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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?

Maremia Tue 18-Nov-25 21:19:44

Just thought I should mention it here as well, as the Beeb is taking a hammering just now.

Allira Tue 18-Nov-25 21:07:52

Maremia

For those who are glad about the recent vape shop raids, may I respectfully point out that the initial 'investigation ' was made by the BBC.

Yes.

I think that was pointed out previously but it was a different thread, I think.

butterandjam Tue 18-Nov-25 20:08:12

barmcake Wed 12-Nov-25 07:37:17

Please take a look at the Danish model

It's no bed of roses. A couple pf months back there was a TV series about how Scandinavian countries deal with migrants, and the practical application of Denmarks "ghetto policy " did not play well. Particularly to migrants who had been peacably settled there for decades, integrated, worked, contributed to the country, committed no crime; yet were forcibly uprooted from their homes and "relocated" to white areas to " assimilate ".

Primrose53 Tue 18-Nov-25 18:55:51

David49

The reasons the most economic migrants and a few refugees want to come to the UK is because they speak English, many also have family and friends. Denmark does not have those ties

So if they speak English, why do we spend millions on paying translators every year? 🤔

Maremia Tue 18-Nov-25 16:37:11

For those who are glad about the recent vape shop raids, may I respectfully point out that the initial 'investigation ' was made by the BBC.

David49 Tue 18-Nov-25 16:15:25

The reasons the most economic migrants and a few refugees want to come to the UK is because they speak English, many also have family and friends. Denmark does not have those ties

StripeyGran Thu 13-Nov-25 17:59:17

graciemabel

They saved us from the Germans, who's going to save us from the current invasion?

Have the Germans reconsidered then?

I must have missed that on the news.

graciemabel Thu 13-Nov-25 17:44:13

They saved us from the Germans, who's going to save us from the current invasion?

Frogoet Wed 12-Nov-25 22:56:22

Google They Work for you…

StoneofDestiny Wed 12-Nov-25 16:02:41

Please take a look at the Danish model. They've cut illegal immigration by over 90%. They have drastically reduced benefits and incentives. Arrivals have to participate and contribute

It's not racist to protect our borders or put our own citizens first

The Labour Government have been looking at the Danish model to see what can be done.

Nobody has ever said it's racist to protect our own borders.

What is racist is denouncing a whole population of people because of their religion or ethnicity or because of the behaviour of a few.

I have just been reading on the BBC website about possibly the most prolific sex offender/rapist in British history. He was white British as were his accomplices. It would be racist to project from that that all white British men are a danger to us all.

theworriedwell Wed 12-Nov-25 15:53:22

Allira some who don't fit those groups might think they'd have been ok. Horrible but some are likely to think like that.

Allira Wed 12-Nov-25 15:17:01

theworriedwell

Well it was worth it for British Jews or Jews who came here for safety. I guess their wouldn't be any here now. Same for Jehovah's witnesses, the disabled, homosexuals, gypsies. Maybe more I've forgotten but for all of them yes it was worth it.

Well, it was worth it because otherwise we'd have had Hitler in residence at Dover Castle - then what would the future have looked like?

Sliding Doors.

theworriedwell Wed 12-Nov-25 13:36:26

Well it was worth it for British Jews or Jews who came here for safety. I guess their wouldn't be any here now. Same for Jehovah's witnesses, the disabled, homosexuals, gypsies. Maybe more I've forgotten but for all of them yes it was worth it.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 12-Nov-25 13:35:34

Nothing stays the same, be it a village, town, country or one’s waistline.

Accepting change is part of living.

DaisyAnneReturns Wed 12-Nov-25 13:24:35

I do think most of the extreme critical attitudes we see come from fear of not being in control. At one time, if your cows died you conjured up witchcraft and a witch to blame.

Now, when times are difficult, people find a group who are "not us" to blame. Using superstition, pseudoscience or simply unfounded belief they ensure that they sit happy. That those on whom they have pinned the blame and pushed to receive the harshest punishment are an explaination of why no culpability may be placed at their door and why you may not believe that sometimes it's just that "life happens".

MaizieD Wed 12-Nov-25 12:02:31

Seeing so many England flags drooping half way up lamp posts everywhere local to me I begin to think that they're flying at half mast; mourning the country we used to be. The only flaw in this is that those who put them up are mourning a completely different from country from the one I might be mourning..

M0nica Wed 12-Nov-25 11:43:23

It is 80 years since the last war, that is nearly 3 generations. Of course things have changed - for better and worse - and most old people seem to see 'worse' as meaning 'I do not like it'

Funny how they never list all the good things = from central heating to the NHS. As a woman the change it attitudes and opportunities for women is absolutely phenomenal.

Allira Wed 12-Nov-25 11:15:06

Pleased to see all the police raids on illegal vape shops, barbers etc on the news last night.
It's an uphill battle and resources are constrained but well done to the police.

fancythat Wed 12-Nov-25 10:59:54

growstuff

CarS

Our country has gone down the pan. Crime - stabbings, shoplifting. Moral compass broken. The old soldier has a point. Its going to take a lot to turn it all round, Don't hold your breath.

I believe this is fear mongering. Maybe you should emigrate to Sudan, Syria or Venezuela, if you really want to experience a "broken country".

If I have learnt 5 things from being on GN, this is in the top 5.

That people who are left leaning, have a lot lower standards of acceptable behaviour in a Country.
It is something that I never even knew, or questioned, before coming onto this forum.

Crime, sdtabbings, shoplifting, less moral behaviour?
Answer - go elsewhere to find it all worse!

Allira Wed 12-Nov-25 10:37:24

I'm not going to be bullied by people who "tired" of hearing comments they don't like.

🤔 Pot, kettle, black?

David49 Wed 12-Nov-25 09:31:40

vintage1950

We have the NHS, which provides emergency care for all - private hospitals haven't got A&E departments, so even the richest will need the NHS if they are injured or fall ill suddenly. It has treated me without charge, even during the pandemic. I have free eye tests, a bus pass and a pension. My grandchildren attend state schools with good ratings. We have asylum seekers in our town but they have never caused problems. For that matter, the town has welcomed many people from overseas since the war, and I have seen medical staff of British Asian or of Caribbean origin. Our GP is Polish. I think this country has much to be proud of.

Spending on the NHS and other social services is part of the problem.

In 1950 NHS spending was 2% of GDP now it’s 8% of GDP but we are not paying enough into it. Other countries have various systems, in most the state pays around 50% of cost, the UK state pays 80% of healthcare cost.

I’m not arguing against the NHS, but we are a long way from funding it sustainably.

LizzieDrip Wed 12-Nov-25 09:18:58

vintage1950

We have the NHS, which provides emergency care for all - private hospitals haven't got A&E departments, so even the richest will need the NHS if they are injured or fall ill suddenly. It has treated me without charge, even during the pandemic. I have free eye tests, a bus pass and a pension. My grandchildren attend state schools with good ratings. We have asylum seekers in our town but they have never caused problems. For that matter, the town has welcomed many people from overseas since the war, and I have seen medical staff of British Asian or of Caribbean origin. Our GP is Polish. I think this country has much to be proud of.

Well said vintage1950.

Sadly, the right wing trope currently is to run our country down and make it sound like an absolute hell hole (which, of course, it is not).

Yet, at the same time, they call themselves patriotic, claim our country’s flag as theirs and would see our country harmed.

Even on GN, we have a poster welcoming a possible £billion law suit on a national institution by Trump!

vintage1950 Wed 12-Nov-25 09:00:21

We have the NHS, which provides emergency care for all - private hospitals haven't got A&E departments, so even the richest will need the NHS if they are injured or fall ill suddenly. It has treated me without charge, even during the pandemic. I have free eye tests, a bus pass and a pension. My grandchildren attend state schools with good ratings. We have asylum seekers in our town but they have never caused problems. For that matter, the town has welcomed many people from overseas since the war, and I have seen medical staff of British Asian or of Caribbean origin. Our GP is Polish. I think this country has much to be proud of.

Oreo Wed 12-Nov-25 08:14:35

Excellent post barmcake 👏🏻👏🏻

Oreo Wed 12-Nov-25 08:14:04

I dare say others won’t be bullied off the thread either, by being told to go and live in another country or false cries of racism.