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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2020 18:47:42 GMT -5
The Battle of Britain began 80 years ago today. Of course, there are many great sites covering it in detail. I feel I can never truly grasp the sacrifices made by all of those active during WWII. With the 75th anniversary of the end of the war being commemorated this year, it makes me sad to think that, in years to come, there’ll be no surviving WWII veterans. That said, despite the global health emergency, here in the UK we celebrated VE Day as best we could under distancing guidelines. I heard of quite a few street commemorations that stuck to distancing guidelines while honouring those who fought. On a related topic, I hated how the UK television coverage of the 75th Anniversary of VE Day was "hijacked" by coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. I felt that juxtaposing images of brave young men fighting and dying for liberty and their families suffering on the home front with clips of people social distancing outside a supermarket or engaging in self-congratulatory public applause for health workers, as if they were in any way comparable degrees of sacrifice, was really poor form. Coronavirus is bad news and has been very inconvenient for a lot of us, for sure, but it's not like having to have lived through the trauma, terror and horror of WW2 for six years. I do agree, but I think instead of offering my thoughts, this person conveys it better than I could (written in May 2020): www.tokenpublishing.com/issue/533 |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jul 10, 2020 18:56:32 GMT -5
The Battle of Britain began 80 years ago today. Of course, there are many great sites covering it in detail. I feel I can never truly grasp the sacrifices made by all of those active during WWII. With the 75th anniversary of the end of the war being commemorated this year, it makes me sad to think that, in years to come, there’ll be no surviving WWII veterans. That said, despite the global health emergency, here in the UK we celebrated VE Day as best we could under distancing guidelines. I heard of quite a few street commemorations that stuck to distancing guidelines while honouring those who fought. I've always been curious. Is there much attention paid to the end of the War in the Pacific (V-J Day) or is V-E Day the only celebration? To somewhat echo taxidriver, VJ Day is definitely commemorated in the UK because, of course, there were many British and commonwealth troops engaging the Japanese in places like Burma, Singapore, and Thailand. But I think that VE is a bigger celebration for us because more British soldiers fought in Europe and North Africa than in the Pacific theatre and we also suffered through the Blitz. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Jul 10, 2020 19:12:23 GMT -5
I've always been curious. Is there much attention paid to the end of the War in the Pacific (V-J Day) or is V-E Day the only celebration? To somewhat echo taxidriver, VJ Day is definitely commemorated in the UK because, of course, there were many British and commonwealth troops engaging the Japanese in places like Burma, Singapore, and Thailand. But I think that VE is a bigger celebration for us because more British soldiers fought in Europe and North Africa than in the Pacific theatre and we also suffered through the Blitz. That's why I was asking. I'm glad the poor guys in the Japanese prison camps and fighting in SE Asia are also commemorated, but it does seem as if the European theatre gets the bigger share of the attention. Here, while V-E Day was certainly celebrated, it was V-J Day when the nation could breathe easily and truly let go. As these folks did...   |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 10, 2020 20:03:18 GMT -5
To somewhat echo taxidriver, VJ Day is definitely commemorated in the UK because, of course, there were many British and commonwealth troops engaging the Japanese in places like Burma, Singapore, and Thailand. But I think that VE is a bigger celebration for us because more British soldiers fought in Europe and North Africa than in the Pacific theatre and we also suffered through the Blitz. That's why I was asking. I'm glad the poor guys in the Japanese prison camps and fighting in SE Asia are also commemorated, but it does seem as if the European theatre gets the bigger share of the attention. Here, while V-E Day was certainly celebrated, it was V-J Day when the nation could breathe easily and truly let go. As these folks did... I don't think they are breathing that easily, though he did seem to give her tonsils a thorough examination. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2020 6:25:20 GMT -5
Do more modern conflicts have commemoration days?
I know we commemorate those who gave their lives in the Falklands War of 1982. In the US, do the post-WWII conflicts have a day of commemoration?
(I know I could Google that, but it’s just as easy to type the question here).
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jul 11, 2020 7:03:55 GMT -5
Do more modern conflicts have commemoration days? I know we commemorate those who gave their lives in the Falklands War of 1982. In the US, do the post-WWII conflicts have a day of commemoration? (I know I could Google that, but it’s just as easy to type the question here). This might be a controversial opinion, but I'm not sure Britain or America have been involved in any war that actually needed fighting since WW2. Or, at least, not a war that was as clear cut in terms of right and wrong. The generation that fought the Axis powers in WW2 were fighting against the expansion of a terribly evil fascist regime and in many cases (like for the British and Russians) they were literally defending their homeland, their loved ones, and their way of life. It's really hard to be critical of the overall Allied response to Nazi Germany or Japan. Subsequent wars have all been much more morally murky IMHO. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 11, 2020 10:40:20 GMT -5
Do more modern conflicts have commemoration days? I know we commemorate those who gave their lives in the Falklands War of 1982. In the US, do the post-WWII conflicts have a day of commemoration? (I know I could Google that, but it’s just as easy to type the question here). Memorial Day, at the end of May, is set aside to commemorate all who have been lost, both in wars and loved ones. Veteran's Day, on November 1, commemorates the sacrifices of all veterans. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, in 1919, commemorating the end of WWI, with that day chosen to reflect the cessation of fighting around Nov 11, 1918. Originally, it was a single celebration, then became kind of an unofficial thing, then an official legal holiday. In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day, to honor the veterans of WW2 and Korea. Memorial Day was originally Decoration Day, which has pretty murky and mostly mythical origins in celebrations and send offs of troops in the Civil War. It became a national holiday in 1868 and the terms Decoration Day and Memorial Day became somewhat interchangeable, until after WW2. It was officially changed to Memorial Day in 1967. The US does not have specific celebrations for other conflicts. Korean War veterans have often been referred to as the "Forgotten Veterans," as the relative stalemate that emerged was considered a blight on our war statistics, in many corners. It is barely taught in schools and little discussed, with the tv series MASH having the most input about it; but, both the movie and the tv series just used it as a metaphor for Vietnam, rather than try to reflect the actual Korean War. There have been war movies set in Korea; but, very few did big business. It did spur on the war comics genre, in the 50s, though. Vietnam was an outright loss and the country wanted to bury that idea deeply and never speak of it. The 70s were filled with the supposed "shame" of leaving the country with our tails between our legs and letting the South fall to the Communists, with the evacuation of Saigon an embarrassment to our power. Returning veterans had been poorly received, if even acknowledged. Veterans associations, like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars treated them like red-headed stepchildren. Veterans had high rates of encounters with law enforcement and unemployment, largely due to PTSD and related issues. The image of Vietnam vets in the 70s was a powderkeg of trouble, waiting to be set off. You see the stereotype reflected in tons of tv shows and movies through the mid-70s. The 1980s and the Reagan victory and presidency was very much a reaction to the 70s, both Vietnam and the post-war turmoil (Watergate, recession, protests, etc). The administration spent a lot of time managing the image of the US military to build it back up, stage managing things like the Invasion of Grenada; and, later, Panama and the Gulf War. There were big celebrations after the Gulf War; but, nothing permanent. However, many of those celebrations also had an element of apology to the Vietnam Veterans, for their treatment. The current constant state of war has led to more appreciation for veterans, though no reversal in the underfunding of the Veterans Administration or the overuse of military solutions to diplomatic problems. Thank you for your service, but I'm not willing to pay more in taxes to provide proper mental health treatment for PTSD for combat veterans. Nothing new, though, as the country has a long history of forgetting about its concrete debts to veterans, after the parade is over. Promised bonuses unpaid, lack of health care or funding of VA medical centers, mental health, etc, etc. I'd agree with Confessor that WW2 was the last "just" war, though more effort early on (in the 1930) could have prevented the slaughter that occurred, or at least mitigated some of it. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jul 11, 2020 18:22:08 GMT -5
Do more modern conflicts have commemoration days? I know we commemorate those who gave their lives in the Falklands War of 1982. In the US, do the post-WWII conflicts have a day of commemoration? (I know I could Google that, but it’s just as easy to type the question here). This might be a controversial opinion, but I'm not sure Britain or America have been involved in any war that actually needed fighting since WW2. Or, at least, not a war that was as clear cut in terms of right and wrong. The generation that fought the Axis powers in WW2 were fighting against the expansion of a terribly evil fascist regime and in many cases (like for the British and Russians) they were literally defending their homeland, their loved ones, and their way of life. It's really hard to be critical of the overall Allied response to Nazi Germany or Japan. Subsequent wars have all been much more morally murky IMHO. I don’t consider that controversial at all. WWII was pretty clearly the last war we (the US) fought that was justified. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2020 14:24:19 GMT -5
I cant say too much as I’d break my “never discuss politics” rule, but I agree there are divisive opinions about modern conflicts. It will be interesting in the years ahead to see what (if any) commemorations there are.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2020 9:31:58 GMT -5
I subscribe to a bimonthly magazine called ANCIENT EGYPT MAGAZINE. I caught up on the April/May issue recently. There was an article about Anubis.
Interestingly, and the magazine features some extremely knowledgeable writers, there has never been consensus on whether Anubis’ head is a jackal. Other “contenders” include wolf, dog and fox.
I always presumed jackal, but it’s interesting to read that there is no consensus. The sheer range of canine creatures in that region - now and then - is all part of the confusion.
Always good to see such things debated.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 19, 2020 9:58:57 GMT -5
I subscribe to a bimonthly magazine called ANCIENT EGYPT MAGAZINE. I caught up on the April/May issue recently. There was an article about Anubis. Interestingly, and the magazine features some extremely knowledgeable writers, there has never been consensus on whether Anubis’ head is a jackal. Other “contenders” include wolf, dog and fox. I always presumed jackal, but it’s interesting to read that there is no consensus. The sheer range of canine creatures in that region - now and then - is all part of the confusion. Always good to see such things debated. QI went with wolf... |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jul 19, 2020 20:55:41 GMT -5
I subscribe to a bimonthly magazine called ANCIENT EGYPT MAGAZINE. I caught up on the April/May issue recently. There was an article about Anubis. Interestingly, and the magazine features some extremely knowledgeable writers, there has never been consensus on whether Anubis’ head is a jackal. Other “contenders” include wolf, dog and fox. I always presumed jackal, but it’s interesting to read that there is no consensus. The sheer range of canine creatures in that region - now and then - is all part of the confusion. Always good to see such things debated. QI went with wolf... God, how I hate QI. A quiz show for insufferable smart-arses. That program ought to be renamed EP: Extreme Pedantry. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2020 6:04:33 GMT -5
You’re not alone, Confessor. I watched ONE episode around the time it started. Didn’t take to it at all. I’d rather watch DEAL OR NO DEAL - and I think that’s crap, too.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 20, 2020 9:17:36 GMT -5
God, how I hate QI. A quiz show for insufferable smart-arses. That program ought to be renamed EP: Extreme Pedantry. You just described why I like it and wish we had it here (well, without pirating).  Mostly, I enjoy the banter, though more so when Stephen Fry was hosting. I like it well enough with Sandy Toksvig; but, the feeling is a bit different. Sandy seems to work better with certain guests than others, while Stephen seemed to be able to feed off of and pitch to just about anyone. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jul 25, 2020 17:29:15 GMT -5
I subscribe to a bimonthly magazine called ANCIENT EGYPT MAGAZINE. I caught up on the April/May issue recently. There was an article about Anubis. Interestingly, and the magazine features some extremely knowledgeable writers, there has never been consensus on whether Anubis’ head is a jackal. Other “contenders” include wolf, dog and fox. I always presumed jackal, but it’s interesting to read that there is no consensus. The sheer range of canine creatures in that region - now and then - is all part of the confusion. Always good to see such things debated. A fox I kind of doubt, but it's clearly a canine. What is Seth, though? He kind of looks like an aardvark! Since Dave Sim ended his Cerebus series with a few connections to ancient Egypt, there might have been something there!!! |
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