USA approve disprespect to National Flags

11 Dec 2012

Quote by MidsCouple24
but I still await an answer to see if my explanation was enough to changed the minds of those in here who made the comments as for being a liar, if someone tells me that what I said was wrong when it it about my own personal experience it could only mean they believe I was lying about my contact with the people I spoke of.
Being told not to say things I know nothing about demanded that I show what I based my statement on.

Today we have 24 hr news channels beamed direct to our homes from several different stations and continents. Each has there own particular standpoint on the breaking and ongoing news of the day. In the early 70's we had only 3 channels and news broadcasts were at set times. The broadcasts in the early 70's tended to feature more on the violence, rioting and bombs than the domestic arrangements of the individual troops on the ground.
I'm no expert on how the MoD decided to house married personnel in NI, however I am aware that at some point there was a shift from living within the community to living behind the wire on bases. I believe that by the early 80's everyone was behind the wire and it seems you were out there in the interim whilst they were protecting homes outside the wire, whilst the MoD were scrabbling around trying to find the money to build newer quarters on base.
Given that most people are probably not aware of this and in fact more than likely believe that all families lived on base is it not easy to understand how someone could question your experience, until you set them straight? Put it another way, if you had been based there in 1988 would you have had the same experience of the community?
Nobody has called you a liar, your just choosing to see it that way. Nobody has said you are wrong, but you hadn't at the time explained how you came to the opinion you had. Your excellent post earlier in this thread more than explained how you came to your train of thought, and although I don't choose or wish to speak for them I think Star has already conceded the point and Paddy will no doubt come along at some point and proffer his opinion.

11 Dec 2012

Quote by MidsCouple24
Sorry, just read the last line of your post where you say that YES you do still believe I could not have a balanced view of life in the province that I am lying about the level of interaction between troops deployed there and the Catholic population, I accept that but it does sadden me that you do not believe me or accept my reasoning for what I wrote about them, that you still believe the whole Catholic population hated us and not just a large part of it (in my estimate one third).

Well sorry about that Mids, nothing more to say really. I do not know you at all, as you are just someone typing on a keyboard anywhere in the uk. The only interaction we have had is on here, so I take what a lot of people say on chat forums with a small pinch of salt. I can only go by people that I know who have been there. A Cousin who I am close to has explained many things to me about his time in NI. You are expecting me to believe you, but that would make me disbelieve my Cousin. Why would I possibly do that over a person I don't even know?
Some people think they have heard things, then admit they misheard. People can see things they want to see that suits their purpose. I do not know you well enough to say you are pushing the true state of facts in NI, butmany people may possibly think it a tad unlikely that a Catholic woman would be able to walk up to the Army barracks bearing gifts for a soldier., when security was so tight even the PM would have had trouble getting that close.

12 Dec 2012

Military bases have security, whether that is tight is up for debate.
Dave_Notts

12 Dec 2012

Isn't it allowed to fly the union flag in GB now!! Deserves a riot that law... Worlds gone mad after all lol great night out in Belfast though .. When there our base was actually secured ... Only way in or out was in a heli cop ter .... Bet the flags fly 24/7 in shank hill though smile

never seen one in the falls lol ... Only paintings of dead terrorists on walls and shit hairstyles lol
Ooooops off again so ill shhhhhhh and get more help eh lol
Oh and jeeeez how can you disrespect a flag? Don't we all have much more to do than be even thinking its so bad lol
Respect eiiiiiiiii Innit

12 Dec 2012

Back in the late 70s and early 80s (or since it was built and that could have been 10yrs before for all I know) the barracks opposite our Para Depot (forget it's name) was open plan, it housed the Welsh Guards and Infantry Brigade HQ at the time along with 205 (airborne) Squadron and other units, no fences that couldn't be stepped over by a girl in a knee length skirt without even adjusting it, the roving patrol was armed with pick axe handles not rifles and anyone who wanted to take a short cut could simply walk through the barracks including the accommodation blocks. Other barracks in the area like the Medics at Keogh and 7RHA in North Camp had very good security fences, no incident of a terrorist nature was recorded to my knowledge but that was probably more luck than judgement at that time.
Catterick Garrison one of the oldest was very much open plan whilst Colchester Garrison was open plan but with walls/fencing around the barracks.
Army quarters have always been open plan in most areas but the IRA rarely targetted army families as they we are led to believe they considered the consequences towards thier own families at the hands of angry troops too much to risk.

12 Dec 2012

Three events have caused the government to decide to shut service personnel away behind high walls.
1. The government was worried about revolutionary fever being whipped up following the French revolution and many barracks were built to separate the army from civilians. There were two built in Exeter, one for artillery and one for cavalry.
2. World War 2. We all know large swathes of the country were taken over by the military, some of it is still in their hands. The military need for security meant that civilians were generally not able to get places where they had no business.
3. The Deal bombing 1989. When the IRA planted a bomb at the barracks in Deal and killed marine bandsmen the security at military sites was immediately reviewed and strengthened. Although not perfect, it is tighter today than it was before.

12 Dec 2012

and times they are a changing ........ Universal Soldier, Donovan, circa golden oldie.
Castles built to protect civilians with almost everyone garrison forces and civilians living behind the walls for security and castles built purely for garrison forces to protect against invaders.
History does show us that such things are adaped to suit the era they are built in.