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Was the Britain we have today worth all the sacrifices made in WW2?

(270 Posts)
Caleo Sun 09-Nov-25 12:46:26

If the Allies had not won we in Britain would have been overrun by Nazis.

We cannot ask the dead if their sacrifice was worthwhile. Mothers of dead sons and daughters may well feel they would rather the country were a Nazi colony than that their loved ones were dead.

I dislike the ceremonies of remembrance. The only appropriate response to the horror of war is silent pity. No official ceremony makes the pity of war any better.

AmberGran Sun 09-Nov-25 12:44:44

I've seen him quoted all over the place. The thing is that what he said isn't specific at all, unless I've missed something (and that's very possible, of course).

Fascists are using him to justify their hatred and violence.

Others are using his words to describe the political mess, immigration, gender issues ... it just goes on.

Maremia Sun 09-Nov-25 12:42:17

Of course it is about everyday life as well.
We use our purchase power every day.
We normally interact in our community.
Don't like the way things are happening locally, then find a 'ginger' group to help make improvements.
You don't have to go out and march
If you are contributing to this Thread, then you are just as able to contact local and national politicians.
And no, they won't do your bidding first time.
But, hey, we now have the time to persist

growstuff Sun 09-Nov-25 12:40:11

FriedGreenTomatoes2

And then when we vote for something it gets overrides, sidelined or ignored anyway by the government of the day.

What have you voted for which has been ignored?

Purplepixie Sun 09-Nov-25 12:38:23

AmberGran

We didn't end up in gas chambers or slaves to the Nazis.

To me that seems a lot.

So true.

growstuff Sun 09-Nov-25 12:37:33

Millie22

I think there was a sense of safety after the end of the second world war and now that has gone.

I can understand why a veteran would feel as he did.

I wasn't born until well after WW2 was over. What safety was that?

BlueBelle Sun 09-Nov-25 12:37:06

I agree with this elderly soldier The rise of the FarRight of the Yaxley Lennon and Farage types are exactly what we lost so many lives fighting against
My poor Dad would say exactly what that old solder said

Ambergran that’s exactly where we are heading right now sleep walking into the exact same type of beliefs instead of swaztikas we have relinquished our national flag to these hate machines.

growstuff Sun 09-Nov-25 12:36:13

Teazel2

Maremia

So sad that he feels that.
Of course it was worth it. It simply means that it is over to us now, to make the best of what we have. To resist and defeat malign influences.
Yes, it's on us now.

How though apart from our one vote each?

It's about more than a vote at election time. It's about how we behave towards each other every single day. In the UK, we have the freedom to do and say more or less what we want (so long as it's not illegal). It's up to each of us to use that choice wisely and compassionately.

Dottydots Sun 09-Nov-25 12:34:42

When I heard what the old gentleman said I would have loved to have given him a cuddle. I agree with him, but life, though, goes on, and hopefully it won't get any worse than it is now..

Millie22 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:31:21

I think there was a sense of safety after the end of the second world war and now that has gone.

I can understand why a veteran would feel as he did.

AmberGran Sun 09-Nov-25 12:29:25

We didn't end up in gas chambers or slaves to the Nazis.

To me that seems a lot.

Maremia Sun 09-Nov-25 12:28:57

That one vote is powerful. Look how long it took. Hundreds of years for the common man and longer for women.
Another of our strengths is 'purchase' power.
We may sometimes feel over whelmed, but we are not hopeless, unless that is your only way of coping.

Homestead62 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:24:36

I really don't know. I do grudge that I cannot access services that I have paid into, now need and cannot obtain. I can understand why veterans may feel like this.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:24:30

And then when we vote for something it gets overrides, sidelined or ignored anyway by the government of the day.

Teazel2 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:22:52

Maremia

So sad that he feels that.
Of course it was worth it. It simply means that it is over to us now, to make the best of what we have. To resist and defeat malign influences.
Yes, it's on us now.

How though apart from our one vote each?

MayBee70 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:21:27

Well, the war was fought against the far right and they now seem to be attempting to take over British politics. So I agree with him.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:21:12

I saw the gentleman interviewed, it brought a tear to my eye.

Was all the sacrifices worth it?

The U.K. and Europe has freedoms many other countries are still fighting for…

Maremia Sun 09-Nov-25 12:20:22

So sad that he feels that.
Of course it was worth it. It simply means that it is over to us now, to make the best of what we have. To resist and defeat malign influences.
Yes, it's on us now.

Teazel2 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:17:10

That is a very interesting post and one that I was considering starting. I absolutely and fully agree with him. This country has turned into a mess. What was all the sacrifice for?

barbyvon67 Sun 09-Nov-25 12:13:33

I was very sad to hear the WW2 veteran say on TV that he didn't think today's Britain was worth all the sacrifices made by all those who perished in the 2nd World War.
I understand his point, but it made me wonder - is he right?
What do other Gransnetters think?