Paxman Vs. Cameron

[sp1814]

What are your thoughts on this?

David Cameron has (allegedly) proposed that the First World War be marked next year and had "likened the commemorations to last last year’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/downing-street-demands-apology-after-jeremy-paxman-calls-david-cameron-complete-idiot-8931226.html

Paxman had called Cameron an idiot over the plans.

I'm with Mr Paxman on this, although I think his language was a bit over the top.

I have a lot of respect for Cameron after his push for marriage equality, but I don't get this one.

Isn't Remembrance Sunday an appropriate occasion to remember those who fought and died in all wars?

Also - why mark the start of the First World War - rather than the end (say in 2018)?

[sir.prize]

Why commemorate starts or ends of wars? Dates are merely numbers. 1914, 1918, 1939 etc.

Dates are irrelevant. It is the people who we remember.

2014 is also the 75th anniversary of the start of the Second World War - should we recognise that fact too?

Yes Paxman is right - Cameron is an idiot.

PS: So is Clegg.

[Kromovaracun]

Either way we are in for 4 years of overly sentimental cliche-ridden historico-garbage. I don't look forward to it.

[tttom_tomagain]

It took Paxman that long to work out DC is an idiot?

Hoorah. And so say all of us.

But will anything properly and effectively be done about it in this wretched star we live in? No.

[tttom_tomagain]

[sorry, typo, should read 'state' not star.]

"It took Paxman that long to work out DC is an idiot?

Hoorah. And so say all of us.

But will anything properly and effectively be done about it in this wretched state we

live in? No."

[viv38]

Agree, Cameron IS an idiot !

[sp1814]

Beginning to feel a bit sorry for Cameron.

My sister summed it up perfectly this morning. She said, David Cameron is the Sam Callaghan of politics'.

Sad, but true...

[sir.prize]

Rather sorry for Paxman too - resorting to appearing with Graham Norton.

[weecalf]

Maybe mr paxman should stick to what he's paid to do . if this great country changes it government we will have another 5 years of its not our fault it what we were left with .That was to ask question on mastermind by the wy

[naomi24]

“Allegedly”?

//It is believed that Mr Paxman was referring to a speech the Prime Minister gave in October 2012 at the Imperial War Museum in London; a speech he used to announce that more than £50 million had been allocated for next year’s commemoration of the outbreak of the war.//

So did he say it or didn’t he? There’s a difference between saying money is being allocated to commemorate the anniversary, and likening the event to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

[tttom_tomagain]

Read Harold Pinter's Nobel acceptance speech, perhaps?

Is it really true democracy? What is happening to those with nothing?

A regime by the rich and remote for the rich and greedy?

Welcome to Arms Dealer UK plc.

[sp1814]

naomi24

I put in 'allegedly' because I was quoting from Paxman who said that the event would be like the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

For me, that would be totally inappropriate, because the Jubilee was a celebration, rather than a commemoration.

No-one should (in my opinion) celebrate war, and if Cameron used the Diamond Jubilee as a touchstone of how the First World War would be remembered, then he used very inappropriate language.

[naomi24]

So Paxman said that the event would be like the Diamond Jubilee celebrations - not David Cameron?

[sp1814]

naomi24

No - Cameron did, according to Paxman.

As it I'm hearing it second hand from Paxman, I put in 'allegedly'.

[naomi24]

I suspect Jeremy Paxman's disdain for this commemoration has created some confusion here. I can well imagine Paxman sarcastically saying that any sort of ceremony would turn out to be like that for the Diamond Jubilee – but I seriously doubt David Cameron has anything so utterly tasteless in mind. Had he said it, I think the media would have made sure we knew about it before now.

[sp1814]

naomi24

But what isn't in question is the fact that Cameron is proposing an event, or series of events next year...which is 100 years after WW1 started.

I would have thought that a better year would be 2018 - a celebration of the end of the war, rather than the start.

[tamborine]

History education is lacking in schools & considering our expected EU migrants, a celebration of victories & our culture need ingraining into our self worth. Remember the euphoria at our sport success & our pop music, films, industry, imperialism & independance of nations we fought to allow etc.

Am aware we have a dark side like slavery that we benefitted from but we did outlaw it, though it continues elsewhere.

[tamborine]

Hope JP chair got tipped on Norton's show ;)

[youngmafbog]

Well Cameron may be an idiot, but Paxman is a complete knob.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Here is an explanation of what Cameron actually said.

/// Mr Wilson – who is unlikely to have sent his letter without Mr Cameron’s tacit approval – describes Mr Paxman’s remarks as a ‘gross misrepresentation’ of the Prime Minister’s speech at the Imperial War Museum, in which he actually said: ‘I want a commemoration that captures our national spirit, in every corner of the country, from our schools to our workplaces, to our town halls and local communities. ///

/// 'A commemoration that, like the Diamond Jubilee celebrated this year, says something about who we are as a people.’ ///

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2496352/Furious-No10-demands-apology-Jeremy-Paxman-calling-David-Cameron-complete-idiot-plans-World-War-One-centenary.html

[Zeuhl]

Useful clarification aog

/like the Diamond Jubilee /

I take the point that he means that the commemoration should have a common outcome as the jubilee ('say something about who we are as a people')

But it is a rather ill judged association.

"I hope granddad's funeral next week says something about who we are as a family, just like my birthday party did last week"