Monday, October 02, 2006

Boche or blighty?

Over on his blog Prof Theo Farrell's had a post on US attitudes toward those in uniform as seen in a recent Budweiser advert. 'Naff or right on?' he asked. Have a peek at it. Read the comments too. Very interesting. Then come back and read this article 'Boche or Blighty?

Excerpt:
A paratrooper wounded in Afghanistan was threatened by a Muslim visitor to the British hospital where he is recovering.

Seriously wounded soldiers have complained that they are worried about their safety after being left on wards that are open to the public at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

On one occasion a member of the Parachute Regiment, still dressed in his combat uniform after being evacuated from Afghanistan, was accosted by a Muslim over the British involvement in the country.

"You have been killing my Muslim brothers in Afghanistan," the man said during a tirade.

Because the soldier was badly injured and could not defend himself, he was very worried for his safety, sources told The Daily Telegraph.
A relative of the Para said the man had twice walked on to the ward where two other soldiers and four civilians were being treated without once being challenged by staff.

"It's not the best way to treat our returning men," he said. "They are nervous that these guys might attack them and, despite being paratroopers, they cannot defend themselves because of their injuries."
Quite the contrast, huh?

3 comments:

Mr. Dillon said...

Three things are very scary to me:
Fundamentalist Evangelical Apocalyptic Christians hoping for a nuclear holocaust to vindicate their beliefs, Fundamentalist Jihadi Muslims who kill and hope to die as a passport to heaven, & All others with the hope that some Apocalypse will happen in our lifetime... whether they be Hindus hoping for Kalki to show up on his white horse or The Timothy McVeigh’s of the world, or the plethora of others filled with malice towards a liberal society. How rotten for the soldiers to be stuck in a ward where anyone could come and harass them.

What is wrong with the British Military that they can't have their soldiers convalesce in peace in another facility some where?

Anonymous said...

The Brit govt is really lousy when it comes to provide post-combat support to its troops. Indeed, until recently, returning reservists did not qualify for military medical treatment but rather had to go thru the normal NHS route. How absurd. I believe that important research by a KCL based team, including Prof Christoph Dandeker in War Studies, has led to a change of policy on this.

Of course, the US record on this was also dreadful during Vietnam. Returning troops got poor medical and social support from the govt and a raw deal from the public. How things have changed. One thing Americans can be proud of, and we could learn from, is the high regard theu hold service personnel returning from overseas duty. Even if they disagree with the policy, they respect those charged with implementing it. And proper order too.

Sergio said...

Rex, where did you read that Evangelical Apocalyptic Christians hope for a nuclear holocaust? Surely, you can argue your case better, particularly when you associate Tim McVeigh (a lapsed Catholic who was probably influenced more by his membership in the Republican Party and the National Rifle Association: two wonderful peace-loving American institutions, not) with Fundamentalist Evangelicals?
Did you know that there are more Christian martyrs (i.e., In the classical Christian view, a martyr is an innocent Christian who, without seeking death, is murdered or put to death for his or her religious faith or convictions and not a "homicide bomber") today than in the early Church?
I think that a small breed of AMERICAN Evangelical Christians might be slightly gung-ho, but I think they are more a product of their society and cultural surroundings than the teachings of the Bible.

Cheers,
Sergio