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[CLKD]

Because not many of those who will fight these days have listened to history  ………. I can read that poem without feeling much at all ……….. there is also testosterone and pride to be taken into account ………..

[Taz2]

Which poem?

Taz x

[Joyce]

I think we have to wait & see how things pan out.

[CLKD]

apparently all children are taught it in school  - off to GOOGLE

written a few weeks before he died, of a mosquito bite ........

[CLKD]

The Soldier

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

[Taz2]

Thanks CLKD. Not sure it is still part of the curriculum nowadays. He was a very complex character but certainly had a way with words.

Taz x

[CLKD]

It may not be part of the Curriculum but many Schools are teaching it.  I was watching a programme last night but can't remember which Authority were adding it to their lessons.

[Taz2]

What I meant was not "all children" are taught it.

Taz x

[honeybun]

In primary school up here it's much more likely to be Burns and nothing else.


Honeyb
x

[Joyce]

Jacobite's too HB. Though at primary I used to get very confused about the word defeated. 

[CLKD]

defeated is what we aren't 

[Limpy]

It is a lovely poem CLKD.

In Wales I suspect that the children aren't taught it either.
Even if their Grandfathers are named on the cenotaph memorials which are in the local towns.

[oldsheep]

It's a beautiful and poignant poem. I did it at school (in SA). However I do hope it's not being taught as nationalistic or patriotic? But then I hope (in vain no doubt) for the dreadful horrors of WW1 to be properly and soberly commemorated this year, not some Great War glorification - all brass and medals, and no horror, gas, maiming, death mentioned.
I hope kids are being taught that war is a truly terrible thing. Hope they also teach Wilfred Owen
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/collections/item/3303

There are 40% or so Crimeans who aren't Russian apparently. I can't see any serious action being taken against Russia unless they do something crazy, particularly by the EU. The Ukrainians so far haven't made the mistake the Georgians made, when they fired tank shells at Russian troops, so for now it's just sable rattling and intimidation by Putin. Russia does too much trade with Germany, France and there's a massive dependence on their gas - and their money coming into London's financial sector.
I can see Crimea being effectively annexed though. Must read up more on the history of the area.

[CLKD]

There is a lot of talk about WW1 on local TV.  Going into Schools, asking kids to talk to those who have memories .......... I think by keep talking about it people will think it's OK to go to War  and there are few who realise exactly what mud and guts looks like ........ 

[honeybun]

I think it's so very important for them to talk to children about the two world wars. It's history and we need to remember what these men and women sacrificed for us.

By not telling them what exactly would we achieve.

I don't think any of the men who have led us into war have been particularly influenced by previous ones.

We need to honour our dead and by telling our children what happened does exactly that.

Would you ban Rememberance Sunday CLKD. If I remember you enjoyed watching it on TV last year and spoke about it on here.

Honeyb
x