War dead to be driven down side streets to avoid the public
For several years, the flag-draped coffins of fallen servicemen and women have been met by large crowds who line the streets to pay their respects as they return to British soil. But repatriation flights are to be diverted and will no longer be flown back to RAF Lyneham and through the small Wiltshire town of Royal Wootton Bassett, where they were saluted come rain or shine.
Instead, they will arrive back to RAF Brize Norton, where they will be driven through the back gate and then down side roads, neatly avoiding the nearby town of Carterton, as they make their way to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Some in comments opine that this is a cost-cutting move rather than a change due to sensibilities. Others wonder if the British government is trying to hide the dead to avoid scrutiny on the number killed in Afghanistan. Still others question whether this is a move made out of political correctness, given that there's a significant population in the former area that might be seen as sympathetic to the plight of those killed in battle - from the other side.
Whatever the reason, be it for political correctness, cost-savings, or to "avoid upset", it's a foolish, short-sighted move. Hiding the fact that sometimes soldiers don't come back from war - except in the back of a hearse - doesn't fool anyone; depriving the families of those killed giving their all for their country merely hurts the families - and those who want to fully support the soldiers.
Many here in America accused President Bush of wanting to "hide" the war dead because the decision was made not to photograph the coffins coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. This is, IMHO, a different situation - in this case, it's the soldiers' deaths being used as political propaganda, not for paying respect. When the evening news runs a nightly tally on the number of troops killed in battle - and then stops said tally once the presidency changes - it's hard to argue that this was anything other than blatant partisanship.
Allow the folks of Royal Wootton Bassett to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers. Please.
That is all.
2 comments:
Jay,
A young 22 year old Matthew Gallagher from Falmouth has just fallen in Iraq. I bet you dollars to donuts his coffin will not be taken down side streets. Let's hope the outpouring we saw a couple weeks ago in Groton, MA serves as an example for the good folks who live on The Cape
Churchill is spinning in his Grave. I guess the Definition for the word "Conservative Party" should now be found under "See RINO" in the Oxford English Dictionary, huh?
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