WHATEVER, SEE YESTERDAY CHANNEL NEW SERIES ON D - DAY AND THE ROAD TO BERLIN, EXCELLENT MILITARY HISTORY STUFF (Also see Battle Plan another New Series and often compliments the below, much is illuminating and does make one question the bombing of Dresden and Japan before they even dropped the Atomic Bombs).
HISTORY BY THOSE MEN AND BOYS WHO FOUGHT A GOOD WAR AGAINST HITLER - Listening to these old fellas being interviewed, it kind of made me feel very humble and ask myself the question what the hell were some of us playing at in the 'Sixties' with all that FWA Business? Then another question followed. Were the Sixties Generation 'Baby Boomers' some what bloody selfish not to give these WWI & WWII men and women the full recognition and respect they deserved.
As expected the Welsh Pacifists have started to prattle on about the WWI Commemoration and making out it's a celebration that is not quite the truth of it. As far as I am aware it is a commemoration with the correct emphasis not on any glorification of war but a remembrance of bravery and sacrifice. From what I have seen that is how most Communities, Schools and Media are handling it as a respectful remembrance. So lets not be mealy mouthed and make our own belligerent pointless 'Welsh Nationalist' or 'Patriotic Pacifist' propaganda and respectfully remember our people who fought and died. Why not remembering with Red or White Poppies and even Green Ivy leaves as when and where appropriate. Why not?
Do not think our children are daft not to see through any celebration jingoism there might be. You can tell them some home truths but with balance I hope, myself will remember family members who fought and died during WWI but also give special attention to remembering those 'Shot at Dawn' also researching and recording mutinies, not least the Strike of the Rhondda Battalion - Welsh Regiment in Porthcawl. More on all such will be posted to my blogs as appropriate.
Note there are a number of WWI Commemoration Wales Initiatives, search the web to locate where. I am myself depositing WWI Photos and Postcards to a number of such initiatives, have you such in family album worthy of similar use? It's history after all, so do not push your present day Patriotic values on those of the past whose values may have been different. Not all Welsh were Pacifists and consciences objectors. Personally wishful thinking, it was a pity more Welsh British Army Soldiers did not join up into a Welsh Volunteers or Citizen Army as in Ireland. Plus pitiful but one Welsh Men went to Ireland to fight in the Easter Rising.
Also see:
and:
http://brwydr.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/battle-of-festubert-may-1915-13-days-of.html
To conclude:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmky9slLzD4
To conclude:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmky9slLzD4
Gethin.
PS: I am not a pacifist but question many wars today and thus no pacifist but certainly Anti - War but not Revolutionary Struggles to depose Dictators and fascist minded regimes.
PS: I am not a pacifist but question many wars today and thus no pacifist but certainly Anti - War but not Revolutionary Struggles to depose Dictators and fascist minded regimes.
