Ach, it's an opinion, a point of view, it's how I feel about this whole war and remembrance thing.
You know what if we put all the effort that we put into war, say into peace and prosperity, peace and prosperity for all......................
However, whilst much of our industry is in chronic decline, our 'defence' industry is in rude health, apparently currently worth between 30 and 40 billion quid in exports. It's what some folks call a Industrial Military Complex. Without war we face economic ruin.
War, what is it good for? Our economy - apparently.
Anyway here is where my Great Granddad lies. I do hope I got the right fella!
I took the picture in 2001. I showed it to my Mum and my Aunt. I never showed it to anybody else, until I scanned the slide and posted it in 2011 on a photo-sharing site, and this is what I wrote, and like I say it's just about how I feel about things. Sorry if I'm going on a bit Gnasher, but hopefully this is all I have to say for a wee while :groan
![[Image: 6339884075_c6b2eb3967.jpg]](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/6339884075_c6b2eb3967.jpg)
A few days ago my computer screen said "11-11-11, a once in a lifetime remembrance". I wondered what that meant.
I heard on the radio of footballers wanting to play with the poppy on their shirts. Fifa said no. Politicians, fools sporting poppies, whilst sending yet more young men to their deaths, debated Fifa's ruling in Parliament. The fools were outraged. So, Fifa said OK, they can wear a black arm band with a poppy on it. I wondered, what if one player says no, no I won't wear Lady Haig's Poppy, what then.
I read in my paper of Pop Idol contestants and judges sporting glitzy designer poppies.
This is my Great Grandfathers Grave. He, like hundreds of thousands of others, was marched needlessly to his death. David, Son of Arthur and Mary, slaughtered at the Battle of Arras.
This photograph was taken in 2001, the slide says 01-11-01. I got a taxi out there from Arras. I found the grave, I sat down and offered some flowers. Had I really found him, was he really there, did it really matter. I spent a little time there, before quietly walking the eight or nine miles back to Arras.
David's wife never even saw his grave, I may be the first from our family to do so. But then I don't really know. That death changed our family forever, maybe others, that I know not of, have also visited.
So yes David, you are remembered, but no David I don't wear, I won't wear Lady Haig's Poppy.
You know what if we put all the effort that we put into war, say into peace and prosperity, peace and prosperity for all......................
However, whilst much of our industry is in chronic decline, our 'defence' industry is in rude health, apparently currently worth between 30 and 40 billion quid in exports. It's what some folks call a Industrial Military Complex. Without war we face economic ruin.
War, what is it good for? Our economy - apparently.
Anyway here is where my Great Granddad lies. I do hope I got the right fella!
I took the picture in 2001. I showed it to my Mum and my Aunt. I never showed it to anybody else, until I scanned the slide and posted it in 2011 on a photo-sharing site, and this is what I wrote, and like I say it's just about how I feel about things. Sorry if I'm going on a bit Gnasher, but hopefully this is all I have to say for a wee while :groan
A few days ago my computer screen said "11-11-11, a once in a lifetime remembrance". I wondered what that meant.
I heard on the radio of footballers wanting to play with the poppy on their shirts. Fifa said no. Politicians, fools sporting poppies, whilst sending yet more young men to their deaths, debated Fifa's ruling in Parliament. The fools were outraged. So, Fifa said OK, they can wear a black arm band with a poppy on it. I wondered, what if one player says no, no I won't wear Lady Haig's Poppy, what then.
I read in my paper of Pop Idol contestants and judges sporting glitzy designer poppies.
This is my Great Grandfathers Grave. He, like hundreds of thousands of others, was marched needlessly to his death. David, Son of Arthur and Mary, slaughtered at the Battle of Arras.
This photograph was taken in 2001, the slide says 01-11-01. I got a taxi out there from Arras. I found the grave, I sat down and offered some flowers. Had I really found him, was he really there, did it really matter. I spent a little time there, before quietly walking the eight or nine miles back to Arras.
David's wife never even saw his grave, I may be the first from our family to do so. But then I don't really know. That death changed our family forever, maybe others, that I know not of, have also visited.
So yes David, you are remembered, but no David I don't wear, I won't wear Lady Haig's Poppy.