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Post by Johnny on Nov 12, 2005 19:40:03 GMT
This poll is conducted purely out of interest, and is not intended to spark off any debate on the topic.
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Post by Stuart on Nov 12, 2005 22:23:35 GMT
I think its very important, but there seems to be less and less importance put on it each year which I think is quite sad, you know my views, I have a lot of respect for people of those generations and I think every single one of them are hero's.
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Post by Johnny on Jan 17, 2006 8:10:49 GMT
I think its very important, but there seems to be less and less importance put on it each year which I think is quite sad, you know my views, I have a lot of respect for people of those generations and I think every single one of them are hero's. Although I didn't start this post to have a debate on this issue, something relating to it came to my attention the other day, namely - Gordon Brown being reported as saying he would like to see Remembrance Sunday "replaced" by a British Day. I apologise in advance for the fact that this really annoyed the heck out of me. It got me so angry, I sent a letter to Charles Clark (my MP), which I will repeat here for anyone wishing to read it. Some might think it's "political", but to me - it goes beyond politics - to an area which questions why we wish to give up the decent values which were once present in our society: MY COMMENTS TO THE HOME SECRETARY: "I don't know if you rememb.er, but last year I came to see you, to discuss the insurance issue surrounding "Sally B" - the last airworthy WW2 Flying Fortress in the UK? I also informed you about the problem behind why that aircraft wasn't flying at the time, namely - EU laws that dictated the way that insurance companies set their premiums. The fact that the plane could not fly over Madingley cemetery on the day when many elderly veterans were present - was nothing short of a gross insult, and ALL our politicians should hang their heads in utter shame! The main three political parties in Westminster show unflagging support for the European Union - a totally unaccountable regime that it disgusts me to think that we are part of. How many years have the EU's accounts not been approved? - eleven years? I can't get away with that in my own business, so why can the EU? How can any UK politician justify us being dictated to by such a incompetent bunch of unaccountable bureaucrats? But there's another horrible reality that's seeping out of the EU, and it's another that sadly equates to another gross insult to our veterans and those that gave their lives for the democracy and freedom we once enjoyed - before we got bamboozled into joining the EU. Our history is being re-written by both the EU and your own colleagues! In an article in the Guardian the other day, Gordon Brown is reported as saying that he would like to replace Remembrance Sunday with a "British Day". Now I appeal to your own moral values Sir - REPLACE REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY?!!! Has that man any idea of what Remembrance Sunday represents? For politicians who are not aware - It represents the millions of people who have died in the course of wars and conflicts. People like my Great Uncle - who is buried in Norwich War Cemetery. A man with a wife and family, who gave his life in 1915 - to stop the German Army sweeping across Europe, and to prevent this country being dictated to. When thinking of the EU - it saddens me to consider what people like that actually died for. People who sacrificed their all - to preserve the values of a society where we could not be dictated to; a society where our politicians are accountable to us. I find the Labour Government's continued approach to the military service veterans and the war dead of this country deeply insulting. As my Labour MP, I realise that you strongly disagree with my views. Perhaps you think that with the passage of time, time for reflection on these matters, and a belief in fundamental core values like "democracy" and "accountability" are no longer part of society. If that is so, then I am deeply saddened by that opinion. Your Government shows continued support for an unaccountable organisation like the EU, and it's right to dictate policy to us, instead of enabling that policy to be decided by the Parliamentary system which we used to enjoy. And now I read reports about the EU wishing to bring in new laws like "Xenophobia". Even as I write these words I am probably breaking one of their laws, because now we're not even supposed to criticise them. Where's the "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" that the people of our country once enjoyed Mr. Clark? Why is it really so wrong to criticise an organisation like the EU when it wastes billions of pounds worth of OUR money, and is not even accountable to us? As one of your constituents, I am registering my strong disapproval at the way the Government to which you belong dishonors the brave men and women who handed down to us such an important legacy - that of Parliamentary democracy. Your Government's continued support for an unaccountable organisation like the EU goes against the important values that people like my own father (served in the RAF 1941-1946) fought to retain. It's very sad to see. I hope you will find it within yourself to reflect upon this, and to realise that it's not just sentimentality. Yours Faithfully - John Warnes."
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Post by Johnny on Feb 5, 2006 9:59:12 GMT
Reply from the Rt. Hon. Charles Clark, Home Secretary & MP for Norwich South: "Dear Mr Warnes Thank you for your email of 18th January. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying. I sympathise greatly with your sentiments concerning those who lost their lives in the World Wars and other conflicts, and I also feel that Remembrance Day should be kept as it is at present and not replaced. Yours - Charles Clark (signed)"
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Post by Stuart on Feb 7, 2006 20:06:21 GMT
Do you think he just wrote that to keep you quiet? Cause he didn't really have much to say!
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Post by Johnny on Feb 7, 2006 22:10:28 GMT
Do you think he just wrote that to keep you quiet? Cause he didn't really have much to say! To answer you question truthfully - YES! I have an intense disliking of politicians. Our little bunch in the House of Commons are sadly fast becoming more like their American counterparts, as we approach the absurd monolithic political culture foretold in many of the enlightened science fiction novels from years gone by. It's difficult to tell any real difference between the main political parties, because in reality - there isn't any. They are like boats - who "up-anchor" and flow with the tide, whichever direction it happens to go. They are all two-faced and hypocritical, and would discard their own principles in a flash - if it meant furthering their own careers! So, I'm afraid - I distrust ALL of them. Any decent politician (eg-Victorian Prime Minister William Gladstone) should always put their duty to the people and the country first, but I can't say I can name any politician that has those values today. My favourite politician of all time was Oliver Cromwell. I believe he was the finest leader this country ever had. He was a highly principled, unselfish, and honest man. He had his faults, but was not deceitful, and always seemed to genuinely have the interests of the people close to his heart. To me - he's a national hero, and a sharp contrast to today's politicians.
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Post by Sara on Feb 7, 2006 22:22:01 GMT
By heck his reply was short & sweet! 'Always tell the voters what the voters want to hear...'
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Post by Johnny on Feb 7, 2006 22:35:02 GMT
By heck his reply was short & sweet! 'Always tell the voters what the voters want to hear...' Well that approach certainly doesn't fool me. I'm just too old and cynical perhaps!
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Post by Sara on Feb 7, 2006 22:43:12 GMT
By heck his reply was short & sweet! 'Always tell the voters what the voters want to hear...' Well that approach certainly doesn't fool me. I'm just too old and cynical perhaps! Nope, you're just not a sheep like the politicians believe we all are!
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Post by Stuart on Feb 7, 2006 23:30:47 GMT
Nope, your just old!
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Post by Sara on Feb 8, 2006 7:01:21 GMT
Nope, your just old! I thought of putting that too
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Post by Johnny on Feb 8, 2006 7:51:42 GMT
Nope, your just old! I thought of putting that too Yes, but only Stuart's cheeky enough to put it down!
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Post by Stuart on Feb 8, 2006 13:45:28 GMT
I give as good as I get, especially in the football threads!!
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Post by Sara on Feb 8, 2006 23:16:04 GMT
Ladies, please....
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