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[yialousa1971]

Ex-SAS soldier blasts Poppy Appeal as a 'political tool'


THE true meaning of the poppy is being forgotten as it becomes a political tool to support current wars, a former elite soldier has claimed.

Ben Griffin, the first SAS soldier to refuse to go into combat, also said the use of the word “hero” to describe soldiers glorified war and was an “attempt to stifle criticism” of conflicts the UK is currently fighting.

Mr Griffin’s claims echo an increasing body of opinion that the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal’s promotion by key political and cultural figures is undermining the true message of Remembrance Day.

The Royal British Legion began using the poppy as a symbol for fundraising in the 1920s. Money used goes to help wounded servicemen past and serving and their families.

It also marks Remembrance Day, held on the second Sunday in November, which is usually the Sunday nearest to November 11, the date in 1918 on which World War I ended.

It commemorates the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians.

But Mr Griffin, who quit the army in 2005 on moral grounds, claims it has been turned into a “month-long drum roll of support for current wars”.

Griffin, who went to school in Machynlleth and Swansea, told Wales On Sunday: “This year’s [national] campaign was launched by inviting The Saturdays to frolic half naked in a sea of poppies.

“The judges on X Factor [at the request of the Royal British Legion] have taken to wearing grotesque poppy fashion items.

“The RBL would say they are modernising and appealing to a younger generation. I disagree. I think that their stunts trivialise, normalise and sanitise war.”

Griffin, now a London ambulance driver who served for eight years in the Parachute Regiment, went on: “The use of the word ‘hero’ glorifies war and glosses over the ugly reality.

“War is nothing like a John Wayne movie. There is nothing heroic about being blown up in a vehicle, there is nothing heroic about being shot in an ambush and there is nothing heroic about the deaths of countless civilians.

“Calling our soldiers heroes is an attempt to stifle criticism of the wars we are fighting in.

“It leads us to that most subtle piece of propaganda: You might not support the war but you must support our heroes, ergo you support the war.

“It is revealing that those who send our forces to war and those that spread war propaganda are the ones who choose to wear poppies weeks in advance of Armistice Day.”

Peace Pledge Union spokesman Albert Beale said: “Politicians clothe themselves in the red poppy. There’s something about a Remembrance Day ceremony that blinds you to reality.

“There’s also the sense that if you don’t wear the red poppy, you are not supporting our boys.

“Some people support them because of their suffering – but not the political aim they are being sent out to Afghanistan to fulfil.

“It is being used by politicians to support their agenda.”

Adam Johannes, of the Stop the War Coalition in Cardiff, said: “The politicians who lay wreaths at the Cenotaph will use the poppy to drum up support for continued unjust and unwinnable wars. It is no accident that we have seen an increase in the last five years of military parades, the invention of Armed Forces Day, militarism and jingoism.”

But former UN ambassador Sir Emyr Jones Parry disagreed, saying: “The poppy doesn’t glorify or seek to justify war, but it rightly recognises the sacrifices made by individuals on behalf of their country.”

And relatives of servicemen also questioned the claims.

Terrence Flowers, 79, from Blackwood, whose grandson Miykael Martin is serving in Afghanistan, where he has twice been shot, said what mattered was that Poppy Appeal money got to the right people.

He said: “I’m supportive of the army, but not the reason they’re fighting.”

Robert Lee, the British Legion’s spokesman, said: “There is nothing in our appeal or campaigning which supports, or does not support, war: We are totally neutral.”

What do you think? E-mail us at [email protected]



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... z15CBbdLZX

[bsharpish]

Another highly credible spokesman

So a professional soldier takes his pay for 8 years , but , when asked to actually serve develops a sudden burst of conscience.

Lets flip this a little -

A Cypriot soldier is asked to actually go and fight the occupiers.... he will not and then says -

"Driving tanks down the street on independance day glorifies war"

Would you actually give a shit ??

[Schnauzer]

Trooper Benjamin Griffin (SAS) does not (in my opinion) deserve to be so maligned by those who are not prepared to accept his condemnation of the hypocrisy that is so evident in so many of the areas he has highlighted.

Trooper Griffin, by virtue of the very fact that he has voiced his disapproval of certain actions in which HE was also involved, was obliged to transgress the code of comradeship which exists in his particular field of expertise.

Such transgression (if one understands the code) singles him out to be a courageous and forthright person, willing to suffer the consequences of possible derision (even from his own comrades) in order that the TRUTH should out.

I refer of course to the original notoriety of Trooper Griffin when he exposed the involvement of British forces in the matters of 'Rendition and Torture', the consequence of (at that time) was that he was issued with a 'High Court Injunction' and legally gagged.

Not before he had expressed his opinion that the British Government were involved in an unlawful and murderous assault upon an innocent nation, merely to take control of it's vast 'Oil Reserves' and that the British public were being fooled into believing otherwise.

Trooper Griffin is NOT the greatest orator, he has not the well honed eloquence of his political and legal rivals BUT, he has one attribute that THEY do not have, the dedication to reveal the TRUTH and the ability to recognize 'Hypocrisy' when he is confronted by it.

Therefore, I share his views on the scandalous use of 'Remembrance Sunday' and the distribution of 'Poppies' as a means to fool the general public into believing that the current conflicts are 'Honourable', I would further suggest that (despite the constant references) the term 'WAR' is incorrectly applied to the murderous conduct of British and American forces in the Middle East (together with those other nations which support them) and that 'Unlawful Aggression' might be more suitably attached to such conduct.

I consider your analogy "bsharpish", to be a very poor representation of that which so many believe to be an act (and subsequent actions) of extreme courage by Trooper Griffin.

The spectacle of a bevy of scantily clad little 'Tarts' cavorting among poppies, does little to enhance the sombre dignity of that which 'Remembrance Sunday' is supposed to represent.

The use of 'Poppies' as a political tool, (as suggested by Trooper Griffin) is far easier to recognize and there are many, (both in and out of the armed services) who would readily agree with him, I'm sure.

(IMHO) as ever.

[bsharpish]

I thoroughly respect men on conscience and you will find that the concept of a " conshi" is not an issue for the Army ( who released him from service with no reprimand) or UK populace.

and in 2006 his actions were honourable and his words effective and reasonable

For example - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... olicy.html

I don't even mind that he subsequently joined the anti-war, rabble rousing defeatists... his choice

but the pointless attack on the British Legion - a wholly unaligned charitable organisation is either misguided or publicity seeking ( I suspect the latter).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_ ... ppy_Appeal

I'd suggest that my analogy is spot on - lets refine it a little

When veterans have one day where they can proudly remember there fallen comrades and the population as a whole can honour those who offered up the ultimate sacrifice for there nation - would you be comfortable if the hypothetical individual I postulated headed to the press and critcised the EOKA day parades and visits to the central prison memorial as , and I'll paraphrase, a "political tool to glorify war and drum roll to support current wars".


Now more generally
Whether there cause was just or not and irrespective of the corrupt,foolish old men masquerading as politicians and generals, these(mostly young) men paid the ultimate price in the service of country and deserve our respect.
The actions of a few "limelight hungry" individuals be they pro,anti or indifferent to the cause(s) they fought for tarnish there memory.

OR MORE SIMPLY -

Ben Griffin - you said your piece , were treated with repect and had your say .... now shut the fuck up

[Oracle]

Ben Griffin - you said your piece , were treated with repect and had your say .... now shut the fuck up

He gave his learned opinion.

And, I thought you held yourself up as a paragon of 'freedom of speech'.

Or, are you now, sensitively, terminating the budding of "propaganda"?

[Talisker]

This afternoon, Remembrance Sunday, nearby cemetery, statue above grave of soldier killed in WWI.

[bsharpish]

Nope - I hold myself up as a Paragon of nothing.

If I ever did it was because I was holding up a a bar earlier.

I freely admit to being a flawed individual.

However- you will note- I didn't suggest that we lock him up for voicing his opinion or following his conscience.

I do, however, suggest that he's gone from a man of honour to a media whore and as such any respect I had for him has evaporated like zivania on a hot day

[Oracle]

However- you will note- I didn't suggest that we lock him up for voicing his opinion or following his conscience.

Who here advocates such?

[Schnauzer]

I am sure that nobody will deny that a person living in a free 'Democracy' is entitled to hold an opinion since such liberties are the foundation of democracy.

However, as honourable and wholesome the principles of such are held to be, 'Hypocrisy' all to often blights the ranks of those whose job it is to uphold those principles.

I will now put a case to you which occurred this very day and (in my humble opinion) brilliantly identifies the existence of a complete disregard for 'Those who Fell' by 'Those who Hypocritize' (and I would wish this NEW word to be added to the English language since it seems to fit the situation admirably) when representatives from many nations laid their wreaths of tribute.

The nation of 'Zimbabwe' was NOT recognized, the excuse for it's omission being that it was formerly 'Southern Rhodesia' and therefore no longer existed.

Nonsense !!................... The Rhodesian Air Force and it's military forces, fought shoulder to shoulder with every other nation that answered the call in support of Great Britain, many died in combat and their memories are as important to the spirit of 'Remembrance' as any other unfortunate victim of the conflict which took so many lives.

But of course, NOW, the head of the nation of 'Zimbabwe' is the despised Robert Mugabe, HE who told Gordon Brown to "Mind your own business" and reminded him that he was "A mere speck on the earth", HE who pre-empted the intention of the British Government to strip him of his 'Honorary Title' of Sir Robert Mugabe, by informing them that they could "Stick their Honorary title of the Order of the Bath, up their Backsides", although I suspect he used a more descriptive word in identifying the area where the title should be stuck.

Nonetheless, many gave their lives, they SHOULD have been remembered (IMHO).

[Schnauzer]

However- you will note- I didn't suggest that we lock him up for voicing his opinion or following his conscience.

Nor did you have to "bsharpish", for the day after Trooper Benjamin Griffin voiced his objections, he was ordered to appear in court and handed an injunction which informed him that 'Gaol' would probably follow any further comments on the subject so sensitively felt at that time.