Britain’s Shame

British Air Force personnel from at least one base were advised to only wear civilian clothing when going off the base. Why? Because civilians had subjected uniformed personnel to harassment. To his credit, Gordon Brown has intervened   in the matter and stated flatly that uniforms should be worn proudly and treated with respect by civilians. He roundly condemned those who disrespected the people wearing their nation's uniform. 

Gordon Brown has said military personnel should be encouraged to appear in public in uniform after it emerged that some RAF servicemen and women have been advised only to wear civilian clothing outside their base.

The order was given to personnel at an air base in Cambridgeshire on the advice of RAF police after reports of verbal abuse from members of the public.

The Prime Minister today condemned people who showed disrespect to members of the military and urged the police to intervene to prevent harassment.

Britain's armed forces should be "encouraged to wear their uniform in public and have the respect and gratitude of the British people", Mr Brown said at Downing Street.

"I encourage the local police to back up our armed forces so that not only can our armed forces wear their uniforms in public, but they should have the gratitude of the British public for the work they do," he added.

The decent British people should also intervene as necessary if they witness this sort of incident. I would if I ever see anything like this here. This is just wrong. If you have a disagreement with government policy, you should not be taking it out on the troops.  

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  By bfwebster, March 7, 2008 @ 9:38 am

  Nothing new here:I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’beer, The publican ‘e up an’ sez, "We serve no red-coats here." The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
  

  O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "Tommy, go away"; But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins,” when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it’s “Thank you, Mr. Atkins,” when the band begins to play….

  For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it’s "Saviour of ‘is country," when the guns begin to shoot; An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please; But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool – you bet that Tommy sees!– Rudyard Kipling, "Tommy" (1892)Our British cousins have obviously forgotten the lessons of the last two World Wars.   ..bruce..

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  By bfwebster, March 7, 2008 @ 9:41 am

  Ack! OK, it wasn’t supposed to format that way. Let’s trying again (and feel free to delete the earlier comment):I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’ beer,The publican ‘e up an’ sez, "We serve no red-coats here."The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "Tommy, go away";But it’s "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,O it’s "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play….For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "Chuck him out, the brute!"But it’s "Saviour of ‘is country" when the guns begin to shoot;An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!– Rudyard Kipling, "Tommy" (1892)Again, our British cousins have obviously forgotten the lessons of the last two World Wars.  ..bruce..

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  By bfwebster, March 7, 2008 @ 9:41 am

  OK, forget it.   ..bruce..

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