A Very Different World, Indeed.

[New Judge]

I’ve just been watching the Remembrance Ceremony. David Dimbleby interviewed a veteran of D-Day. He is 100 and one of the few still alive who took part in the 1944 landings. He was explaining how, when wading ashore from the landing craft they were being strafed by German aircraft. His pal, a few feet away from him, was hit and killed. He realised this was a bit different to training and that he might be next. He said, “I thought to myself, I’m 20, I’ve had a good life, if this is it, this is it”.

Then I remembered reading last week that the Guardian newspaper had offered its staff “all the support and counselling they need” because Donald Trump had been elected as President of the USA.

I wonder how much counselling the D-Day veteran received?

[naomi24]

It's not about Trump.  It's about the snowflake generation.

[MargoTester]

New Judge, I'm not sure there was such a thing as counselling for returning soldiers at the end OF WW2 and many suffered from what we now call PTSD, but almost never spoke about it. A different generation indeed. 

[douglas9401]

'Snowflake' now includes the lack of desire to be turned into a red mist at the behest of politicians incapable of sorting stuff out in a civilised manner does it?

Always okay when it's somebody elses kids being sacrificed to fill the space between the outbreak of fighting and the inevitable halt.

I'm glad I never had to get involved in their shenanigans.

[Old_Geezer]

It includes not being willing to run a risk of being turned into a red mist in order to protect the world and society from the evil actions of others. To feel no duty to one's fellow citizens, family, friends, society in general, and simply look out for your own personal survival.

[Canary42]

To the twerp who raised the Godwin flag.  If it makes you more comfortable to label any reference to the rise of Fascism in 30s Germany so that you can retire back into your cocoon of cozy ignorance, I must warn you that to nominate such a label does nothing to lessen its relevance and warning. It merely allows you to don your blinkers.

[Canary42]

So NJ you are proposing we ignore any suffering less severe than a seaborne landing under fire ?

 

[douglas9401]

What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile...

[Barmaid]

In 2013, I stood in a war cemetery in Cassino with my grandfather who had fought there and lost many of his mates. His strength in fighting back the tears and saluting his comrades at nearly 90 was awe inspiring. For 70 years he carried that horror, but he dealt with it. He was a lovely, kind man and is very much missed. He would never denigrate anyone else's suffering, but I have no doubt inwardly he'd be really cross.

[jourdain2]

Barmaid - my uncle was there with him.

[10ClarionSt]

I was in London today, marching in the Remembrance Parade. There were many young people watching and taking part. I don't share the opinion of others on here about young people not being stepping up, should the need arise. I believe that the vast majority would do it.

[davebro3]

Would Brits behave markedly differently from Ukrainians?

//While many Ukrainian men have answered the call to serve, some others have tried to evade conscription. Even before the latest mobilization push, thousands of men had fled the country to avoid service, some of them swimming across a river separating Ukraine from Romania.//