AIBU to think spending 50 million quid on commemorating WW1 is slightly bonkers?

[Dotty342kids]

Just been listening to David Cameron's speech about the importance of commemorating the centenary of WW1. Am in full agreement about the significance of the date and that in no way should it be forgotten or overlooked. But 50million pounds? In the current climate? After all the other speeches and announcements this week about cutting spending and the hardships this is going to cause for many low income families..... I just feel it's ever so slightly wrong!

[TunipTheVegemal]

What?! What on earth's that going to be spent on?

[Kendodd]

Where is the money coming from?

Also we have just spent £££ on the Jubilee and Olympics, IMO the feel good factor was worth it though, not sure this will produce much of a feel good factor although it might produce some pubic cohesion.

[LFCisTarkaDahl]

Is that 50 million quid out of the public purse??

or just the numptys like me buying a British Legion Crystal poppy brooch at £25?

[INeedThatForkOff]

It seems to be in poor taste to me. The centenary of WW1 ought to be marked in a modest and sombre way. It's not some excuse for a street party.

[EugenesAxe]

That's not much out of the budget really - there was a thread about the cost of the Olympic Opening Ceremony; can't remember how much that was but on the thread someone said the NHS spends something like £250m every hour? I can't remember, but I'd wager this amount, while big to people, is sod all from a fiscal POV.

Personally I think it's very important to keep highlighting the sacrifice of all the men and women involved in WW1 and don't begrudge this amount being spent. I expect it's a lot because Royals will be involved and they'll need good security.

[EugenesAxe]

ForkOff - I doubt it will be spent on a party... I'm sure whatever's done will be sombre. Sombre doesn't mean cheap necessarily.

[moonstorm]

YANBU it makes me mad. I hate public demonstrations anyway. It only takes a few moments to have a quiet thought ( and is free).

[QueefLatina]

Arf at Kens pubic cohesion

[GoldShip]

That's not much out of the budget really

It is really, especially when only 140million is being dedicated to improving midwifery services which will effect millions of women in the UK.

[Vagaceratops]

There should be a commemoration - absolutely.

But it shouldnt be an excuse for a knees up, it should be about remembering, not about celebrating.

[EdithWeston]

What are they planning to spend it on?

Cameron has been speaking today about ideas to commemorate the anniversary. Did he make any definite announcements on what is planned?

[EdithWeston]

Answering my own question: here's a BBC article which says that there will be a committee to decide what commemorations there might be; no definite plans yet, other than improvements to the Imperial War Museum (cost unspecified, possibly something that might have attracted public funding anyhow).

[GoldShip]

Whilst I 100% support 'we will never forget', I think that money could be spent on improving peoples lives today.

Thing is with the government is when they do things like this they need 'meetings to plan meetings' so it ends up being more costly than it ever needs to be.

[complexnumber]

I think it is entirely appropriate that our nation's collective consciousness should be alerted to this centenary.

We should never, ever, fail to appreciate the enormous sacrifice made by so many people in the country, from the smallest village to the largest city.

A few years ago a fellow teacher took a group of 15/16 year old to some of the WW1 battle fields and graveyards. He told me how some of the lads spat on the graves 'for a laugh'. I have no idea how he managed to restrain himself, but he did manage to point out that some of the graves held the bodies of boys the same age as them. We cannot stop trying to educate!

I also have no idea how some people got the impression it will be some sort of knees-up, I actually find it rather offensive that anyone could be so dismissive before finding out a little more.

[GoldShip]

Complex - but we can do that without spending 50million pounds of much needed money.

I agree we should never ever fail to appreciate. My great great great Grandad died in the Battle of Somme, and I want people to remember the huge sacrifice these brave men and boys gave for us.

BUT I think that 50million should go to helping people who are alive today. If projected at the right cause, it could make a big difference.

And I agree, we shouldn't stop trying to educate. Funnily enough I was never taught about WW1 or WW2 in any of the schools I went to. Which is disappointing.

[Dotty342kids]

There hasn't been any mention of a "knees up" at all, just commemorative / educational programmes and the restoration of the Imperial War Museum. All very worthwhile and useful............. but maybe not with all the other pressures on the public purse at the moment.
If we want to honour the older generation (albeit not any from WW1 who've all now died) perhaps it could be better spent improving care for older people.
In fact, I could think of many, many things to spend it on!

[complexnumber]

I won't claim to be an economist by any means, but I really don't think is that much really.

I just did a quick google, it seems that amount of money would build about two miles of motorway.

[complexnumber]

I stand by what I have written above, however I have just heard a government spokesperson (didn't catch who) talking about this on the radio.

I could have screamed when I heard him refer to the horrific mess, the appaling leadership and the shocking loss of life as 'The Great War'.

I honestly thought that terminology had long since been discarded.

[GoldShip]

There was nothing bloody great about it.

[AngusOg]

I could have screamed when I heard him refer to the horrific mess, the appaling leadership and the shocking loss of life as 'The Great War'

It was called that by those who lived through it because it was the first total war in history - where all the population was affected and where technology was used to further the fighting (think of early tanks, planes etc.) Nothing to do with the word 'great' meaning fabulous and everything to do with it being on such a large scale.

[Latara]

£50 million (or less) could open a large dual registered nursing / residential home for those Elderly people who can't stay at home but can't afford a care home place...

£50 million could be spent on children with learning disabilities whose families can't afford the fees for specialist education & respite (& whose local councils won't pay).

£50 million could pay for a LOT of expensive cancer treatment.

£50 million could keep a night shelter for the homeless open (we'll need more of those soon! & keep a local hospice open; & keep an animal sanctuary open.. etc etc etc...

I've been told that my great grandparents & their siblings who fought & died; or nursed the wounded in WW1 were actually socialists or communists.

I'd think they'd like to have seen £50 million spent in a way that benefits the lives of ordinary people (as they were) today.

After all; people in my family died in the first 30 years of the 20th century due to poverty - both from the effects of malnutrition & from the lack of good free medical care.

So any of the above would in fact be a fitting memorial.

[EdithWeston]

Will the committee be soliciting ideas from the public?

Anyone got a contact eaddress?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

"commemorative / educational programmes and the restoration of the Imperial War Museum."

YABU... I think all of those things are well worth the investment. If we forget our history we are doomed to repeat it.

[TiAAAAARGHo]

There's already enough education about the war. And about WWII. It's all I ever did in history at school (which is why I know bugger all about any other historical events). The money should be spent on things we actually need - affordable housing, medical care, etc.

We have a whole day, every year, which is specifically designated to be the time we remember. That is when we discuss the sacrifices made - by soldiers, land girls, etc. We don't need to pay to send thousands of bored school kids to France to look at a field where people died (which I understand to be one of the suggestions).