What fresh hell is this? National VE day

[wetpants]

This has popped up on my local FB page, villagers are all up for it too. Apparently it’s a nationwide incentive??

The thing is, most front gardens are tiny or non existent here. There’s no way you could be 2m away from your next door. Also these villagers who are up for this are the same people who few weeks ago cried about a lone bloke sitting on a crass verge, well away from any pedestrians. How is this any different?

I’m not British (have lived here a long time though) so maybe I’m just not getting the fervent VE day misty eyeness

And don’t get me started on 9pm nationwide singalong WHO comes up with these things???

Social distancing concerns aside I don’t have an issue if people want to join in.
Personally I find it a bit weird- I have no issue in celebrating the anniversary of the war but don’t understand why it has to be a celebration of Britishness, it was the victory of the allies not just the British.
Pretty much the only time I’ve been proud to be british was watching our (and other) athletes take part in our Olympics/paralympics in 2012.

And it's not only about it being cop-opted for Brexit purposes: more recently the whole "we British are so special all we need to do is summon that old Dunkirk spirit" has been used to underpin a policy on the pandemic which has seen the death rate sky-rocket. It is pretty obvious that this event is being co-opted now to foster a unity that makes questioning government policy seem churlish and unpatriotic.

I wish we'd had 75 years of peace to celebrate.

cory totally agree with you.

It is pretty obvious that this event is being co-opted now to foster a unity that makes questioning government policy seem churlish and unpatriotic

It’s not working very well, is it? People are complying with lockdown because they’re scared or natural compliers of rules. Meanwhile there are plenty of people criticising the government including some of its natural allies.

All this enforced doorstep socialisation is getting ridiculous. Bet most of you doing it never even spoke to your neighbours before all this. I will be annoyed if my neighbours are "partying" in their front garden, disturbing me. Totally unnecessary.

PhilSwagielka, I was referring to our general liberties that we can sometimes take for granted - of course, posting on here is not the reason for people losing their lives. My mum also lied about her age to join the WAAF in 1940, we miss her too

Katie Hopkins totally would have collaborated with the Nazis in WW2. She is a white supremacist after all.

@MangoTram sorry, I take things very literally.

@LadyPenelope68 so what form is this enforcement taking round your way?

All this enforced doorstep socialisation is getting ridiculous.

But VE day celebrations have been planned for this 75th anniversary for a long time, the bank holiday was moved from Monday to Friday, a whole weekend of events planned - way before coronavirus was ever heard of. It's nothing to do with the current situation. Boris wasn't even prime minister when VE day events were planned!
www.veday75.org/

Cheesy. But in the absence of the pub I suppose it may happen, but I will not participate.

My view has nothing to do with the obvious way those who fought and died either. They are heroes.

Just getting ridiculous now. Light a candle say a prayer or whatever you want to do or not do.

Will our RF participate under lockdown?

Hopkins, Tommy ten names, Britain first lot and Rees Mogg, all on my definite nazis collaboraters if this was 1940s operation sealion list. Loads of other maybes.

Dunkirk really was a triumph of politics. It was a complete and utter fuck up turned around to be presented as a victory.

It wasn’t presented as a victory at all. The British public wasn’t gullible.

I think there's definitely an age divide here. I don't know anyone who will be doing this, or even would think about it.

@yelyah22 - can you just clarify for me what age group is apparently supposed to enjoy / not enjoy a bit of a street party, just so we can be sure we are all fitting in to your stereo type ?
Only, in my road, people of all ages are joining in with a 'picnic on the porch' - purely because we can't go out at the moment, and it is just a nice opportunity to have a bit of a distraction for a couple of hours. If you can let me know, that would be helpful.

@LadyPenelope68, I too would like to know what form this 'enforcement' of enjoyment is taking round your way?
In our road - some people (lots) are jining in and others (fewer, but still quite a few) aren't. Indeed, een in our house, one person isn't really interested, so most of us will, but one won't.
That's fine - where I live, if you want to join in you do, if you don't, then you don't.

OP - irrelevant if your not a Brit. This 'celebration' is not a big tradition, just an excuse to get together because it's a bank holiday. The whole flag waving thing just leaves me cold.

@BubblyBarbara
Because all the selfish old cunts voted brexit destroying your grandchildren futures

I literally have a book called Dunkirk-from Defeat to Victory

Dunkirk was D-Day
it has nothing to do with VE Day

VE stands for Victory in Europe
Something that went down rather well with quite a few countries

Dunkirk was nothing to do with D Day, they were four years apart! Wtf do they teach people in history lessons these days?

I don't dictate what people do on their front lawns. They can do cartwheels in the nuddy as far I'm concerned. I'm convinced this is an English thing anyway. Good luck to everyone. We need to be more tolerant.

I would like to do something to celebrate. Two of my grandparents worked on the front line. I've not seen any plans locally.

I literally have a book called Dunkirk-from Defeat to Victory

I presume you haven’t read it though?

Dunkirk was D-Day

Dunkirk - 1940
Battle Of Britain - 1940
D-Day - 1944
VE Day - 1945

Plus a lot more in between