By William Arhawk –
With the conflict in Ukraine reaching its 2-year anniversary, and the conflict in Israel growing to 5 months, have younger generations grown tired of war, or is there still respect and admiration for soldiers in the modern day?
Last month saw the 50th anniversary ceremony commemorating the 12 lost in 1974 to the tragic M62 coach bombing, consisting of two soldiers from the Royal Artillery, three from the Royal Corps of Signals, and four from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, along with three civilians – family members of one of the soldiers.
Their coach was on its way back to bases in Catterick and Darlington following weekend leave. After departing Manchester late on the night of Sunday 3rd of February, just after midnight, an IRA time bomb detonated in the luggage compartment of the coach, killing 11 outright and wounding over 30 others, one of whom died in hospital four days later.
Notably absent from the crowd of spectators were the younger generations that have come to be expected at political rallies and demonstrations. This raises the question of how much Gen Z respects and values the military establishment and the sacrifices servicepersons have given for us throughout history.
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One need not look far for examples of Gen Z-ers expressing their opinions regarding conflict around the world. As far back as the Vietnam war, the youth played a significant role in shaping policy and public opinion, through protest and demonstration. Their campaigning eventually led to sweeping reforms: disrupting the military conscription, causing troops to be withdrawn from Vietnam, and causing the voting age in America to be lowered to 18.
Pictures of students marching in support of Palestine or Ukraine are a search engine away, but to find a group of students at a ceremony commemorating past British heroes in the current day is far less common. Why?
The modern-day young generations are as opinionated as in any other phase in recent history, from NATO to nuclear submarines, Ukraine to Palestine, government spending to the likelihood of World War 3, the 18-24 age group has opinions that tend to go against the older generations. But they don’t seem to pay much attention to the current or past military establishment until it’s time to bomb Yemen or send weaponry to Ukraine.
I invite the reader to take part in the poll to better understand our readership’s opinions on the military establishment in the modern day, and more importantly, to leave a comment as to why they believe younger generations are happy to have their voices heard concerning military action, but seem not to commemorate those military personnel who have given sacrifices for them here at home.
What do you think?
- I'm UNDER 30 and I think servicepersons today deserve more respect than they currently receive (11%, 14 Votes)
- I'm UNDER 30 and I think servicepersons today receive adequate respect (10%, 12 Votes)
- I'm UNDER 30 and I think servicepersons today are respected more than they should be (20%, 25 Votes)
- I'm OVER 30 and I think servicepersons today deserve more respect than they currently receive (43%, 53 Votes)
- I'm OVER 30 and I think servicepersons today receive adequate respect (12%, 15 Votes)
- I'm OVER 30 and I think servicepersons today are respected more than they should be (3%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 123