The German Response

Sir, I couldn't agree with you more. I can't find the comment that you're referring to but I certainly know the type; prissy holier-than-thou socialistic types attempting to besmirch the characters of heroes now too dead to defend themselves but whose brief and fiery existences serve to justify all that has come before and after in England.

If someone has a problem with the class system then they should be out with it at the onset and all power to them, however to suggest that the hard-working Proletariat of Britain was less emotionally invested in his country and the war it was fighting than his Upper-Class compatriots is frankly an insult to the brave common folk of this land.

Ex-university, ex-public-schoolboys were chosen for officerial roles because they had the education and skills necessary for that particular oppucation; however the spirit that these men showed in serving their country, their calm and selfless execution of their duty was every bit the match and equal of the working-class soldiers, sailors, aircrew and engineers. To say that the war was more that of the "gentlemen" is simply a misunderstanding of the word, perhaps born out of too much fraternisation with other ignorant or poorly educated socialists. The "gentlemanly" spirit portrayed in these films is in fact the all-pervading essence of Britain; to think that it applied simply to the highly-born or well-spoken is an act of self-deceit. The same spirit that lived in the Pilots and Officers thrived also in the men who served alongside and with them; born to different tasks and different places but equals and comrades nonetheless.

I should also like to corroborate your comment on the war-time generation. Without an exception, I have found, they are all deeply moral and honourable people, sadly now few and far between. I hope however that my generation, the young generation and the coming generations will one day be able to live up to the folks who came before. I pray to God that in the same situation I would have the same grace and valour as my ancestors and the men of my country who fought for it; with fear perhaps but also with an unerring sense of duty and pride in my cause.

Also, if this Meteor fellow cannot understand the love that one can feel for one's dog then he has either never had one, or is a deeply rotten sort of person. Not to mention, of course, that the death of *beep* would have hit very hard at Gibson, in light of the fact that he and his friends were about to risk their own lives.

I happened to know a chap once who had taken part in the Normandy landings; he certainly believed that "Saving Private Ryan" portrayed the carnage accurately and I shall gladly take his word for it. I did indeed find that part of the film both interesting and exciting, it's just a shame that the rest of it was Hollywood nonsense, but then what do you expect from a nation that claims the right to police the world while reliantly pitching up to every war of consequence only when it suits their own purposes.

Again, did not read the original comment to which you were moved to reply. However, I do feel strongly about those who would choose to insult or belittle those who fought and died for Britain, British freedom and the freedom of the world. It is bad enough when it's a "British" individual doing it, but I'll go to hell before I see a lefty *beep* insulting my nation's heroes.

Kind regards,

Sam Davidson.

We're both part of the same hypocrisy, senator, but never think it applies to my family

For the record `Meteor-4' posted his/her contribution on November 2nd, 2008. At the time of writing it's the seventh most recent posting. On the same page as mine I'm galled to say.