Dont you just wish the UK public loved our forces as much as

[Daveb]

the US public love their forces?

I just saw a celeb on tv saying "I love our troops", plus you get all the public always saying they love/support their troops. It made me think.....we dont really get that here much do we? I mean, to an extent, yes we do....but not as much as the US are like with their forces.

[bigbart]

If you asked most Brits if they supported their troops, they would answer yes. But if tomorrow, their football team lost a major match, and on the same day, 10 british troops lost their lives in Iraq, which do you think they'd be most gutted about? I'd say the football.
It does seem that Americans are much more behind their troops than we are. (I'll refrain from referring to them as "yanks" because as we know, Whitey is no yank)

[Lance]

I think the reason why we don't get it is because the British media do their job. The Armerican media is all a load of pro war propaganda. I lived in Washington DC for two years prior to and after Sept 11. The entire media rallied the entire nation behind thier President and their armed forces. In a way it was good but I felt it was lacking objectivity.

[Scottish Thistle]

Through running our site I would definitely say that Americans are much more supportive of troops. We get plenty of Brits who nod their head, agree that we should be supportive but don't actually get off their backsides to do anything about it. I think also from what we've experienced, Britons seem to link supporting the troops to a political standpoint. If they don't agree with the battle, they won't support the troops whereas Americans seem to support the men and women out there doing the job first and foremost.

We've had Americans, young and old, families and single people who have sent parcels, letters, cards, DVDs to British troops but it's really like drawing teeth trying to get most Brits to do so. Of course we do have plenty of Brits wanting to help but I think I would say that at least 70% of our volunteers are from America, Canada and beyond.

[Wholley]

Lance,
as an"Armerican"I couldn't disagree with you more.
The abc channels have done nothing but bash our troops at every turn,
report only the negative,publish casualty #'s with glee and generally do their level best to demoralise.
A little like the BBC,they have a political agenda which precludes any
positive broadcasting.
Wholley.

[Lance]

I stand corrected my "Armerican" friend. It was the impression I received during the war in Afghanistan that all the media were behind the troops and I could not recall hearing one word of dissent or objection.

Maybe things have changed now or I didn't watch ABC, I think I did though. I know FOX and CNN were major "GO TEAM AMERICA" advocates.

[bigbart]

God bless Armerica.

[Guest]

I think its because people dont really perceive any real threat to the UK. The US suffered the biggest terror attack in history and naturally Americans turned to their armed forces when under attack.

On the other hand if you look at all the recent wars the UK has been involved in none of them have really been perceived as vital to UK national security.

Im sure if we were under another Battle of Britain-style attack people would rally behind the Forces just like they did 60 years ago.

[andrew_s]

Im not old enough to know this so that's why i ask-was there much support for british troops in northern ireland during the 70's? ie what was the public opinion?
cheers andy

[got1]

I think most people in this country support the Forces [exept the Daily M...or]. Some of us will remember pre NI days, I used to hitchhike in uniform and never had to wait very long for a lift, I could go to Brighton from Aldershot quicker than by train. Then the security thing came in and you had to be more wary, in fact I think they banned hitching in uniform.
In NI you also got a lot of support from a lot of people.

[Frank S.]

There's another side to that coin: I think we have a much, much higher ratio of Walters in the US than you do in the UK.
There are websites dedicated to exposing those, which gives a clue as to the extent of the problem.
Interestingly, since France has done away with the draft to professionalize its military, a handful of military oriented websites have popped up. So far, seems they have a number of knobbers, few Walters yet.
But given time...

How things change... I remember a time when getting out of military service was actually a badge of honor...

[Col.Parsons]

As a young person, I find that increasingly people are losing any interest in patriotism in Britain.

Sure enough, it suits most when there's a big event like the Queen's Jubilee, D day celebrations, or Rememberance Day.

But as someone has said - you ask Joe Public who he supports more, a football team or his nation's military, and I bet 9/10 say the football team.

I think it's disgraceful to say the least - the British military have provided vital aid and response to cricise all over the world, and not a murmur of support.

Well, I for one fully appreciate what our armed forces do for us, and believe they are some of the bravest people on Earth.

"Be the Best" - THEY ARE!

Si

[Frank S.]

Do you think the military upholds the honor of a given nation? And if so, what the civilian population's understanding of (and interest in) honor influences their attitudes towards the military?

[Col.Parsons]

Yes, I think that the British army defends Britain's honour.

And I know what honour is (there's a long defination, but not now)...

Honour:

The quality of a person or group of persons being honourable. To be honourable or to have honour means that you conduct yourself in a respectful manner towards everything that you do.

In respect of an army carrying its nation's honour, this means that they conduct theirselves with dignity, and uphold the high standards required of them to perform to the best of their abilities to bring pride for the nation.


Si

[Guest]

Britain is still grappling with the problem of having lost an Empire and not yet found a role.

When you're not top dog anymore what are you?

We have the US as the world's sole superpower on the one side and an increasingly federal Europe on the other.

Blair wants us to be a bridge between Europe and the US but thats hardly any real sort of identity is it?

What does the UK really stand for??

I dont think anybody really knows anymore and consequently patriotism is very low.