I WORK with young people, and the fact that so few people would be willing to go to war does not come as a surprise to me. The breakdown of family values has eroded the feeling of loyalty to any group or idea, let alone the necessity to commit yourself to your country.
Things are gained or given too easily to this generation; a problem caused by over-indulgence and political correctness.
Nick Jones,
Folkestone, Kent
Do your duty
MAYBE an American shouldn’t comment on this poll, but the article gave me some pause. For me, the question is why wouldn’t I go to war? I’m no chest-thumping warmonger, but I’m not the one to make the decision — the Government is. They have the intelligence information, they can see the big picture. As a citizen, it’s not a matter of choice, it’s a duty. With the rights of citizenship come the responsibilities, and one of those is military service if your country needs you. That’s the bargain of the democratic system, and it works both ways.
Advertisement
For your American readers, I will simply quote part of the Oath of Allegiance that new citizens take: “That I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law”. That’s pretty clear, I’d say.
John Penta, Scranton,
Pennsylvania
A price too high
I WOULD not go to war to kill innocent people in any circumstances. War too often means that innocent children pay the price for the undemocratic decisions made by politicians.
We should behave and think like human beings, not like Christians, Muslims or Jews.
Advertisement
Rana Bilal,
Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
Not my problem
GOD help us all if at some time in the future there is another Hitler or any aggressive party intent on invading our country. Maybe then people would feel different about going to war.
The people in The Times survey who said that they wouldn’t go to war obviously expect someone else to fight and defend the lives of everyone under threat.
Paul Taylor,
London
Advertisement
Is it worth it?
THERE is a difference between fighting for one’s country and fighting for hearth and home. I may well be too old for this debate, but if something were to threaten my or my family’s existence, then undoubtedly I would take up arms — and I suspect that most people would feel the same.
Perhaps the question should be turned somewhat. Is this a country worth fighting for? There are many deeply unattractive features of our country and our society, as shown by the general scepticism seen in the poll. One has to have faith in (and, therefore, feel protective of) one’s society, one’s legal and political structures, one’s education, health and welfare systems to feel a country is worth fighting for.
Being proud to be British is perhaps not the same as being proud of Britain.
Mark Bolland,
Rugby, Warwickshire
Advertisement
A sensible view
DOESN’T the fact that just 22 per cent of respondents in your survey would fight for their country say something? It screams that for the first time in history, the vast majority of the population see sense. What a pity that there was no iGeneration in 1914.
Chris Frankland,
Salangor, Malaysia
Plus ça change
WHETHER or not you would be prepared to go to war for your country is almost irrelevant because in the event of a major conflict conscription would remove the possibility of choice (apart from the insignificant percentage that would register as conscientious objectors).
Advertisement
It should also be remembered that in the famous Oxford University King and country debate of the 1930s, the motion carried was that those involved would not be prepared to fight for King and country. Just a few years later, those same men were fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain.
When it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, people don’t change, and I suspect the result would be the same today.
Andrew Brown,
Worthing, Sussex
The melting pot
I DO NOT believe that Britain is racist. Britain has an extensive population of different cultures, nationalities and religions, and London is a prime example of this. If women of this age think that Britain is racist then maybe they should try visiting other countries to see that other parts of the world would not tolerate what we have embraced here in Britain.
It would be naive to suggest that small pockets of this country are not racist, but the vast majority are amiable and extremely tolerant.
Greta Lashley,
London
Small towns, small minds
I DON’T think that Britain is a racist society, but I do believe that there are areas that still harbour certain racial stereotypes. This is a result of the high concentration of different cultures in cities. Many people in towns and villages may meet only a few people who are not like them; the rest they see on TV and in film. So old stereotypes continue to be passed on to children who, unless they try to learn otherwise, will hold these opinions as fact and allow the prejudice to continue.
Juanita Richard,
Newmarket, Suffolk
What’s in a word
THE word “racism” carries overtones of white people deriding coloured people. But racism between races excluding whites is far more prevalent within British society. Racism between Indians and Pakistanis, between Asians and West Indians, is something that is overlooked in the politically correct mire. Black-on-black gun crime in Birmingham is far more dangerous than simple name-calling.
The word should be scrapped.
Tony Fellows,
Birmingham
Unhealthy obsession
IT IS surely only natural for a person to favour those who are similar to himself, whether that relates to politics, music, race or whatever. It is ridiculous to suppose that racism in all forms could ever be eradicated — unless by the creation of a single race.
I have English friends who have experienced racism while working in Scotland (although none of my Scottish friends have complained of similar treatment here), so it is not just a question of colour.
I think we are far too obsessed with racism: we have largely stamped out the more pernicious or violent aspects of it. To keep drawing attention to the issue merely gives it additional life.
People tend to get on with each other if they are left alone to do so.
However, many communities exacerbate the problem by living here exactly as they lived in their ethnic homeland; refusing to become part of the society around them in their dress or language. This is certainly less than helpful.
David Holt,
Bristol
The problem with men
I CAN understand why women would think that Britain is less racist. Young men, both black and white, are disillusioned about what the future might hold for them in this country. Young black men are angry and frustrated and the after-effects of the Stephen Lawrence case are still psychologically painful for them. Young white men also feel alienated, particularly if they are from a working-class background.
Young women, on the other hand, are freer and more open to new ways of living and new relationships, hence their openness about mixing with people of different races. This is a most fascinating insight into the iGeneration.
Ade Fashade,
Chelmsford, Essex