Afternoon Blades, Owl in peace here with a repost of an article from our board:
Afternoon lads and lasses, just a quick bit of shameless self publicism for what I regard, and I'm sure a few of you do as well, as a very worthwhile occasion.
Next Saturday, 25th June marks this years Armed Forces Day, an opportunity to pay a quick mark or respect or a thank you to the many thousands of brave men and women of the best Armed Forces on the planet bar none.
This article isn't an attempt to get you to agree with a particular conflict or the actions of our soldiers, sailors and airmen. We all have our views, and no matter what they are, they are all equally valid and important. No, this article is simply an effort to ask, if you feel like it, to have a quiet moment to say thank you.
Nobody puts a gun to heads of our Forces and makes them sign up, so yes, the element of risk that they are under is to be expected, but at the end of the day they're still human and suffer the same faults and emotions as members of the general public do.
I have just a simple request please, on the first day of the season, especially for those of you that have suffered a personal loss, give your side, whether you be an Owl, Blade, Tyke, Don, Miller or Spireite an extra cheer for those who cannot be there, be it through service or sadly for another reason.
I fly out to the desert to earn my money for a change the day after the season begins and when you are away from home knowing that you have the support of the British public really does give you a lift. And I know that football isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things, but it can make a difference especially when you are thousands of miles from home. Something as simple as finding out how your lads have got on really can put a smile on your face, even being an Owls fan!
Thank you, one and all for all your support.
Armed Forces Day 2011 - Thank You
posted on 2/7/11
We're not all thick Sun readers who can't think for themselves and believe whatever they're told.
posted on 2/7/11
But people in the Forces are then are they Hammer? If you're going to make bold statements such as the one you have, it helps if you can quantify it.
Up the owls!!!!
posted on 2/7/11
The irony in your statement is bewildering. Tell us, where do you garner your opinions on our armed forces from?
Such eloquence and insight. The mind boggles which papers you read.
posted on 2/7/11
The Armed Forces, generally speaking, are made up of poorly educated young men and women. They're then polished up and put in nice uniforms. Were they not doing what they do, they'd probably be in some council flat claiming benefits, or behind bars.
The word 'brave' is banded around far too easily when talking about these people. There's nothing brave in Goliath beating David. Especially when it's illegal and immoral in the first place.
Contrast it to WW1 and WW2. Then, soldiers fought opponents who were equally matched and who indeed wanted to take over the world. These were brave people fighting to protect the people at home from German world domination. Not killing hundreds of innocent people and committing the odd atrocity and abuse along the way.
The brave modern soldiers are the ones who refuse to fight and are willing to face the consequences for their conscientious acts.
posted on 2/7/11
Exactly how do you arrive at the viewpoint that the Armed Forces have plenty of ill educated young people in them?
Having served for 13 years and having A-Levels as well as GCSE's as do countless others, I can tell you exactly the opposite of what you have said is true. On what evidence do you base your opinion? Perhaps applied and were rejected, who knows.
As I said, civilians have been killed which is horrible, but it is far from the picture you paint of our marauding forces crusading all over the place trying to stamp their ideology on the local populace.
The wars are not illegal, you can argue all you want about that, but it's true and your opinion doesn't make the opposite fact does it.
I have to disagree with you and say that teenagers fighting for their country is brave. After all, if they are the social reprobates you claim, imagine what they'd be doing otherwise?
Up the owls!!!!
posted on 5/7/11
You have to have a degree to get in the Royal Marines these days - fact.
posted on 5/7/11
I think you may need another tweak to your name mate, almostalwaysontopicblade
posted on 7/7/11
Yes, 'offtopicblade' was a bit limiting.
posted on 7/7/11
Whereas 'token' is quite appropriate
Up the owls!!!!
posted on 7/7/11
Er....yes. I'm glad you noticed.