Would you fight for your country?

[anonymous-user]

This topic was discussed on PH, years ago, and given the horrific situation in Ukraine, it would be interesting to hear what people say.

I want to stress, that my answer below is straight up, not intended to make light of the situation, and I cannot imagine what it must be like for ordinary people to be 'urged to arm themselves and fight' as they are at present in Ukraine.

My answer:

Only as an absolutely last resort to save my family from imminent death, if the invading army were literally outside my front door and a white flag waved out of the upstairs window wasn't pacifying them.

If I thought I could make an excuse, hide, avoid fighting, wait and see who won, then I probably would do. If the UK 'lost', then I would do my best to welcome our new Foreign overlords and try to wangle an agreeable job under the new regime.

I probably won't win many friends with that position, but at least I'm honest.

[Pebbles167]

Yeah, if we were invaded. And provided I could get my family to a place of relative safety, I'd sign up to the Army.

I'd rather not though, live is much comfier without war. Feel bad for everyone involved in Ukraine.

[PositronicRay]

Yes I would, health and age prevent me from active service. Some sort of dad's army/resistance/underground guerrilla support.

[SturdyHSV]

I think I feel largely the same as you do.

Given how little most of the population agree with the government, I don't have any interest in killing people who probably don't agree with their government's decisions either.

I (thankfully) can't comment on how I'd actually feel if in a situation like Ukraine, and hope not to ever find out.

To further explain, I feel no magical allegiance to this country or the other people in it, as it'd be entirely based on where my parents happened to live which feels totally arbitrary and not something worth getting all excited about. Not in a negative way, I equally feel no ill towards the country etc., it's just where I happen to live, it has no inherent meaning to me beyond that.

[Bam89]

I wouldn't have to.

Surely all those who regularly extoll the virtues of the blitz spirit, national service, protecting statues with vigour etc would be straight to the frontline and have it all in hand by tea time?

There'd be no need at all for the likes of me

[anonymous-user]

SturdyHSV said:

I think I feel largely the same as you do.

Given how little most of the population agree with the government, I don't have any interest in killing people who probably don't agree with their government's decisions either.

I (thankfully) can't comment on how I'd actually feel if in a situation like Ukraine, and hope not to ever find out.

To further explain, I feel no magical allegiance to this country or the other people in it, as it'd be entirely based on where my parents happened to live which feels totally arbitrary and not something worth getting all excited about. Not in a negative way, I equally feel no ill towards the country etc., it's just where I happen to live, it has no inherent meaning to me beyond that.

I think you've summed it up well.

I happen to live in the UK because I was born here, but beyond that, I'm not really up for being riddled with rifle bullets to defend a flag, our government, and sovereignty.

[McGee_22]

Lord Marylebone said:

This topic was discussed on PH, years ago, and given the horrific situation in Ukraine, it would be interesting to hear what people say.

I want to stress, that my answer below is straight up, not intended to make light of the situation, and I cannot imagine what it must be like for ordinary people to be 'urged to arm themselves and fight' as they are at present in Ukraine.

My answer:

[b]Only as an absolutely last resort to save my family from imminent death, if the invading army were literally outside my front door and a white flag waved out of the upstairs window wasn't pacifying them.

If I thought I could make an excuse, hide, avoid fighting, wait and see who won, then I probably would do. If the UK 'lost', then I would do my best to welcome our new Foreign overlords and try to wangle an agreeable job under the new regime. [/b]

I probably won't win many friends with that position, but at least I'm honest.

I applaud you for being honest but your answer unfortunately just shows not how far short you fall in bravery, but in critical thinking.

If you are only going to be bothered to try and save yourself when the enemy is at your very front door then you miss the fact that wars are won and lost well before that point.

Your point of view just shows you are of little use to your fellow man/neighbour/child or even the enemy. I would question whether you would actually step in to save your family given your disregard of every other human life.

You might very well be offended by what I have written, but at least I'm being honest.

Edit: For reference I answered A - having served once I would do it again.

[Whats on Second]

a long held family tradition , happy to let others die for my freedom

[anonymous-user]

Lord Marylebone said:

Only as an absolutely last resort to save my family from imminent death, if the invading army were literally outside my front door and a white flag waved out of the upstairs window wasn't pacifying them.

If I thought I could make an excuse, hide, avoid fighting, wait and see who won, then I probably would do. If the UK 'lost', then I would do my best to welcome our new Foreign overlords and try to wangle an agreeable job under the new regime.

My thoughts would be along these lines also. I wouldn't put my life on the line unless I absolutely had to and my family were directly under threat. I know somebody has to for national security, and I think they should get rewarded properly should they make that choice.

I feel absolutely no sense of nationalism or patriotism and don't really understand those that are fervently patriotic, I am Scottish/British simply because I was born on this land mass and continue to reside here.

I also don't really think much of the Scottish nor UK Governments which lay down the framework in which I have to live my life, so would be reluctant to muck in as a result of their poor decisions whilst they give orders from somewhere comfy and safe. (Don't get me wrong, I know a communist country run by a dictator wouldn't be a pleasant place to live, and we do have relative freedom and quality of life here in the UK)

[s p a c e m a n]

Depends where was taking refugees.

[Nickbrapp]

Not a chance, this country can’t look after it’s own people who fight in the wars as it is.

[Antony Moxey]

McGee_22 said:

Lord Marylebone said:

This topic was discussed on PH, years ago, and given the horrific situation in Ukraine, it would be interesting to hear what people say.

I want to stress, that my answer below is straight up, not intended to make light of the situation, and I cannot imagine what it must be like for ordinary people to be 'urged to arm themselves and fight' as they are at present in Ukraine.

My answer:

[b]Only as an absolutely last resort to save my family from imminent death, if the invading army were literally outside my front door and a white flag waved out of the upstairs window wasn't pacifying them.

If I thought I could make an excuse, hide, avoid fighting, wait and see who won, then I probably would do. If the UK 'lost', then I would do my best to welcome our new Foreign overlords and try to wangle an agreeable job under the new regime. [/b]

I probably won't win many friends with that position, but at least I'm honest.

I applaud you for being honest but your answer unfortunately just shows not how far short you fall in bravery, but in critical thinking.

If you are only going to be bothered to try and save yourself when the enemy is at your very front door then you miss the fact that wars are won and lost well before that point.

Your point of view just shows you are of little use to your fellow man/neighbour/child or even the enemy. I would question whether you would actually step in to save your family given your disregard of every other human life.

You might very well be offended by what I have written, but at least I'm being honest.

Edit: For reference I answered A - having served once I would do it again.

Why would you question someone saving their family? I’d be the same: family, close friends, people I care about yes, the rest of the planet, not a chance I’m putting my life on the line.

[Brother D]

I think the majority of us on this site are more Dad's Army rather than Zero Dark Thirty (wether we want to admit it or not) which may have a signficant effect on the results.

Also I honestly believe the younger generation are so insanely mollycoddled and soft, they way less likely to want to sign up compared to their equivalents in the past - they break down in tears if someone accidently uses the wrong pronoun, so I'm not sure they would be cut out for hand-to-hand combat against 250lbs of murderous Ivan muscle...

[MB140]

As a member of the armed forces I would do as I am ordered. So yes. If I wasn’t a member of the armed forces. Still yes.

[Shiv_P]

Personally I could provide other services other than on the frontline as an engineer, so no I wouldn't fight but yes I would participate

[Allegro_Snapon]

Yorkshire: Yes.
Lancashire once Yorkshire has taken over: Yes.
Thatcher's Britain: Yes
Boris's England, Nicola's Scotland, Drapies Wales: Nope.
Northern Ireland (kids are Northern Irish): Yes but not sure which side or faction.

[Bobupndown]

Brother D said:

I think the majority of us on this site are more Dad's Army rather than Zero Dark Thirty (wether we want to admit it or not) which may have a signficant effect on the results.

Also I honestly believe the younger generation are so insanely mollycoddled and soft, they way less likely to want to sign up compared to their equivalents in the past - they break down in tears if someone accidently uses the wrong pronoun, so I'm not sure they would be cut out for hand-to-hand combat against 250lbs of murderous Ivan muscle...

[PH User]

Lord Marylebone said:

SturdyHSV said:

I think I feel largely the same as you do.

Given how little most of the population agree with the government, I don't have any interest in killing people who probably don't agree with their government's decisions either.

I (thankfully) can't comment on how I'd actually feel if in a situation like Ukraine, and hope not to ever find out.

To further explain, I feel no magical allegiance to this country or the other people in it, as it'd be entirely based on where my parents happened to live which feels totally arbitrary and not something worth getting all excited about. Not in a negative way, I equally feel no ill towards the country etc., it's just where I happen to live, it has no inherent meaning to me beyond that.

I think you've summed it up well.

I happen to live in the UK because I was born here, but beyond that, I'm not really up for being riddled with rifle bullets to defend a flag, our government, and sovereignty.

What about defending the freedoms that we in the UK enjoy?

[s2kjock]

On the basis that "fighting for your country" under any circumstances would indicate you were a professional soldier, then I'd only do it as a career option - which I didn't (for better or worse).

Directly invaded or attacked, then yes. It might be futile, but I don't think I could sit and watch others get their hands dirty in a backs to the wall situation where I could do more good than harm.

[anonymous-user]

CountVacillate said:

Sigh.

can you elaborate?