Getting Things In Perspective!!!

[BERNADETTE]

I for one am quite dumbfounded that most of our contributing members have by-passed the mention of war heroes past and present yet commented on the death of Michael Jackson. Can somebody please tell me what Michael Jackson contributed that could ever take away from our war heroes?
Sorry but time to get things into perspective IMHO!!!!

[Boeing Guy]

You mean Michaels dead!!!!!! next you will be tellingme that Jimi Hendrix is gone, Nelson Mandela is free and Santa does not exist!

yeah its a sad state of afairs when the majority of the genral public care more for some black and white singer who may or may not have been a chilld molester

[steeljack]

in answer to the original question ....check out what Kipling wrote .....guess things don't change much

TOMMY
by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)



I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

[Margaret Pilkington]

Bernie, it is because the war heroes were/are unassuming young men. Proud of their country.
They did not and do not proclaim their deeds at every opportunity, there is no agent or publicist trying to make mileage from what they do as a 'norm'.

The young people of today, will only know of the sacrifices that were made for the freedoms that they enjoy if we keep on reminding them.....teaching them their history.........aah, but there's the rub....it may be seen as glorifying war.
Can anyone tell me how war and death can be glorious?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

I for one am quite dumbfounded that most of our contributing members have by-passed the mention of war heroes past and present yet commented on the death of Michael Jackson. Can somebody please tell me what Michael Jackson contributed that could ever take away from our war heroes?
Sorry but time to get things into perspective IMHO!!!!

Noticed that too ... and I agree with you.

[shakermaker]

Child molesting pop stars are more exciting.

Sic.

[Margaret Pilkington]

It appears so.

[grannyclaret]

Sorry Bernie,,,yes your right


....GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIER HEROS....

[jaysay]

Tomorrow is veterans day 27th June an ideal time to pay tribute to those people who have given so much and are still giving. These men and women through the ages have given so much for their country and expected nothing in return, we all owe our all members of our armed services both past and present a debt of gratitude

[Boeing Guy]

Thanks for that Jaysay, very true words.

[nicola68]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Tomorrow is veterans day 27th June an ideal time to pay tribute to those people who have given so much and are still giving. These men and women through the ages have given so much for their country and expected nothing in return, we all owe our all members of our armed services both past and present a debt of gratitude

Too true, it should be this that is all over the news channels today to remind us about veteran's Day, not the death of MJ....

[blazey]

I think war can achieve quite a lot of good. I don't think it is necessarily something that we SHOULDN'T glorify.

As I reminded people yesterday, on average 25,000 children die a day... equivalent to one every 3.5 seconds or 9 million a year. And that is just children. If I was going to cry about strangers dying, I think it would be them, NOT Michael Jackson.

[West Ender]

The front page of the Daily Express had a photo of Jackson and huge black block with the words "Michael Jackson Is Dead" in large white type. I was, to be honest, amazed and disgusted.

I doubt they will surpass that when the Queen dies.

[katex]

Originally Posted by West Ender

I doubt they will surpass that when the Queen dies.

I think we will West Ender, with probably whole pages dedicated to her for long periods of time incuding the State funeral, and the new monarch. Well, in this country anyway.

I think we are quite good at honouring our war dead in the form of war memorials, poppy days, etc., and is steady and ongoing, and will be for years to come.

The media are only feeding the hungry public who are demanding the details of his 'icons' demise. I have never been a celebrity worshipper, so not impressed, but millions are. The same would happen if someone like David Beckham passed away tomorrow ... all the football mad fans would expect huge media coverage. Supply and demand.

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by katex

I think we will West Ender, with probably whole pages dedicated to her for long periods of time incuding the State funeral, and the new monarch. Well, in this country anyway.

I'm talking about the ridiculously dramatic front page, not the rest of the paper.