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Trials and Tribulations

16 04 07 - 22:02 I have been thinking a lot lately about how the Government reacts to scandals. Take for example the recent pa lava around the sailors who were allowed to sell their stories of capture in Iran. These people were serving their country, and were taken captive by Iran. Regardless of whether or not it was right to take them captive (I am not writing to claim that they were either inside or outside Irans water), these people went through a horrific ordeal.

Instead of the sympathy and admiration they deserve, the families of slain soldiers (who deserve no less respect and admiration) have come forward saying that they should expect to serve their country, not make money by selling their story to the papers. I extend my condolences to the families of any soldiers that have fallen, but I do believe that these sailors should be allowed to recount their experiences. I do think that part of this could be propaganda, and I truly believe we will probably never know the full truth. But regardless of this, these people risked their lives to serve their country, regardless of whether or not they believe the work in that area to be right. That is serving your country, and although I do not agree with the Iraq war, or the way that the west is treating the middle east, I can respect people who abide by their oath to serve Queen and Country.
Some would say it is blind obedience, but the reality is that joining the forces is about obeying orders, not deciding if those orders are correct.

These sailors should be allowed to sell their stories, if footballers can be in the papers for kicking a ball of air around a grassy field, then why shouldn't people that have risked their lives in order that someone, somewhere may live a better life.


Many may have seen in the news this morning that Secretary of Defense Des Browne has been criticised over the decision, and at time of writing has apologised to parliament for the 'mistake'. I believe this is simply British Politics at work, I am the first to admit that the current Government is far from the level that it should be at, but the opposition seem to be seizing anything in an attempt to topple them. The Tories (and the Lib Dems) believe that the decision to allow the sailors to publish these stories, has embarrassed the UK. Personally I think that is a political tactic, as I have already stated I believe the stories should be made public.

The current opposition is a shambles at best, and seems to be grasping at straws in order to deface the current government. The true embarrassment to the UK is twofold. Firstly that the opposition have to stoop so low as to try to deny these sailors their right of free speech, and to Des Browne for actually apologising for not blocking the stories.


These people went through something horrible, no doubt motivated by the faith that they were serving their country, yet when they return home they are torn down by the Government they were serving. Shame on you Britain, this is not the country I grew up in, and you are going to have to work hard to return to greatness.

As much as I would like to blame this on Mr Blair, this is not his doing. It is in fact the result of the increasingly politically correct society we are living in. It is time that this stopped, I do not pay my taxes for a politician to try and deny someone else's right to free speech.


I used to hope that one day the people of Britain would have the Government they deserve, that hope is slowly fading and dying. Current UK politics is all about gaining face and trying to make someone else look bad, it is a sad sad thought that one day this may be all our once great nation will become - Men arguing over petty details.

As sad as I am to say this, I do not believe that I will live my entire life in the UK, things are becoming too petty.