Today, there was an article in the news, which made me sit up and think.
The article was:
Spoiler:
The head of the British Army says he is becoming increasingly concerned about "the growing gulf between the Army and the nation".
Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said soldiers were sometimes greeted with indifference on returning from service.
A "willingness to serve in such an atmosphere again" could be sapped, he said in a speech in London.
The warning follows Royal British Legion concerns the UK is failing in its duty of care to the armed forces.
The Legion claims the Military Covenant - the obligation to support people who fight for their country - is not being honoured.
Gen Dannatt told the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London: "Soldiers want to be understood and they want to be respected for their commitment.
"When a young soldier has been fighting in Basra or Helmand, he wants to know that the people in their local pub know and understand what he has been doing and why."
"Soldiers are genuinely concerned when they come back from Iraq to hear the population that sent them being occasionally dismissive or indifferent about their achievements," he added.
Gen Dannatt compared the situations in the UK and the US, where firms offer discounts to serving soldiers and people shake the hand of those in uniform.
He said that, in the UK, "we still have a nation that, at times, seems immune to homeless and psychologically-damaged soldiers".
"As operational commitments have become more intense, so has the need for support from the nation," he said.
"We must move from being a society that uses the military as a political and media football and more towards seeing the military for what it is."
That was "the instrument of foreign policy conducted by a democratically-elected government acting in the name of the people".
Campaign support
Gen Dannatt also called for a radical rethink on the equipment used in the British Army.
He said that "too often we have been seduced by high technology".
He called for more money to be spent on "getting the very lowest level right".
This involved "equipping the man first and building the system around him", Gen Dannatt added.
Last week, Gen Dannatt's predecessor, Gen Sir Mike Jackson, gave his support to the Legion campaign for better treatment of Britain's armed forces.
Wounded soldiers and their families deserved to be treated "fairly and decently", he said.
But the most important thing was to acknowledge the value of the armed forces, he added.
Now, I know from experience, that this article is correct.
I also know that we have people here in the UK who can happily stand back in their safe homes, and criticize what the armed forces are doing, in places like Iraq, and Afghanistan.
For instance, to remember the serving soldiers, and the fallen, how many of you, and people you know, take part in Remembrance Day? (Also known as poppy day)
For those of you who do not know, Remembrance Day celebrates:
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month which marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One.
At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare.
To show our support, we pay for poppies, which aid the charity which supports war veterans and their families. How many of you do this?
Also, to mark this occasion, there is supposed to be a 2 minutes silence. Again, in this day and age, how many actually can hold their heads up, and say that they do honour it?
I would appreciate anyone elses thoughts and comments, but please make them constructive, and not that you agree, or disagree. Please say why.
wombleboy05
I totally agree. People just aren't realising what people at war are currently going through and thier is no help for soldiers. I think some people need to show more respect. Like cuddlyewok said we are safe in our homes here and criticize the forces.
Think about this before you start criticize . How would you feel if you were at war in constant battle everyday. Seeing your friends die infront of you.All alone with noone thier to support you.Having to watch innocent people die everyday.
How would you feel?
We need to start thinking about those soldiers fighting for Britain. Remember them and show respect for them putting thier lives on the line every single day. Scared and alone. You wouldn't want to be them. Would you?
*Jack*
I also aggree, not many people would want thet job, risking their lives for our country, so the people that do that job are great, we should give full support to them all the time not just poppy day!
I donate and try my hardest to help them, by buying poppys and I do complete a 2 minute silence, in honour of those great people.
Nomini
I am proud of the achievements of my country and observe remembrance day every year. I think it is right to honour our servicemen because they are operation on our behalf although many opposed the Iraq war while most supported our role in the two world wars. I think that soldiers are even more forgotten in Afganistan, overshadowed by Iraq.
