Am I the only person who has found the coverage of the anniversary of the Falklands War as rather one sided?

[MrsMar]

I understand that reporting on what the British soldiers went through is obviously going to be a large part of the coverage, but I've heard so little from the other side, the Argentine side. No true analysis and reflection of what happened in say the Second World War would be complete without an analysis of Germany at the time, so it feels rather like one side of this story has been neglected.

I may be biased, being half Argentine, but I was only 12 at the time, I didn't quite understand why there was so much hate towards Argentina. As I understand it, Argentina was in a terrible state at the time, under a military dictatorship with no political freedom, so the average Argentine didn't have a voice to oppose the invasion of the Falklands. I really don't think the coverage has really reflected that side of things much at all. Am I wrong to think that's a bit of a shame, as many still don't fully understand what the war was all about?

History tends to be written from the viewpoint of the victor.

i suppose there may be a more fair programme on this evening to show both sides.

the argentines were just kids weren't they. so sad

It came up a little bit in relation to Carol Thatcher, but I haven't seen it discussed much elsewhere.

gosh I've heard lots of teh Argentine coverage too. mainly Radio 4.

The argentinians were invited to take part, and refused (according to Radio 4 news today)

i say a bbc news report that said we wee perhaps days away from being rather bollocksed not very hoorah brits are great kind of coverage. there was also an argentinian soldier. accompaning simon weston

there was also another soldier who was saying that the argenitinians didn';t want to shoot back - the only reason the british forces managed to get to them over miles and miles of open terrain - where usually they would (the brits) have been sitting ducks

i dont think its animosity at all.

I don;t remember much "hatred" towards Argetnina in my neck of the woods - lot of patriotic Britons asking - "would you sign up" but the impression I got at the time (am a bit older than you!) was more one of indignation that they invaded "our" island.

I understand that marslady, but even so, there has barely even been a mention of Argentina. If I was a child watching the coverage now, I'd be hard pressed to even know who we were fighting against.

I think what was going on in Argentina at the time is so relevant to why the invasion even happened.. ie satisfy the military ambitions of a dictator.

gosh I must have missed it all then. I did see one argentine guy on itv news and that was it.

Kewcumber - I may be really biased cos I was spat at at school at the time. Of course they could have just been scummy kids!

maybe I'm biased because (not being argentinian) no-one spat at me.

I also heard a report from the Argentinian side I think this morning on the Today prog.

perceptions are really skewed when you're a 12 year old, I always thought everyone hated Argentines!

I must go online to find those r4 progs... thanks for letting me know about them!

they did have an argentinan on the loacal news last night. it was good to hear his story. Have to say though that i find it all so sad as they has no choice.
I think the whole point is to remeber the war and pay respect to the dead and injured

I don't think people hate Argentinians MrsMar. DH fought in the Falklands War and very nearly died. He was on HMS Coventry, the ship that was sunk on the Argentinian National Day.

I just asked him what he thought about Argentinians and he just shrugged his shoulders and said "they were just doing their job" and he certainly doesn't hate Argentinians because of it. And nor do I.

I think at the moment it's about rememberance of those who fought and died. It's been a sad time in this household these last few weeks, dh has buried so many memories and feelings and just gets on with life, but it's all there and comes to the surface at times like this .

As a Student at the time of the war, I remembered it all too vividly waiting with a friend of mine to see if his father had survived the sinking of the Sir Galahad. Sad times for all who died - on both sides. I don't remember much hatred at the time, rather like Kewcumber said indignation that they'd invaded such a small godforsaken part of the United Kingdom.

anybody watch the guy on ITV news who did the 'yomp' .. had never heard of it before .. marching for 2 days across treacherous uneven land with 110 kilos on your back and then fighting? ..

You never heard of the famous yomp across - Goose Green wasn't it. I had friends who did that. Unbelievable stamina.

I feel enormously sorry for all the armed forces involved on both sides as it seems to me that the 'winner' was Thatcher whose re-election chances had looked alot less rosy before the Falklands War.