Chris - I'm not trying to re-open the closed thread, this article has stunned me and I think a lot of people in PON will have interseting views and thoughts on it:

https://novaramedia.com/2018/11/08/unless-the-british-legion-calls-for-transformational-change-it-should-disband-veterans-deserve-better/?fbclid=IwAR193jUTGCe9_n46ZSWWoKHcjGvJ87rrMiSoW8Dnm0O7M8LNKgP1usgSGnI

let's leave the football issue out of this folks, and just comment on the issues the article raises. I must say it has horrified me, and alot of my veteran freinds (I used to work on various military bases across Europe but was not in the forces myself)

 

 

Aaron Bastani has always been, what they call in America, a ‘shock Jock.’ His views are not that of the Labour Party and although his point about the homelessness issue amongst veterans is correct, ( no one should be homeless regardless of chosen profession in the 5th richest country in the world.)  asking a non political organisation such as the Legion to raise is, is unhelpful and basically rude. He obviously has no understanding of the values of such an organisation.

An interesting article and he makes some good points about the wages of the people who run the British Legion, also of course the homelessness in this country is an appalling statistic whether they are veterans or not as is the mental health situation, however I don't believe the British Legion should involve itself in politics at all.

5 hours ago, ivansneck said:

Chris - I'm not trying to re-open the closed thread.

I closed the other topic due to requests from two members, I'm all up for seeing a discussion but will ask people to avoid allowing it to escalate. Have your point, respect others and just debate the article in a friendly way please folks.

This was a very interesting read I’ve got to say  .. it’s sounds daft the but the British Legion is some I’ve come to respect and appreciate.. when my grandad needed help they were more than happy to help from equipment to a ramp to help have a quality of life. When we lost him they sent some to funeral to represent them and pay there respects all for nothing but we made a donation. I know this has been for countless other service men and there families it’s a charity that some people if they hadn’t have helped would have been in trouble. But reading the wages story and the servicemen who don’t get help that angers me a lot because with that salary they pay him/her they could help so many more than they do... this is a proud British charity I’ve respect for and tomorrow in the remembrance service they will do the veterans proud .. but wages they pay is out rages I can’t get over that.. so many volunteer for the respect and honour and then the people who take the salary could half it and still live well and put the rest  back in 

6 hours ago, Magic magpie said:

This was a very interesting read I’ve got to say  .. it’s sounds daft the but the British Legion is some I’ve come to respect and appreciate.. when my grandad needed help they were more than happy to help from equipment to a ramp to help have a quality of life. When we lost him they sent some to funeral to represent them and pay there respects all for nothing but we made a donation. I know this has been for countless other service men and there families it’s a charity that some people if they hadn’t have helped would have been in trouble. But reading the wages story and the servicemen who don’t get help that angers me a lot because with that salary they pay him/her they could help so many more than they do... this is a proud British charity I’ve respect for and tomorrow in the remembrance service they will do the veterans proud .. but wages they pay is out rages I can’t get over that.. so many volunteer for the respect and honour and then the people who take the salary could half it and still live well and put the rest  back in 

It’s nice to hear the story about your grandad and how the British Legion helped him @Magic magpie I’ve never actually heard of anyone who has benefitted from the charity so it’s good to hear a first hand experience but I do agree about the wages it makes me laugh when I hear of people’s exhorbitant wages who work for a charity, if they really cared about the charity they’d take less. Fair enough if they are working full time for the charity they need a wage to be able to live but some of the salaries are ridiculously high.

My paternal grandma was a standard bearer for Alfreton British Legion and every October her front room had loads of boxes containing poppies ready for distribution... .In secondary school the mate I sat with's mother was the standard bearer.From the age of 10 till I married I lived next door to The Alfreton British Hall.When I was in infant and junior school my dad used to take me to watch the Remembrance Sunday march and  Wreath laying at Alfreton war memorial.My uncle took part in the ceremony.I remember asking my dad why he had tears in his eyes.He just said it was because of memories.Over the years I learned it was because of friends and relatives lost but when you are very young you don't understand how people suffered because of war.

I went up to our local memorial today to watch the parade and wreath laying, I was frankly amazed at how many people were there, I live in a small town but there were literally hundreds paying their respects and it was very humbling to see. It's a long time since I've watched a remembrance service in fact the last time was when my boys were in the Boys Brigade and marching so it was good to go today.

Remembrance has turned into a circus. It should be about solemn reflection, respect and - most importantly - learning history's lessons so they don't happen again. It's not about giant poppies on lamp posts. The more the 11 of November is turned into a circus, the less is actually remembered.

The British Legion themselves accept sponsorship from BAE Systems. An arms dealer! BAE Systems delivers weapons to Saudi Arabia and are thus playing an active role in the blockade of Yemen, which in turn has led to widespread starvation. What exactly is being remembered there?

A couple of days ago I was banned from a football stadia group for having the temerity to speak up against the bullying of someone who felt that a poppy display was OTT. The profile of the person who banned me was full of poppies, of course, but also Britain First. Fun fact: Britain First are named after a speech held by Oswald Moseley, leader of the British Union of Fascists and an ally of one Adolf Hitler. Remembrance is being actively hijacked by fascists. A dishonourable mention goes to the S*n, which has no doubt covered it front page in poppies yet enthusiastically supports every pointless military adventure going.

What isn't remembered, however, is how the war ended. 100 years ago, German sailors refused to launch an offensive in the North Sea and mutinied. They sent delegations throughout the country, workers' and soldiers' councils were set up, the monarchy was toppled. An armistice was agreed in an attempt to prevent a revolution. The Allies then pressed on into Russia until 20,000 British army personnel mutinied there in early 1919.

I spend a lot thinking and remembering on this day. It makes me sad and angry. The brave young men who went to fight for their country in good faith had their lives wasted by a ruling elite that didn't care about them. To honour them, we need to start remembering and stop forgetting.

i dont really know much about the british legion but i did used to attend local events ran by them when i was younger.

On 11/11/2018 at 21:50, DangerousSausage said:

Remembrance has turned into a circus. It should be about solemn reflection, respect and - most importantly - learning history's lessons so they don't happen again. It's not about giant poppies on lamp posts. The more the 11 of November is turned into a circus, the less is actually remembered.

The British Legion themselves accept sponsorship from BAE Systems. An arms dealer! BAE Systems delivers weapons to Saudi Arabia and are thus playing an active role in the blockade of Yemen, which in turn has led to widespread starvation. What exactly is being remembered there?

A couple of days ago I was banned from a football stadia group for having the temerity to speak up against the bullying of someone who felt that a poppy display was OTT. The profile of the person who banned me was full of poppies, of course, but also Britain First. Fun fact: Britain First are named after a speech held by Oswald Moseley, leader of the British Union of Fascists and an ally of one Adolf Hitler. Remembrance is being actively hijacked by fascists. A dishonourable mention goes to the S*n, which has no doubt covered it front page in poppies yet enthusiastically supports every pointless military adventure going.

What isn't remembered, however, is how the war ended. 100 years ago, German sailors refused to launch an offensive in the North Sea and mutinied. They sent delegations throughout the country, workers' and soldiers' councils were set up, the monarchy was toppled. An armistice was agreed in an attempt to prevent a revolution. The Allies then pressed on into Russia until 20,000 British army personnel mutinied there in early 1919.

I spend a lot thinking and remembering on this day. It makes me sad and angry. The brave young men who went to fight for their country in good faith had their lives wasted by a ruling elite that didn't care about them. To honour them, we need to start remembering and stop forgetting.

Excellent thought-provoking post