SEVERAL hundred leaflets were handed out outside the Armed Forces Day event in Worthing on Saturday by a small group of local campaigners.
Despite one or two hostile comments from people entering the event, overall there was a surprisingly positive response and a number of interesting conversations took place.
One thing to emerge was the almost complete lack of support for the war in Afghanistan, even among the sort of people who turn up for this sort of event!
Interestingly, this was also reflected in a comment from an ex-soldier posted on the South Coast IMC story on Sunday:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/southcoast/2009/06/433025.html
Most of those attending saw the event as remembering the Second World War, and were not necessarily aware that the Government was explicitly linking the national day to ongoing support for current conflicts.
While we did touch on that in our leaflet, this is something perhaps to stress at future events in Worthing and beyond.
The state is using public support for the Second World War, against Nazi militarism, to try and justify current US/UK militarism abroad.
They've always tried to confer legitimacy on these adventures in this way (such as by using the loaded term The Allies).
The government wants to merge WW2 in the public mind with the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and who knows where next. Our task is to explain the difference and expose the propaganda...
One thing to emerge was the almost complete lack of support for the war in Afghanistan, even among the sort of people who turn up for this sort of event!
Interestingly, this was also reflected in a comment from an ex-soldier posted on the South Coast IMC story on Sunday:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/southcoast/2009/06/433025.html Most of those attending saw the event as remembering the Second World War, and were not necessarily aware that the Government was explicitly linking the national day to ongoing support for current conflicts.
While we did touch on that in our leaflet, this is something perhaps to stress at future events in Worthing and beyond.
The state is using public support for the Second World War, against Nazi militarism, to try and justify current US/UK militarism abroad.
They've always tried to confer legitimacy on these adventures in this way (such as by using the loaded term The Allies).
The government wants to merge WW2 in the public mind with the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and who knows where next. Our task is to explain the difference and expose the propaganda...
Homepage:
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Good work
29.06.2009 22:31
militant anti-militarist
Cardiff 2010
30.06.2009 14:18
another militant anti-militarist