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May 10, 2005
VE Day remembered
It has been good to see so much activity, despite Blair's minions decreeing that it should be "low key", to mark the end of hostilities in Europe. It is a pity that the same will not be done for the marking of the end of hostilities against Japan. Of course, by that time in 1945, the war-weary populace of the UK just wanted to get back to normal. The European theatre was secure, the buildings and shattered lives had to be rebuilt - and Japan was a long way away.
Already this ungrateful and frankly churlish government and their equally churlish civil service aparatchiks have decreed that we will not mark VJ Day in any special way - but there is to be a big show in July to mark both. Not unnaturally, there are a lot of WWII veterans, both civilian and services, who are not terribly happy about this. Certainly the Burma Star Association, and the surviving PoW's from that theatre and the Pacific Battles that raged on as the Europeans took stock quite justifiably feel neglected and rejected.
With Russia staging a spectacular display in Red Square for their VE Day, 9th May, attended by a large number of heads of state, including, for the first time ever, a US President, our Illustrious Leader is "too busy" to attend and has sent his performing gorilla, the charming Deputy Prime Misery. He, at least, should feel at home, since he has long been an admirer of the Soviet system, praising it, in his early days as a "model workers paradise". Pity he didn't go and live there.
How quickly we forget. How easy it is to forget that Labour could not wait for the end of hostilities in the Far East before forcing the country into a General Election in 1945. One which they won with a slim majority and immediately set about squandering what little remained of the nation's assets on their socialist programmes at the expense of rebuilding the country. They won that election, as they have won all their subsequent spells in government, through assidious and covert campaigns of smear, half truths, and empty promises. Whenever they have been challenged it always reverts to attacking anyone with a better grasp of reality or a better vision of the future.
As we celebrate this anniversary of VE Day, and hopefully VJ Day in its proper place, let us also remember that this government is not, and never has been, responsible for the economic stability we have enjoyed. They inherited a sound programme and a growing economy from the last Conservative government. They have squandered it miserably. and already the signs are there that the economy is tottering towards another recession. A pity it cannot bite as hard or as deeply as it will before they get too comfy in their re-elected posts!
In defiance of this shower of ungrateful and ignorant destroyers of our nation, we should salute those who gave their lives, and their health in many cases, for our freedom. Let us use it wisely.
Posted by The Gray Monk at May 10, 2005 10:23 AM