My OperaThe military need to be careful
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 11:35:07 PM
On the radio this morning, there was a piece about various army bigwigs getting their knickers in a twist about some play on TV last night about a soldier being bullied in Afghanistan. Carrying on as if the BBC had committed treason or something by showing a play that didn't adhere to the military's view of itself.
Now, I didn't see the play, but whoever it was that was being interviewed (Dannett?) kept going on about how bullying didn't exist in the modern army. To which I have a single-word response: Deepcut. Hence, I call bollocks.
Meanwhile, the military have done a fine PR job of late and won a lot of public support. However, they should not forget what they are supposed to be fighting for: a society where we have freedom of speech, freedom to criticise, freedom of expression and where the rule of law holds sway and the military KNOW THEIR PLACE. They do NOT have the right to censor our media to suit themselves, or the right to censure critics and criticism.
Carry on with this sort if tripe, and watch public support dwindle. And drop the propaganda: put the effort into preventing the bullying which has gone on in the forces and almost certainly still does.
Now, I didn't see the play, but whoever it was that was being interviewed (Dannett?) kept going on about how bullying didn't exist in the modern army. To which I have a single-word response: Deepcut. Hence, I call bollocks.
Meanwhile, the military have done a fine PR job of late and won a lot of public support. However, they should not forget what they are supposed to be fighting for: a society where we have freedom of speech, freedom to criticise, freedom of expression and where the rule of law holds sway and the military KNOW THEIR PLACE. They do NOT have the right to censor our media to suit themselves, or the right to censure critics and criticism.
Carry on with this sort if tripe, and watch public support dwindle. And drop the propaganda: put the effort into preventing the bullying which has gone on in the forces and almost certainly still does.
