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

(271 Posts)
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?

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 15:53:00

We simply don't know.

Who knows what life in the UK and indeed in Europe would be like if Hitler and his Nazis had won?

It's impossible to say because we do not know what the alternative would have been like, in order to be able to make a true comparison.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 15:58:40

twinnytwin

Well Caleo, I disagree with you regarding the ceremonies of remembrance. They mark our respect for those who gave their lives to protect their families and countries, not just in past wars, but also conflicts since. It gives folk an opportunity to remember them and also to reflect about others impacted by war. My Mother was evacuated from Coventry in her early teens to escape the bombing, but many of our relatives were killed during the war.
Silent pity, as the years pass, will be replaced by forgetfulness.

I disagree with Caleo too.

So many people have been out at services today to remember those who died for our freedom and, believe it or not, Caleo, to pray for peace around the world today and to give our leaders the strength and wisdom to work towards that peace.

I don't think pity is the right word to use at all and I doubt many veterans would either.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 16:06:14

Just a reminder to those who may have forgotten this: About 5.5 million Muslims fought on the Allied side in WW2, of whom 1.5 million lost their lives. Not just those in the British Indian Army but other Forces too. The British Indian Army was instrumental in fighting the Japanese in the Far East Campaign.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 16:09:43

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

Caleo

“O you who believe! Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them.” (Qur’an 49:11)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized good manners, patience, and avoiding public humiliation.

Shaming someone publicly over clothing is more a reflection of cultural attitudes or personal judgment, not true Islamic ethics. Islam also teaches that accountability is ultimately between a person and God, and it’s not for individuals to enforce it with aggression or humiliation.

I suggest you remind the Moslem men who routinely beat their women for minor offences.

Who offer up their sister to be raped by the brother of a female raped by a member of their family, their so called justice

Tell that to the Taliban who have eliminated females from society in the name of Islam…

Who would have thought a thread about Remembrance could have led to yet another Islamophobic thread on GN?

I don't think it's Islamophobic to criticise the Taliban.

They are a regime which terrorises its own people who are Muslims too.

Teazel2 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:11:20

growstuff

Teazel2

I was talking to a friend who has another friend who was walking past a mosque when the Muslim men were waiting outside before going into pray. They hissed at her for being in their view inappropriately dressed.

She was brave enough to confront them and say that this is her country and if they dont like it they should go to live in a country which holds their values.

What's that got to do with those who died in past wars?

Surely you don't mean that the reason the UK isn't worth it is because there are more Muslims here! Surely not!

Would you like life in Afghanistan as a woman. Surely you cant mean that!

Whitewavemark2 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:20:08

GrannyGravy13

paddyann54

Most offences against women are not by Moslems they are committed by WHITE “British”males
domestic violence crimes go up after football matches for goodness sake.
Why are some on here so willing to forget our home grown violent me and just blame it all on Moslems or immigrants when the statistics clearly show who the worst offenders are?

In the U.K. yes as there are more white males than Moslem males.

I doubt if the women in Iran and Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh care about your shouting White in fact they will never see it as they are denied all freedoms that those of us in the free world have.

Your shouty words will not heal their bruises, let them have an education, stop girls as young as 10 being impregnated by their old men husbands, but hey ho shout away….

How on earth has a discussion on post WW2 Britain morphed into cultural values and behaviour on Afghanistan etc.

In the downs north of Brighton we have the Chattri , commemorating the soldiers of Muslim and Hindu faith who fought and lost their lives alongside our soldiers.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:21:45

Allira

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

Caleo

“O you who believe! Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them.” (Qur’an 49:11)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized good manners, patience, and avoiding public humiliation.

Shaming someone publicly over clothing is more a reflection of cultural attitudes or personal judgment, not true Islamic ethics. Islam also teaches that accountability is ultimately between a person and God, and it’s not for individuals to enforce it with aggression or humiliation.

I suggest you remind the Moslem men who routinely beat their women for minor offences.

Who offer up their sister to be raped by the brother of a female raped by a member of their family, their so called justice

Tell that to the Taliban who have eliminated females from society in the name of Islam…

Who would have thought a thread about Remembrance could have led to yet another Islamophobic thread on GN?

I don't think it's Islamophobic to criticise the Taliban.

They are a regime which terrorises its own people who are Muslims too.

growstuff if you think being against the way some Moslem men treat women is Islamophobic so be it.

My empathy is and always will be with the oppressed.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:23:37

Whitewavemark2 it started a few pages back with Caleo quoting from the Quran.

Skydancer Sun 09-Nov-25 16:29:10

I often think about my two grandfathers who fought in WW1 and wonder what they’d think of life today. Would they think it was worth fighting for? Not sure.

Lathyrus3 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:29:49

Ah well there’s a vast difference between the vision of the founder and the practice of the people in most religions I think.

It’s the lived experience that really tells you what a religion is about.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:36:12

It does seem a pity though, given the bravery and loyalty to a country that they knew nothing about other than as colonialists with all that went with it, but instead concentrate on aspects of their faith and culture with which one disagrees.

growstuff Sun 09-Nov-25 16:50:51

GrannyGravy13

Allira

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

Caleo

“O you who believe! Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them.” (Qur’an 49:11)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized good manners, patience, and avoiding public humiliation.

Shaming someone publicly over clothing is more a reflection of cultural attitudes or personal judgment, not true Islamic ethics. Islam also teaches that accountability is ultimately between a person and God, and it’s not for individuals to enforce it with aggression or humiliation.

I suggest you remind the Moslem men who routinely beat their women for minor offences.

Who offer up their sister to be raped by the brother of a female raped by a member of their family, their so called justice

Tell that to the Taliban who have eliminated females from society in the name of Islam…

Who would have thought a thread about Remembrance could have led to yet another Islamophobic thread on GN?

I don't think it's Islamophobic to criticise the Taliban.

They are a regime which terrorises its own people who are Muslims too.

growstuff if you think being against the way some Moslem men treat women is Islamophobic so be it.

My empathy is and always will be with the oppressed.

But what does it have to do with Remembrance Sunday and a comment by a former serviceman?

It just seems like some people will use any old excuse to mention Muslims.

growstuff Sun 09-Nov-25 16:52:27

Skydancer

I often think about my two grandfathers who fought in WW1 and wonder what they’d think of life today. Would they think it was worth fighting for? Not sure.

It's not uncommon for older people to moan about "life today" for all sorts of reasons.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 16:54:04

You obviously haven't read my post above at Sun 09-Nov-25 16.06

It might enlighten posters.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 16:56:02

growstuff

Skydancer

I often think about my two grandfathers who fought in WW1 and wonder what they’d think of life today. Would they think it was worth fighting for? Not sure.

It's not uncommon for older people to moan about "life today" for all sorts of reasons.

That's not a fair comment.

Perhaps he thought that he fought the Nazis and won and yet here we go again. Perhaps he does wonder what it was all for if he saw his pals die.

David49 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:04:38

We won the war but lost the peace, that was our own fault, we have become far too soft and decadent.

BUT, if we has lost the Battle of Britain the war would have likely been lost, the bombing campaign would not have crippled Hitlers war production, there would have been no easy way for the US to enter the war in Europe.

Hitlers fatal mistake was to turn on Russia instead of finishing Britain, after Dunkirk we were very weak.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:06:55

growstuff I suggest you ask the poster who brought Islam up.

fancythat Sun 09-Nov-25 17:07:14

Of course it was worth it!

Think of all the alternatives![shivers]

Maremia Sun 09-Nov-25 17:07:24

Yes, I do believe that my Grandad, my Father and all the others in my family who served, would be happy that we are still here.
Anyway, it's up to us now, to make it worth their sacrifice.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:08:47

Who offer up their sister to be raped by the brother of a female raped by a member of their family, their so called justice

Oh GG13 this truly shocked me.
I didn’t know Islam allowed this form of ‘justice’.

‘An eye for an eye” writ large indeed.

Maremia Sun 09-Nov-25 17:10:11

Not relevant I know, but since you are on, David, why do you think he did that, when Napoleon's experience should have cautioned him?

GrannyGravy13 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:19:23

I think that WWII was worth the sacrifice as did my grandparents who lost siblings.

As a parent of a serving member of our armed forces, I am proud of all our service personnel past, present and those who gave their lives for ours 🙏🙏🙏

Primrose53 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:25:02

Getting back on track …. And what the 100 year old War Veteran said.

He has spoken exclusively to the DM since he was on TV and here’s what he meant.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 17:42:49

Primrose53

Getting back on track …. And what the 100 year old War Veteran said.

He has spoken exclusively to the DM since he was on TV and here’s what he meant.

It's not uncommon for older people to moan about "life today" for all sorts of reasons according to Growstuff.

So should he sit in the corner, put up and shut up I wonder?
He's had his day apparently 🤔

An interesting point from that picture is that nostalgia for the past is rising, even amongst 16 - 24 year olds.

Allira Sun 09-Nov-25 17:43:59

GrannyGravy13

I think that WWII was worth the sacrifice as did my grandparents who lost siblings.

As a parent of a serving member of our armed forces, I am proud of all our service personnel past, present and those who gave their lives for ours 🙏🙏🙏

Hear hear, Grannygravy13

We can still pray for peace.