Guy Martin

[coppice]

Jazzy Jag said:

This sort of program always serves to remind me how modern society has misused and devalued the word "Hero"

Total respect.

It certainly has , and it is an expression (like bloody' iconic') worn out through overuse. But heroes , typically , are foolhardy, if brave show offs , different from the rank and file. I certainly wouldn't characterise the thousands of men at D Day as heroes - but that is what makes them far more worthy of our respect . They were people very like us - insurance guys from Coventry, farmers from Vermont, teachers from Kent and farm labourers from Worcestershire. Some were elated , others were terrified and others just wanted to survive the next hour , the next minute .I knew some of them -my uncle , my best friend's dad - they were'nt gung ho cliches but normal people having to do extraordinary things.

Of course we should remember and respect but the last few years has seen us wallowing in self righteous commemoration - some days you hardly see a biker not sporting some giant poppy and I haven't a bloody clue what that is all about . As a kid in the Sixties , it was 11 November at the village war memorial , often with a few old boys from WW1 -nobody gave much thought to WW2 then , too recent ? And now ? A year long grief fest...

[227bhp]

I wonder if anyone else noticed how that used partition they purchased was a mile out when they offered it up? Unless it was for another part of the plane...
That aside a very enjoyable program.

[DS240]

coppice said:

Jazzy Jag said:

This sort of program always serves to remind me how modern society has misused and devalued the word "Hero"

Total respect.

It certainly has , and it is an expression (like bloody' iconic') worn out through overuse. But heroes , typically , are foolhardy, if brave show offs , different from the rank and file. I certainly wouldn't characterise the thousands of men at D Day as heroes - but that is what makes them far more worthy of our respect . They were people very like us - insurance guys from Coventry, farmers from Vermont, teachers from Kent and farm labourers from Worcestershire. Some were elated , others were terrified and others just wanted to survive the next hour , the next minute .I knew some of them -my uncle , my best friend's dad - they were'nt gung ho cliches but normal people having to do extraordinary things.

Of course we should remember and respect but the last few years has seen us wallowing in self righteous commemoration - some days you hardly see a biker not sporting some giant poppy and I haven't a bloody clue what that is all about . As a kid in the Sixties , it was 11 November at the village war memorial , often with a few old boys from WW1 -nobody gave much thought to WW2 then , too recent ? And now ? A year long grief fest...

Yeah, hero is used too loosely these days. Particularly when a multi millionaire footballer is described as heroic after scoring a goal. Particularly hate it when you hear the manager saying something along the lines of ‘the lads literally put their lives on the line out there’!

Our Remembrance Sunday memorial ceremony has also been hijacked by the local motorcycle community. A quiet, dignified service and gathering now has drove through of bikers including the Vespa club and any old 50cc that wants to come along. Quite what this adds or has to do with WWI or WWII I don’t know? A drive through of classic military vehicles or motorbikes I could understand.

Edited by DS240 on Wednesday 5th June 11:48

[coppice]

Some, biker groups I've seen seem to use the whole poppy./help for heroes schtick as a virtue signalling get out of jail free card - 'yeah we are clogging the whole high street, blocking off side roads and making a silly amount of noise but we're just showing RESPECT , right ? '

Weird how a similar obsession with long dead soldiers has sprung up in the Russian biker community - 'invading ' Germany a year or so ago to show their respect . Of course they were ...

[DS240]

coppice said:

Some, biker groups I've seen seem to use the whole poppy./help for heroes schtick as a virtue signalling get out of jail free card - 'yeah we are clogging the whole high street, blocking off side roads and making a silly amount of noise but we're just showing RESPECT , right ? '

And another lovely patch to put on the obligatory waistcoat.