11:45am Monday 8th February 2010
WE owe our soldiers so much, yet seemingly care so little for them.
Had a sign barring squaddies from a pub in Darlington at certain times referred to an ethnic minority instead of soldiers there would, quite rightly, have been an outcry.
Following complaints, the chain that runs the pub has taken the sign down.
But it stands behind its policy of restricting access to groups of soldiers, although the police say trouble caused by soldiers and other members of the Armed Forces is “insignificant”.
The British Army is an institution that is widely respected around the world for its efficiency and courage.
Well-trained soldiers are not thugs.
They are taught discipline, good manners and respect for authority – values not always self-evident in civvy street.
The most junior ranks of the British Army earn less than a traffic warden.
When they are posted to Afghanistan that salary is topped up a bit.
But, for risking their lives on the frontline, they still earn less than the national average wage.
Britain in 2010 is a country at war with a ruthless enemy. Our soldiers are risking their lives in Helmand every day.
So, perhaps a little bit of respect for our services personnel would seem to be in order.
In the past, when Britain has been at war, the whole country has rallied behind the Armed Forces.
Whatever we think of the rights and wrongs of the Afghanistan campaign, it seems only fair to get behind our brave soldiers.
And that includes allowing groups of friends to enjoy a night out at the pub.
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