the wootton bassett crowds

[STFC]

The people of Wootton Bassett will turn out for as long as the bodies are brought through the town, regardless of media attention.

 

[SpookyFrank]

good question or at least one i have asked myself .. don't they have jobs?

There were some people on the telly who worked in a corner shop in Wooton Basset, they were all like 'we just leave the shop, we know nobody will steal anything'. That just made me want to go to Wooton 'yay for dead morons' Basset and start looting.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Oh no can't upset the Union Flag waving military families!

We don't need to make common cause with the military - like the anti-war Tories and Liberals - we need to make clear that they are wasting their lives to prop-up the New World Order. Instead of finding common cause with those who are willing and eagre to fight it would be better others were put off joining-up. It was only with the admission that they were wasted lives that the opposition ended the Suez War - which was the only anti-war movement to succeed.

In the end you choose between tailoring the movement behind the slaughterers or the slaughtered. I know who I'd choose.

There was me thinking that withdrawal from Suez was mainly attributable to unsubtle US economic pressure. Ah well, live and learn.

 

[ViolentPanda]

so the only anti-war movement which has worked is er the united states government?

Thus giving credence to all the right-wing nutters who have claimed for the last 100 years that anti-war movements are usually backed by foreign powers. Pity they were looking east instead of west, eh?

 

[Pickman's model]

So you asked us for our thoughts what are yours?

you have eyes but cannot see

look at the fucking poll - you'll see there.

 

[e19896]

you have eyes but cannot see

look at the fucking poll - you'll see there.

I did but what are your thoughts? on what you asked, myself is angerd that the working class are comeing home dead, so what do you feel?

 

[Pickman's model]

I did but what are your thoughts? on what you asked, myself is angerd that the working class are comeing home dead, so what do you feel?

i think that the crowds at wootton bassett will start to disappear quite shortly, and that it's more ecologically friendly, not to mention green, to plant the bodies of the dead soldiers in the convenient cemetery in kabul. i'm pleased to see you're losing that ridiculous caesar turn of phrase.

 

[e19896]

i think that the crowds at wootton bassett will start to disappear quite shortly, and that it's more ecologically friendly, not to mention green, to plant the bodies of the dead soldiers in the convenient cemetery in kabul. i'm pleased to see you're losing that ridiculous caesar turn of phrase.

So the working class are killed fighting the wars of The Bosses, and you would not afford them the right for there loved ones to bury them as they feel right, do then disagree with remembering those murdered in the first 2 world wars?

 

[Pickman's model]

So the working class are killed fighting the wars of The Bosses, and you would not afford them the right for there loved ones to bury them as they feel right, do then disagree with remembering those murdered in the first 2 world wars?

so you're happy seeing the atmosphere wrecked for the repatriation of a handful of soldiers, something not extended to the glorious dead of such wars as the napoleonic, crimean, boer, first or second world wars. at the first fucking hurdle your claimed concern for the environment flies out the fucking window. what a pitiful hypocrite you are.

 

[Corax]

Can't vote.

There's no option for Until I get sick of their mawkish glorification of trained killers whose misplaced sense of patriotism makes them believe that sacrificing themselves in order to prop up a corrupt and morally bunkrupt government that are solely motivated by profit is somehow a good thing and mow them all down with semi-automatic weaponry.

I really do suspect I should stop taking myself at all seriously though.

 

[e19896]

so you're happy seeing the atmosphere wrecked for the repatriation of a handful of soldiers, something not extended to the glorious dead of such wars as the napoleonic, crimean, boer, first or second world wars. at the first fucking hurdle your claimed concern for the environment flies out the fucking window. what a pitiful hypocrite you are.

Now if you desire a conversation on this end the abuse, you are making crass assumptions once more, no one is not happy at seeing the atmosphere wrecked for the repatriation of those killed fighting the wars of the bosses, but who are we to say to the loved ones of the dead, I know you have just lost a loved one but there not coming home in a body bag, as we have wider concerns yes a fucking compromise and agreed one is been a hypocrite. Now if you used it as abuse it come back at you did it not, because in context I very much agree with you for the first time, but would also support the right for those of those killed fighting the bosses wars to decide how they would like bury there loved ones, it aint for me to impose my views on them.

 

[Pickman's model]

Now if you desire a conversation on this end the abuse, you are making crass assumptions once more, no one is not happy at seeing the atmosphere wrecked for the repatriation of those killed fighting the wars of the bosses, but who are we to say to the loved ones of the dead, I know you have just lost a loved one but there not coming home in a body bag, as have wider concerns yes a fucking compromise and agreed one is been a hypocrite. Now if you used it as abuse it come back at you did it not, because in context I very much agree with you for the first time, but would also support the right for those of those killed fighting the bosses wars to decide how they would like bury there loved ones, it aint for me to impose my views on them.

the obvious solution to all of this is to put an end to bosses' wars, by whatever means necessary.

incidentally, i don't suppose you'd object to the corpses of the ruperts being disposed of in the traditional parsi fashion - exposed for vultures and other birds to feed on?

 

[e19896]

the obvious solution to all of this is to put an end to bosses' wars, by whatever means necessary.

incidentally, i don't suppose you'd object to the corpses of the ruperts being disposed of in the traditional parsi fashion - exposed for vultures and other birds to feed on?

Yes i would there human no matter there class, and when i talk of makeing the middle class history, it is towords a world with out class, a world with out wars what did you think i was a fucking marxist?

 

[Pickman's model]

i thought you were something of a liberal, tbf, and nothing i'm seeing really changes my opinion

 

[e19896]

i thought you were something of a liberal, tbf, and nothing i'm seeing really changes my opinion

Yer right next ill be saying lets hug kiss and make you can fuck right off

 

[Pickman's model]

Yer right next ill be saying lets hug kiss and make you can fuck right off

no, that's hippies, but if the cap fits...

 

[ddraig]

Its all turning into a bit of a sightseeing circus now. I worked at RAF Lyneham when they started doing the repatriations there - 'twas a few moments of stillness and silence from the townspeople while the hearses passed, no fuss, no press.

The media have turned a spontaneous show of respect for the dead by the people of Wooton Bassett into another gala event, with people coming from all over and military personnel being shipped in from the soldier's units to line the route. All a bit OTT

spotaneous show of respect!
do you really believe that felix? or have you been working with em too long now?

 

[scawenb]

You'd do far more harm to the anti-war cause than you could possibly imagine, funeral ceremonies and remembrances are the wrong places to make political statements.

And do you not think that they are a political statement with the flag waving srowds and the tadloid headlines, and the crocodile tears of Brown & Co. The saddness of the death of one white, british soldier hides the un-named, unknown Pakis killed in whatever war it is we are fighting to keep-up Britains great imperialist position in the world.

And it is no an abstract issue for me as I do have family over there at the moment and any time I could get the call to say they have been killed or maimed. But that doesn't change my view on the wrongess of the war for fear of offence.

 

[purplex]

And do you not think that they are a political statement with the flag waving srowds and the tadloid headlines, and the crocodile tears of Brown & Co. The saddness of the death of one white, british soldier hides the un-named, unknown Pakis killed in whatever war it is we are fighting to keep-up Britains great imperialist position in the world.

And it is no an abstract issue for me as I do have family over there at the moment and any time I could get the call to say they have been killed or maimed. But that doesn't change my view on the wrongess of the war for fear of offence.

But by picketing these processions you would be diverting the focus from the people ordering these guys out to war, and moving it directly onto the people in the coffins as if it was them you were campaigning against. I would genuinely fear for your safety.

 

[MikeMcc]

spotaneous show of respect!
do you really believe that felix? or have you been working with em too long now?

It's true that it started very small scale, a few bods from the local Legion club. I agree with Felix that it's grown unreasonably formal and over-blown. It had started well before it got any media attention, pretty much when they swapped from using Brize Norton to using Lyneham. There's similar pauses on the route near Faringdon that are hardly reported.

 

[Andy the Don]

Pity there are not more anti-war protesters for the press to photograph. The may be workers in uniform but they did sign-up and they are killing innocent people for Queen and Country.

Yes great idea and why not get those muslim fundie nutters from Luton to protest as well, that would really go down well..
In would say that the people of Wootton Bassett would be paying their respects even if there was no media attention.

 

[TopCat]

I think protesting at these highly charged political events (because that's what they are) would be difficult but ultimately a good thing. Not everyone supports our fucking boys.

 

[DotCommunist]

There were some people on the telly who worked in a corner shop in Wooton Basset, they were all like 'we just leave the shop, we know nobody will steal anything'. That just made me want to go to Wooton 'yay for dead morons' Basset and start looting.

*vomit*

they'll be mentioning blitz spirit next, cos no fucker ever used the cover of the blackouts and air raids to go on the rob did they?

 

[STFC]

I think protesting at these highly charged political events (because that's what they are) would be difficult but ultimately a good thing. Not everyone supports our fucking boys.

By that logic you could turn up at the funerals of people you didn't like just to tell all their family and friends what a complete wanker they were. Would you do that?

It's got nothing to do with supporting "our boys". It's simple respect for the dead. Nobody's forcing you to show respect.

 

[dennisr]

they'll be mentioning blitz spirit next, cos no fucker ever used the cover of the blackouts and air raids to go on the rob did they?

Then there were the other ones who had to go out and gather the body parts after a raid. An old lass i know in bermondsey, who want through the blitz on the dock areas, recently explained me how difficult it was to get the impaled body of some poor sod stuck on a roof spike down. I'd agree, it really didn't sound very romantic for those on the ground.

I don't see nothing wrong in showing some respect though - not for imperial adventures, not for leaders, not out of hypocritical support for 'our boys' but for poor bastards who are paying the price, and their families who will continue to pay.

 

[TopCat]

By that logic you could turn up at the funerals of people you didn't like just to tell all their family and friends what a complete wanker they were. Would you do that?

It's got nothing to do with supporting "our boys". It's simple respect for the dead. Nobody's forcing you to show respect.

The reality is the state is using the funerals as political propaganda. Hence my wish to oppose the view that the people of the UK support our involvement in this war.

 

[STFC]

Go on then, go and oppose it when the next bodies get taken through Wootton Bassett if that's what you want to do. Nobody's stopping you.

 

[Onket]

There were some people on the telly who worked in a corner shop in Wooton Basset, they were all like 'we just leave the shop, we know nobody will steal anything'. That just made me want to go to Wooton 'yay for dead morons' Basset and start looting.

I went to school in Wootton Bassett. People did steal things.

 

[scawenb]

But by picketing these processions you would be diverting the focus from the people ordering these guys out to war, and moving it directly onto the people in the coffins as if it was them you were campaigning against. I would genuinely fear for your safety.

I wasn't suggesting picketting the actual funeral - I've got nothing against buried their family. It the pro-"Our Boys" lots that I object to - it is no -apolitical it does help the war effort and it silences the anti-war movement and helps the military recruit. If i lived i Woolton Bassett I hope I would be brave enough to stand-up there against the war to show that not everyone is backing the military.

I agree entirely with TopCat.

 

[TopCat]

Go on then, go and oppose it when the next bodies get taken through Wootton Bassett if that's what you want to do. Nobody's stopping you.

How many dead do we tolerate before we protest? If they are having 100 funerals a week will you act? What about 200? When does the sheer scale of pointless death become intolerable?