Bubblehammerblog

The 1918 Armistice rememberance ceremonies bring military matters to mind.

A recent survey indicated that around 60% of the public either oppose or have reservations about the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, while 85% 'support our troops'. What does 'supporting' British soldiers in these wars mean? Does it entail going to their funerals, welcoming them home with flags & bands, like the the recent controvertial parade in Belfast, or hailing them as 'heroes', & 'our brave lads?' Don't you think there's something odd, quaint even, about this? I know you read in the newspapers that the troops appreciate such gestures from the public. 'A slap on the back, or a handshake from a stranger in a pub at home means a lot to us', one said. This is the most personal support they're ever likely to get. But does it help to discourage war-mongering governments from sending our young people into harms way?

I suppose tradition plays a part. Britain has a long history of sending its young men to fight for obscure causes in faraway places about which they know nothing. The modern British Army, though, no longer deploys crude jingoism to maintain its espirit du corps & get new recruits. What's instilled now is the notion of professionalism, & the impression, cultivated in TV adverts, thay they're sort of heavily armed social workers of last resort. Contrast this with the American approach. In 2003 a poll revealed that most US troops in Iraq thought they were there to punish Saddam Hussein for his involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

There are very good reasons for young men & women to join the army. Spirited young people reject the idea of surrendering to the humdrum workaday experience they see around them. The paid employment on offer has become increasingly meaningless & tedious, hence the frenzied determination to spend the proceeds at weekends. Who in their right mind would want to work in a call centre, a bank, an estate agent or insurance office? When I was with extreme reluctance forced to seek paid employment, it was a choice between the steelworks, the coal mines, or a giant bread bakery on the outskirts of town. I chose the steelworks. As a 16 year old I could stand in the vast melting shop at British Steel, taking in the Göttedämmerung of noise, smoke & flame around me, in my flame retardant overalls, hard hat & wooden clogs, & say to myself, 'My god, this is fucking awful. But at least now I'm a man among men. I'm a steelworker.' All this has gone, but the army can offer something similar.

None of my children has entertained the idea of joining up, so I've never been faced with the problem of talking them out of it. Most of them can barely comprehend my politics, words like 'imperialism' mean nothing to them, & they see my suspicion of the State as paranoid & counterproductive. The notion of being killed by a bullet or IED is, of course, barely considered. Just ordinary kids. But I've rehearsed the arguments, just in case.

- Yes, I'd say, join The Professionals. See the world with a great bunch of mates. Learn new skills. Work hard, play hard. As a team. Your mother/grandmother will love the idea.

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