I wanted to do something worthwhile, despite the fact I could have stayed on in education and got a better job and earn a lot of money. Those I have served with in the past include some of the most intelligent people I have ever met, and I hate people whom make the assumption Soldiers are unemployable young men with no better prospects in life. The application procedure to join the army is intense and thorough, I know a few people who have got knocked back on the basis of their past - the type of past many people assume equates to an automatic decision to join the army.

I do think we should be appreciating our armed forces and I understand a lot of people do so already. It would be great if we could be, as Mr. Cameron has suggested, a bit more vocal about it. It's nice for our soldiers to know the job they are doing appreciated and although people do appreciate it, it is often difficult to tell.

[Eckuii]

We already do Davey.

[Hitman]

I think it is wrong to generalise the behaviour of a select few to the whole religion of Islam. Yes there are some who are outrageous in their behaviour and beliefs but this is not the case for the whole Muslim community and a great many support the British Armed Forces as much as anyone else would.



It's a job, but a job that requires such bravery and commitment that I don't think you appreciate. I think it is outrageous that you should suggest a great many of those who join up are there simply to get a bit of money or better their lives. I, for one, joined because I wanted to do something worthwhile, despite the fact I could have stayed on in education and got a better job and earn a lot of money. Those I have served with in the past include some of the most intelligent people I have ever met, and I hate people whom make the assumption Soldiers are unemployable young men with no better prospects in life. The application procedure to join the army is intense and thorough, I know a few people who have got knocked back on the basis of their past - the type of past many people assume equates to an automatic decision to join the army.

I do think we should be appreciating our armed forces and I understand a lot of people do so already. It would be great if we could be, as Mr. Cameron has suggested, a bit more vocal about it. It's nice for our soldiers to know the job they are doing appreciated and although people do appreciate it, it is often difficult to tell.

You're right, some Muslims join up, albeit this number is very small. My Muslim friend dislikes the army but I'm sure not all do.

Great post btw.

[alexxxxx]

It's a job, but a job that requires such bravery and commitment that I don't think you appreciate. I think it is outrageous that you should suggest a great many of those who join up are there simply to get a bit of money or better their lives. I, for one, joined because I wanted to do something worthwhile, despite the fact I could have stayed on in education and got a better job and earn a lot of money. Those I have served with in the past include some of the most intelligent people I have ever met, and I hate people whom make the assumption Soldiers are unemployable young men with no better prospects in life. The application procedure to join the army is intense and thorough, I know a few people who have got knocked back on the basis of their past - the type of past many people assume equates to an automatic decision to join the army.

I do think we should be appreciating our armed forces and I understand a lot of people do so already. It would be great if we could be, as Mr. Cameron has suggested, a bit more vocal about it. It's nice for our soldiers to know the job they are doing appreciated and although people do appreciate it, it is often difficult to tell.

We do need soldiers and i'm glad there are some, maybe it's just where I live, but all I know of people who have joined/are joining/or are considering of joining the only person who I know of who has some sort of prospect in life and wasn't forced into it through no other way was someone who decided they'd rather get a nursing degree through joining the RAF and them paying for it rather than paying for it themselves. I've had 2 uncles in the airforce and both have made a lot of money through bettering themselves. I'm only making generalisations on people that i know of, not just a stereotype.

I'm not even against the army/armed forces - i just think it's sad that the system requires large numbers of people to risk their lives for the country whether they want to or not to gain skills.

I'm not saying the army lets anyone in, far from it and i understand it requires a lot of hard work and determination.

I don't want our country turning into jingositic by putting our armed services beyond any sort of critisism or scrutiny and that it gets to the point where veterans are applauded before whale shows - like the USA at seaworld. It's a special job with responsibility but by taking part you are not a hero, unless you do something truly heroic or go beyond your call of duty. That's my view on the armed forces like it or not.

[Hitman]

We do need soldiers and i'm glad there are some, maybe it's just where I live, but all I know of people who have joined/are joining/or are considering of joining the only person who I know of who has some sort of prospect in life and wasn't forced into it through no other way was someone who decided they'd rather get a nursing degree through joining the RAF and them paying for it rather than paying for it themselves. I've had 2 uncles in the airforce and both have made a lot of money through bettering themselves. I'm only making generalisations on people that i know of, not just a stereotype.

I'm not even against the army/armed forces - i just think it's sad that the system requires large numbers of people to risk their lives for the country whether they want to or not to gain skills.

I'm not saying the army lets anyone in, far from it and i understand it requires a lot of hard work and determination.

I don't want our country turning into jingositic by putting our armed services beyond any sort of critisism or scrutiny and that it gets to the point where veterans are applauded before whale shows - like the USA at seaworld. It's a special job with responsibility but by taking part you are not a hero, unless you do something truly heroic or go beyond your call of duty. That's my view on the armed forces like it or not.

"i just think it's sad that the system requires large numbers of people to risk their lives for the country whether they want to or not to gain skills."

You're making it sound like they are conscripts or something. :S If they want to risk their lives and gain skills then they will join. If they don't want to risk their lives and gain skills then they won't join and maybe they'll do something else, like go to college.

I'm not, and others aren't saying that we should bow down to the soldiers every time they walk into a room, but they should be shown more respect in this situation where a group of people, who have probably never done anything worthwhile in their lives, chant and call them 'murderers' when they have just got back from Afghanistan. Of course they can be scrutinised and criticise, but shouting murderers at them is hardly criticising them.

Anyway I thought I was leaving this thread.