As the mainstream media outrage (from the likes of the Hate Mail and Torygraph) dies down, the voices of many people in the armed forces and others who support the posters new message starts to be heard.
Here are a selection of comments taken from the comments page on the Daily Mail...
posters should not have been touched however blair........
- william, torrevieja spain, 29/10/2009 13:15
We who've served in Afghanistan and Iraq salute those who have fallen. What we don't do is care much for Bliar. This man is a lying toe rag!
How dare he even be considered for EU President.
- Pete, Calne, United Kingdom, 29/10/2009 12:48
My sympathies to the RBL, though somehow, i think most of them would at least not condeme this, if not support it.
- Barry, woking, surrey, 29/10/2009 12:47
Yeah, as if anyone would be allowed to put up their own poster demanding Blair be prosecuted for war crimes?
- Wayland, Braintree Essex, 29/10/2009 12:46
Sorry, but as an ex Serviceman I do not consider it to be disrepectful to our troops, nor do I regard it as vandalism. Many of our brave Servicemen and Women have been, and are being, killed because of lying politicians. The least we can do to show our respect for the fallen is to honour their memory by giving them the Truth and Justice that has denied them for too long. Anything less will render their sacrifice as a Bloody waste.
- Macavity.English Ex Pat, Dandong. China, 29/10/2009 12:44
Comments from elsewhere include:
If they had defaced it by using language offensive to the forces then I would agree this was a new low, but I think the way they have done it is arguably justified. As one of the Mail reader comments says, this is the message the British Legion themselves should be putting out. Putting pressure on parliament to withdraw our troops would far better serve the troops, than getting people to wear poppies.
- dirtydog, Essex 29/10/2009 09:44
I gather that this has happened precisely once. Other posters have been amended to read "For their sake, bring them home." which seems an entirely reasonable amendment.
- 29/10/2009 10:45
I'm anti war. Trouble is in this mixed up world of corrupt ***holes ignoring you, sometimes you've got to do ****ish things to get heard. This is one of those things, I'm not saying it was a good thing to do, but people need to be heard.
- 29/10/2009 10:45
I can't see what's so low about what they've done. I think it's low that our politicans are sending naive young men to die and get there arms and legs blown off in wars they haven't got the balls to fight themselves. I guarentee you that if the politcians/daily mail journalists who keep telling us it's in a national interests to stay in Afghanistan had to go on the frontline and risk there own lives they'd soon change there minds about whether its in the nations interest..
- 29/10/2009 10:45
Many more comments supporting either the action or the sentiment can be found on the Army Rumour Service website...
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:22 am
Author: tropper66 Location: cardiff
Underworld_Guitar_Hero:
Anti-War Protesters Deface Poster
I dont like the disrespect shown but I like the Idea of Teflon Tony at a War crimes court
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:25 am
Author: Tango
Whilst I disagree (of course) with the defacing of the poster, I don't disagree with either the way it was done, or the message it is now conveying.
As far as graffiti/vandalism goes, it's not disrespectful, and it's not saying anything that a lot of ARRSE members aren't thinking. But as I said, I'm not condoning the vandalism.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:42 am
Author: PrinceAlbert
I quite like it.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:46 am
Author: Oil_Slick Location: Neue Europa
While the method may be wrong, the message is right.
I for one would be very happy to see BLiar on trial at the Hague.
Alas, we never will. I suspect a large part of B'Liars desire to become President of Europe is driven by the fact that it would grant him Diplomatic Immunity from prosecution.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:55 am
Author: classic
May be a lot of people think that tony blair should be accountable for his actions, But for protestors to deface a poster of a mother anda little boy who have lost their loved one fighting for queen and country and were only raising awareness highlighting the poppy appeal 'For their sake wear a poppy.' for all the brave soldiers who lost their lives and been injured etc in previous and past conflicts and their families.
The protestors were totally disrespectful to this lady and her family and all the brave soldiers who lost their lives and been injured etc in previous and past conflicts and their families.
The protestors should apologize for the hurt and disrespect they have caused .
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:59 am
Author: vvaannmmaann
Very cleverly done.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:01 am
Author: Oil_Slick Location: Neue Europa
MrShanklysboots:
Very cleverly done. However, here's a thought.
Pay for your own fecking advert rather than hijack that of a charity that is advertising their greatest collection time of the year.
Don't agree… this has given a huge boost to the Legions profile and campaign IMO.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:02 am
Author: Hakagure Location: Fit Like Toon
I agree with the sentiment.
I don't agree with the method though.
You dont HAVE to deface a poster such as this to get that message across, if they are that keen for people to hear their viewpoint pay for your own fcuking poster. Not going to jump on the outrage bus as such but I just think that remembrance posters such as this one should be above being used in this way.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:03 am
Author: MrShanklysboots Location: Just off to the side of the fight.
classic:
The protestors should apologize for the hurt and disrespect they have caused .
You should apologize for constantly re registering on this site Chubb.
Go away. For ever.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:05 am
Author: Flymo Location: Malta
Oil_Slick:
MrShanklysboots:
Very cleverly done. However, here's a thought.
Pay for your own fecking advert rather than hijack that of a charity that is advertising their greatest collection time of the year.
Don't agree… this has given a huge boost to the Legions profile and campaign IMO.
Time to fall off the fence on this one.
I believe that this is a win win here. At the end of the day, any publicity is better than no publicity.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:30 am
Author: bullet_catcher
My tuppenceworth - disapprove of vandalism, it has cost me plenty recently, and someone will have to pay to fix the poster. It is a clever piece of work though, so may be copied elsewhere, resulting in more expense. This act of vandalism will make me make an extra donation to help with repairs, so if others feel the same way, the Poppy Appeal could end up with a net profit.
Tony Blair lied to us, so he should have resigned or been punished for that. To define this incident in terms of New Labour morality, an Evil Big Person who got away with something bad has forced a Nice Small Person to break the law, so the Nice Small Person is a victim who should get counselling, compensation &c &c.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:37 am
Author: Queensman Location: Tangier
Sorry, but I think it's brilliant! Inspired, even.
When I saw 'Legion poster defaced' I was already half on the Outrage bus ready to call for the unleashing of the hounds of hell...... But having seen the poster, first I laughed, then I nodded in agreement. Now I will make a copy and promulgate it as widely as I can.
I say these things as a member of the Royal British Legion, as a poppy collector etc etc.
I feel sorry for the family concerned, the last thing they'd want or need is to be bathed in limelight about all this - however, having lost a son because of the reprehensible Mr Bliar's duplicity, I wouldn't mind betting that they probably agree with the sentiment. If they don't, they should.
What will undoubtedly happen now is for all the 'easily offended' to completely over react and leap up and down and make an arrse of themselves as they did about that drunken prat who pished on a war memorial recently.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:10 am
Author: CaptainWillard Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge
Message says to me - 'Blair is responsible for the deaths of our country's finest so therefore prosecute the tw*t!'.
It doesn't come across as disrespectful to our soldiers, only to the chief lying politician that got us into the whole sorry mess in the first place and his lunatic successor who has woefully mis-managed it ever since.
As has already been said - it's only what many people have frequently stated on this site. At least now that opinion, has been broadcast to a wider audience.
CW
Quis Separabit
Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:14 am
Author: Queensman Location: Tangier
pombsen-armchair-warrior:
Much as I despise Blair, I absolutely despair of the incredibly naive conclusion that he is guilty of 'war crimes'. Sheer fantasy.
He is guilty, and hopefully will be publicly hung out to dry when his time in the dock comes, of illegally committing this country to an unjust war. He must shoulder the resposibility for causing the needless deaths of and injuries to those whom he sent.
In the same way that Mr Radavan Karadic don't actually drop the mortar bombs himself on Serbian Muslims, he, Bliar, ordered people to do something illegal, ergo, a War Crime.
Of course, all this could open up a huge can of worms. As you will doubtless know, it is also illegal to accept and obey an illegal order. Just how far down the Chain of Command will the buck stop rolling?
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:32 am
Author: Underworld_Guitar_Hero
Support for the War Veterens, injured or dead should be kept well away from Anti-War sentiment. While in its self a valid view and have made some relevent comments they do themselves a disservice by using such a forum. Will we go the way of the Animal Activists and start harrassing off duty soldiers and families putting graffiti on their cars because they do a job. Extreme I know but, Blair is even remotely connected to the RBL.
Its worth making the point that the family of the soldier have complained about this and are distressed by this despite someones opinion to the contrary!
Is Blair a war criminal I dont think so but, by all means go to the Hague and make your case!
It was clever though!! Shame they have no morals!!
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:01 pm
Author: tropper66 Location: cardiff
I am begining to think of it as an Enhancement rather than a Defacement
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:35 pm
Author: 5_mile_sniper Location: Basha'd up in the land of Buckfast & Burberry
Like many here I agree with the sentiment, but perhaps not the placement of the message.
It's also possible to agree with the message and not be "Anti-War". Whilst you would be hard pressed to class me as a pacifist, I do take issue with our soldiers being killed in pointless, possibly illegal wars, so that cnuts like Blair can strut it on the world stage.
The manner of the defacement is also pretty clever, and appears to have gained some PR for both the Antis and the Legion. Win-Win.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:57 pm
Author: Kurtle
I think the only reason it's really wrong is because it has the faces of actual people on who have lost loved ones recently on. ...And the advert could mean less poppies sold.
I do agree with the powerful message though.
posters should not have been touched however blair........
- william, torrevieja spain, 29/10/2009 13:15
We who've served in Afghanistan and Iraq salute those who have fallen. What we don't do is care much for Bliar. This man is a lying toe rag!
How dare he even be considered for EU President.
- Pete, Calne, United Kingdom, 29/10/2009 12:48
My sympathies to the RBL, though somehow, i think most of them would at least not condeme this, if not support it.
- Barry, woking, surrey, 29/10/2009 12:47
Yeah, as if anyone would be allowed to put up their own poster demanding Blair be prosecuted for war crimes?
- Wayland, Braintree Essex, 29/10/2009 12:46
Sorry, but as an ex Serviceman I do not consider it to be disrepectful to our troops, nor do I regard it as vandalism. Many of our brave Servicemen and Women have been, and are being, killed because of lying politicians. The least we can do to show our respect for the fallen is to honour their memory by giving them the Truth and Justice that has denied them for too long. Anything less will render their sacrifice as a Bloody waste.
- Macavity.English Ex Pat, Dandong. China, 29/10/2009 12:44
Comments from elsewhere include:
If they had defaced it by using language offensive to the forces then I would agree this was a new low, but I think the way they have done it is arguably justified. As one of the Mail reader comments says, this is the message the British Legion themselves should be putting out. Putting pressure on parliament to withdraw our troops would far better serve the troops, than getting people to wear poppies.
- dirtydog, Essex 29/10/2009 09:44
I gather that this has happened precisely once. Other posters have been amended to read "For their sake, bring them home." which seems an entirely reasonable amendment.
- 29/10/2009 10:45
I'm anti war. Trouble is in this mixed up world of corrupt ***holes ignoring you, sometimes you've got to do ****ish things to get heard. This is one of those things, I'm not saying it was a good thing to do, but people need to be heard.
- 29/10/2009 10:45
I can't see what's so low about what they've done. I think it's low that our politicans are sending naive young men to die and get there arms and legs blown off in wars they haven't got the balls to fight themselves. I guarentee you that if the politcians/daily mail journalists who keep telling us it's in a national interests to stay in Afghanistan had to go on the frontline and risk there own lives they'd soon change there minds about whether its in the nations interest..
- 29/10/2009 10:45
Many more comments supporting either the action or the sentiment can be found on the Army Rumour Service website...
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:22 am
Author: tropper66 Location: cardiff
Underworld_Guitar_Hero:
Anti-War Protesters Deface Poster
I dont like the disrespect shown but I like the Idea of Teflon Tony at a War crimes court
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:25 am
Author: Tango
Whilst I disagree (of course) with the defacing of the poster, I don't disagree with either the way it was done, or the message it is now conveying.
As far as graffiti/vandalism goes, it's not disrespectful, and it's not saying anything that a lot of ARRSE members aren't thinking. But as I said, I'm not condoning the vandalism.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:42 am
Author: PrinceAlbert
I quite like it.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:46 am
Author: Oil_Slick Location: Neue Europa
While the method may be wrong, the message is right.
I for one would be very happy to see BLiar on trial at the Hague.
Alas, we never will. I suspect a large part of B'Liars desire to become President of Europe is driven by the fact that it would grant him Diplomatic Immunity from prosecution.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:55 am
Author: classic
May be a lot of people think that tony blair should be accountable for his actions, But for protestors to deface a poster of a mother anda little boy who have lost their loved one fighting for queen and country and were only raising awareness highlighting the poppy appeal 'For their sake wear a poppy.' for all the brave soldiers who lost their lives and been injured etc in previous and past conflicts and their families.
The protestors were totally disrespectful to this lady and her family and all the brave soldiers who lost their lives and been injured etc in previous and past conflicts and their families.
The protestors should apologize for the hurt and disrespect they have caused .
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:59 am
Author: vvaannmmaann
Very cleverly done.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:01 am
Author: Oil_Slick Location: Neue Europa
MrShanklysboots:
Very cleverly done. However, here's a thought.
Pay for your own fecking advert rather than hijack that of a charity that is advertising their greatest collection time of the year.
Don't agree… this has given a huge boost to the Legions profile and campaign IMO.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:02 am
Author: Hakagure Location: Fit Like Toon
I agree with the sentiment.
I don't agree with the method though.
You dont HAVE to deface a poster such as this to get that message across, if they are that keen for people to hear their viewpoint pay for your own fcuking poster. Not going to jump on the outrage bus as such but I just think that remembrance posters such as this one should be above being used in this way.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:03 am
Author: MrShanklysboots Location: Just off to the side of the fight.
classic:
The protestors should apologize for the hurt and disrespect they have caused .
You should apologize for constantly re registering on this site Chubb.
Go away. For ever.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:05 am
Author: Flymo Location: Malta
Oil_Slick:
MrShanklysboots:
Very cleverly done. However, here's a thought.
Pay for your own fecking advert rather than hijack that of a charity that is advertising their greatest collection time of the year.
Don't agree… this has given a huge boost to the Legions profile and campaign IMO.
Time to fall off the fence on this one.
I believe that this is a win win here. At the end of the day, any publicity is better than no publicity.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:30 am
Author: bullet_catcher
My tuppenceworth - disapprove of vandalism, it has cost me plenty recently, and someone will have to pay to fix the poster. It is a clever piece of work though, so may be copied elsewhere, resulting in more expense. This act of vandalism will make me make an extra donation to help with repairs, so if others feel the same way, the Poppy Appeal could end up with a net profit.
Tony Blair lied to us, so he should have resigned or been punished for that. To define this incident in terms of New Labour morality, an Evil Big Person who got away with something bad has forced a Nice Small Person to break the law, so the Nice Small Person is a victim who should get counselling, compensation &c &c.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:37 am
Author: Queensman Location: Tangier
Sorry, but I think it's brilliant! Inspired, even.
When I saw 'Legion poster defaced' I was already half on the Outrage bus ready to call for the unleashing of the hounds of hell...... But having seen the poster, first I laughed, then I nodded in agreement. Now I will make a copy and promulgate it as widely as I can.
I say these things as a member of the Royal British Legion, as a poppy collector etc etc.
I feel sorry for the family concerned, the last thing they'd want or need is to be bathed in limelight about all this - however, having lost a son because of the reprehensible Mr Bliar's duplicity, I wouldn't mind betting that they probably agree with the sentiment. If they don't, they should.
What will undoubtedly happen now is for all the 'easily offended' to completely over react and leap up and down and make an arrse of themselves as they did about that drunken prat who pished on a war memorial recently.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:10 am
Author: CaptainWillard Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge
Message says to me - 'Blair is responsible for the deaths of our country's finest so therefore prosecute the tw*t!'.
It doesn't come across as disrespectful to our soldiers, only to the chief lying politician that got us into the whole sorry mess in the first place and his lunatic successor who has woefully mis-managed it ever since.
As has already been said - it's only what many people have frequently stated on this site. At least now that opinion, has been broadcast to a wider audience.
CW
Quis Separabit
Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:14 am
Author: Queensman Location: Tangier
pombsen-armchair-warrior:
Much as I despise Blair, I absolutely despair of the incredibly naive conclusion that he is guilty of 'war crimes'. Sheer fantasy.
He is guilty, and hopefully will be publicly hung out to dry when his time in the dock comes, of illegally committing this country to an unjust war. He must shoulder the resposibility for causing the needless deaths of and injuries to those whom he sent.
In the same way that Mr Radavan Karadic don't actually drop the mortar bombs himself on Serbian Muslims, he, Bliar, ordered people to do something illegal, ergo, a War Crime.
Of course, all this could open up a huge can of worms. As you will doubtless know, it is also illegal to accept and obey an illegal order. Just how far down the Chain of Command will the buck stop rolling?
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:32 am
Author: Underworld_Guitar_Hero
Support for the War Veterens, injured or dead should be kept well away from Anti-War sentiment. While in its self a valid view and have made some relevent comments they do themselves a disservice by using such a forum. Will we go the way of the Animal Activists and start harrassing off duty soldiers and families putting graffiti on their cars because they do a job. Extreme I know but, Blair is even remotely connected to the RBL.
Its worth making the point that the family of the soldier have complained about this and are distressed by this despite someones opinion to the contrary!
Is Blair a war criminal I dont think so but, by all means go to the Hague and make your case!
It was clever though!! Shame they have no morals!!
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:01 pm
Author: tropper66 Location: cardiff
I am begining to think of it as an Enhancement rather than a Defacement
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:35 pm
Author: 5_mile_sniper Location: Basha'd up in the land of Buckfast & Burberry
Like many here I agree with the sentiment, but perhaps not the placement of the message.
It's also possible to agree with the message and not be "Anti-War". Whilst you would be hard pressed to class me as a pacifist, I do take issue with our soldiers being killed in pointless, possibly illegal wars, so that cnuts like Blair can strut it on the world stage.
The manner of the defacement is also pretty clever, and appears to have gained some PR for both the Antis and the Legion. Win-Win.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:57 pm
Author: Kurtle
I think the only reason it's really wrong is because it has the faces of actual people on who have lost loved ones recently on. ...And the advert could mean less poppies sold.
I do agree with the powerful message though.
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