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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to really not like the military wive's song...

230 replies

KittyFane · 06/12/2011 18:45

I LOVE Gareth Malone and love choirs and I think it's great how he has put it all together but I don't like the song at all.
I feel unreasonable as I am being made to feel ( by constant press/ radio coverage) that I should love it.
I don't even like it.
Anyone else or just me?

OP posts:
GingerWrath · 06/12/2011 21:19

I personally was involved in shipping food aid to the States after Katrina. Building food boxes onto metal aircraft palettes in a thunderstorm was fun!

herbietea · 06/12/2011 21:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Esta3GG · 06/12/2011 21:21

I am sorry but I just don't swallow this.
Yes the world changed a lot after 9/11 but - this country has been involved in conflicts and war zones of one kind or another non stop since the end of WW2. Kosovo, Bosnia, Gulf War, Suez, Malaya, Korea, Cyprus, Northern Ireland - the list is endless.
I accept that the recruitment process always omits the scary shit about possibly getting limbs blown off - but nobody joins up thinking that it is going to be just another day at the office. Especially not now.

Original poster
KittyFane · 06/12/2011 21:22

Ginger
I know absolutely nothing about how the military works and what I know about war have been seen through the news, film, documentaries and at school in history (1st and 2nd world wars and vietnam).
I agree that the world has changed but I would say that as war has been horrific in the past it will be equally horrific in the future.
All you need to do is look at history and there it is- obviously, the military is a bloody dangerous profession.

OP posts:
AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 06/12/2011 21:22

see this is where i start to have to bite my tongue. if you join up, you do so to defend this country. historically, that will mean giving your life/killing others if necessary and the fact that no-one could've predicted the situation in the middle east (could they really not, btw?) doesn't mean that they didn't sign up for it.

Original poster
KittyFane · 06/12/2011 21:23

Esta you said it a lot better than me.

OP posts:
candytuft63 · 06/12/2011 21:25

Why marry someone in the Forces then . Get a chap in local government or something. It is a dangerous occupation, and everyone in the Forces knows this. It is drummed into every recruit, constantly. That yes -you are there to do as you are told, without question. That is what you are paid to do.
I spent 5 years in The Navy, to get away from home basically, but I knew what I was there for - to serve and defend.
The sentiments are certainly real, but bad for morale.
Armed forces should not be crying to come home.
Intelligence in Helmond must be laughing at us.

GingerWrath · 06/12/2011 21:27

No I really didn't, I did an office job (skirts and court shoes), the only time I was armed was when I had to do my yearly range test.

My DH does a job where, when he is in Afghanistan, he is NEVER in danger.

Do you think chefs, medics, doctors, dental surgery assistants, administators, padres, etc., join to fight and die?

All genuine trades in all 3 Forces!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 06/12/2011 21:28

I disagree aitch.

Many people felt and still feel that the war in Iraq was an unjust war. Many people who sign up to the military do so because they are patriotic and believe the best of their country. I know people who were proud of the British war record in WWI and WWII, who come from army families and who thought they would be carrying on an honourable tradition, who were then deeply disturbed that we went to war in Iraq.

I am not saying I agree with either the first conclusion or the second, but I don't think the point is that these people were just not prepared for active duty as they should have been - IMO it is not that simple for a lot of people.

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 06/12/2011 21:28

so why all the bleating about how tough you've got it then?

Esta3GG · 06/12/2011 21:29

Get a chap in local government or something

God I'd love a chap. Where have all the chaps gone?

Kitty - hush now woman you'll make me go all soppy.

GingerWrath · 06/12/2011 21:29

candy I think you'll find it's Helmand dear.

forceslover · 06/12/2011 21:29

Next time hubby rings I must ask him how many babies he has bayoneted that day!

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 06/12/2011 21:29

i'm not really with you, lrd. what did these people from military families think they'd be doing?

Esta3GG · 06/12/2011 21:31

LRD - what is his obsession with Iraq as if it is the first war we've ever fought?! What about the Falkands debacle? What about our presence in Northern Ireland?

herbietea · 06/12/2011 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 06/12/2011 21:31

meh, that's it. i'm off. forceslover you do yourself and fellow military wives no favours with that kind of shite.

miSaltireandwine · 06/12/2011 21:31

Ginger I saw a very insulting post on a thread yesterday which called members of the Armed Forces hired killers.
Every thread started in the non forces section ends up with people saying "you knew what you were getting into" or "why did you marry him then". It's always the same and this has descended into a lets pick on forces thread again.

Until the next fire brigade strike or flooding or someone needing rescued from a mountain top or food and aid dropped off in Africa, then for a few hours they'll be all thats wonderful

I personally think the whole choir idea was fab and if the song makes shed loads of money for the 2 charities that do something to help out veterans (all veterans) then that is a good thing

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 06/12/2011 21:31

They might not join to fight and die but surely they join knowing there's a good chance they'll be asked to serve doing whatever they do in a warzone?

Yes, a chef may not want to kill but they joined, they trained, they chose it. Forces cheffing, not Happy Eater cheffing - that was surely a decision made knowing the pros and cons.

Original poster
KittyFane · 06/12/2011 21:31

Ginger I do see that, my grandfather was a chef in WW2 and he said he never saw the true horrors of war.
In that case, the constant media press about 'our brave boys' is not altogether true then? Some are at risk, others are not?

OP posts:
Strumpypumpy · 06/12/2011 21:31

Not my cup of tea at all. But, I am a military wife. I totally get every sentiment in the song. I was sobbing quietly in the car when they were on Chris Evans the other day. Especially when the Royal Navy guy pitched up with a uniform Grin. But I am slightly irked by the emphasis on men serving overseas...the women are out there too. However, that's just my gripe. And for these ladies, it is totally about their feelings and about their own situation. I am just so worried about how they are managing to sort themselves out for Christmas with all this touring about!

forceslover · 06/12/2011 21:33

Night AITCH sleep tight!

GingerWrath · 06/12/2011 21:34

I am just pointing out that we don't all join to 'kill the enemy'!

In the media this week a female medic admitted to killing an insurgent. Good on her.

LRD There is a LOT of historical pride, mention the Battle of Britain or play Elgar's Nimrod around DH and he goes all RAF on me. In the same token, when I see a Spitfire I feel immensely proud because I am a minuscule part of that history.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 06/12/2011 21:34

I think some people believed that their government, about which the were idealistic, as patriots, would never send them into an unjust war. And they felt that is what happened in Iraq.

I am a horrible cynic, and don't tend to feel hugely patriotic, and that's why I would never go into the military. But I understand that people who are patriotic and do go into the military, are likely to feel strongly about the honour of what they are doing. I know people who were properly shaken and shocked about Iraq, and honestly never would have believed Britain would ever go into such a war.

Say what you like about that attitude, but I do think it's only fair to acknowledge that when people say they didn't know what they were signing up for, it's not necessarily because they thought they would avoid a war situation, it's sometimes because they had faith that they feel has been betrayed. And we do have a military that runs on volunteers, so inevitably many people will sign up out of patriotism and idealism.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 06/12/2011 21:35

Esta - what do you mean by 'his obsession'? Confused

Btw my last was to aitch, but it's not clear as I took so long to write it.

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