"Are there any regiments that are more… effeminate than others?… What I really wanted was a regiment where I can be really quiet and have more time to myself to work with fabrics and creating new concepts in interior design."
So speaks Eric Idle, trying to get recruited into the army in this old Monty Python clip:
I've just been watching a Panorama report on the amount of British soldiers going AWOL. I sometimes wonder if the whole concept of the army, in this litigious day and age, is not completely anachronistic. The Panorama programme was focusing on how issues of mental health in soldiers (post-traumatic stress disorder, mainly) are ignored or not taken seriously. I've seen this kind of report before. There is a fundamental contradiction here. On the one hand the army absolutely requires killing machines. On the other, in this day and age, they have to be seen to care about their 'employees'. And yet, none of the reports I have seen address this fundamental question – how is a job in which people are required to kill other people even tenable? It seems that it is impossible to acknowledge that the values of army life are simply not what are publicly touted as modern values. And yet, truly to take on those values would surely mean the end of the army.
“They train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won’t allow them to write ‘fuck’ on their airplanes because it’s obscene!”– Colonel Kurtz, Apocalypse NowIt’s one of society’s strange hypocrisies, isn’t it?
I think so, yes. a fundamental one. And this is why ‘insanity’ for instance, must be viewed as a social construct, a matter of definition by those who have the power to define. Psychiatrists tend to pick on those who can’t defend themselves and define that as insanity – it’s a surefire winner.
It’s a never-ending dichotomy.We can hang other descriptive names on this institution. We could, for example, call them the BDF “British Defence Force’ (the Israeli’s use the last two words to describe their military and it looks a more ‘passive’ (no pun intended) way of describing what is, per se, a fighting force.To get back to your point; if the present structure and existence of the armed forces in UK were somehow abolished (bear with me, this is, after all a fantasy thought) what would be required in their place?Looking at this question – from a purely philosophical stance – allows us to, debate and assert… but in realistic terms we must also be prepared to provide realistic answers/solutions to the consequences of our “What if..?” scenarios.What if.. we convinced ourselves that armed forces, per se, are odious and we could have no truck with any structure or organised military entity?What if… we had no ‘BDF’ of any sort?Would we then call upon a rag tag and bobtail ‘people’s militia’ of volunteers, much as did the american settlers in their response to ‘British Tyranny’?The deeper, broader, questions that you raise are, I suggest, more to do with the military actions of our establishment.I will allow that the army, navy and airforce are all professional and are not in the same category as the ‘drafted’ personnel who were ‘called up’ back in the days of ‘National Service’.But even so, they are all subject to political control and political ‘whim’ – if that is not too harsh a term – and they do what they are told and get paid for the job they willingly applied for at the outset.Your understandable ‘wrath’ is against politicians and in that context I am with you shoulder-to-shoulder….but the answers/solutions to all of the “What if..” questions has still to be addressed even if we were only debating on a philosophical level (and I infer that you are not doing this).
I don’t know if I wrote what I did out of a feeling of wrath, really. It was simple observation. At the heart of ‘civilisation’, there is violence, but people seem unable to acknowledge this. I think that’s basically what I was saying. I don’t actually like violence, and I think for the most part it’s highly ‘rationalised’ in order to justify insanity. If I as an individual were physically attacked, well, if I could I would probably run away. If not I would defend myself and probably wouldn’t have any qualms about doing serious damage to the attacker. However, I still might get into trouble with the law about that. In any dispute, we are told again and again as we grow up, we must never resort to violence. How are we to believe this when our leaders resort to violence at the drop of a hat? Commit violence on a small scale and you’re a criminal, commit it on a vast scale, or because someone else told you to, and no one can do a thing, it seems. Please excuse me if I refuse to respect people on this account.I’m actually quite interested in this question of violence at the moment. In the recent programmes commemorating two hundred years since the abolition of slavery, someone pointed out (I’m not sure how far this is merely interpretation) that the peaceful campaigners didn’t acheive a thing. It was violent revolution in Haiti that really made the difference. It’s something of a cliche that violence doesn’t acheive anything (you almost expect that old shyster Blair to trot out this line when he encounters a couple of yobs fighting, and slaps them with an ASBO), but apparently in this case it really did. I find that disturbing and interesting, though it may simply be another interpretation imposed on events by those who would like to use violence more. If we say that it is true, however, it certainly gives a better case to terrorists, animal rights extremists and so on, who can simply say, “Well, that’s the way it’s always been. People don’t listen to reason. Violence is the only language they understand.”This also links with the ‘debate’ about climate change in the sense that humans tend to speak and act as if there’s always some rational course of action or rational solution to everything, but maybe there just isn’t. I am reminded of the song Saviour Machine.I’d like to end by saying that, I am also quite fascinated by what Gandhi did – his passive resistance. I’ve heard people say that it wouldn’t have worked, for instance, in Nazi Germany. It’s certainly difficult to insist that people take such a stance. However, if we’re talking about being moral, then this is surely the correct path to take. The main problem with it is that it’s a path that takes IMMENSE BALLS – far more so than the path of violence. I don’t think the human race has that much courage and moral vision, for the most part. Well, perhaps I’ll add a link to a little poem here, too, by e.e. cummings:http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15408Also, my computer’s just crashed, folks (I’m using someone else’s at this moment), and I’m up against a deadline and my head is spinning – so please be patient if you’re waiting to hear from me. Thank you.
I have two minds about this, honestly. It’s ridiculous to expect a soldier, sailor, etc. should behave like an accountant at her job, when that job ultimately is to kill people and break things. You don’t just go home and have dinner and watch t.v. when the work day’s done. The reality and ugliness of war are such that, if one actually thinks about it long enough, it would drive anyone a bit squirrelly–I’m thinking of Vonnegut here with Slaughterhouse Five. I agree with your comment that violence is often ‘highly ‘rationalised’ to justify insanity’. On the other hand, I don’t think demilitarisation or strictly peaceful resistance is the answer, either, nor ever will be. Ghandi was able to achieve what he did then because–I think–of when he did it; I don’t know if he could do the same today, in such a world.It is schizophrenic, perhaps, to say so, but I believe we need BOTH the peaceful reisisters AND the bloody-minded. I would be alarmed (even moreso) should we completely lose either. We need the former to keep us human and the latter to protect us from ourselves.And I’m fully aware that doesn’t make sense.Oh, and I love the new profile pic, Quentin :yes:
Hi Quenton,As an ex-military man, I can tell you that no matter the degree of your patriotism, or the need for warriors in the field, you always know deep inside that war is simply organized murder, even if you engage in it to protect yourself and your loved ones…. 🙁
They train people to be cogs in a killing machine but just cast them aside when they come to the end of their terms,at the end of WW2 there were millions of ex squaddies and they had each other to turn to,now the soldiers are isolated and in an environment that is alien to them.Its just another of the likes of Bush and Blair not giving a toss for the misery they inflict in their lust for glory.
Hello everyone. Thanks for the comments. Will respond soon. Still up against that deadline. Sorry.
“As an ex-military man, I can tell you that no matter the degree of your patriotism, or the need for warriors in the field, you always know deep inside that war is simply organized murder, even if you engage in it to protect yourself and your loved ones….”Hello Ravo. I imagined this was probably the case. In other words, my original intention was just to try and point out the naked insanity of it all, before the rationalisations of whys and wherefores kicks in. The rationalisations seem never-edning, and the revelation that this is plain madness seems to be given very little time at all. If everyone could have the revelation simultaneously (multi-laterally, you might say), that would be great.”It is schizophrenic, perhaps, to say so, but I believe we need BOTH the peaceful reisisters AND the bloody-minded.”Well, perhaps that is something like what I meant when I wondered whether there really is a rational solution to anything. After the Japanese military were reduced to a self-defense force by article nine of the constitution as written by the post-war occupying American forces, Mishima expressed the opinion that Japanese culture needs, as he put it, both the sword and the chrysanthemum:On the one hand, violence simply seems to be an irrepressible part of life, but on the other hand, I feel that such rhetoric only works well in theory. The reality tends to be, I fear, what Ravo has described as “organized murder”. Obviously, I don’t have the answer to this one right at this moment, and nor did Kurt Vonnegut, apparently, who wrote the anti-war novel Slaughterhouse Five in which he yet maintained that war would never end. I would like to be a little more optimistic than that. Do we need war, in some strange sense, as an antidote to mass-boredom, or does war itself make life boring? I realise that might sound like a strange question, but so very often people do make abstract philosophical statements to the effect that we need the bad things in life to make things interesting. Violence, after all, is a staple of entertainment. However, I find myself less and less interested in (more and more bored by) violence in entertainment. In the words of Bowie: “But the film is a saddening bore/Cause I wrote it ten times or more… They ask her to focus on sailors fighting in the dance hall” etc.I wonder if we can wean ourselves off the idea of ‘action’ as entertainment, and move more into ambience, mood and so on, we can actually see violence as unnecessary.”Its just another of the likes of Bush and Blair not giving a toss for the misery they inflict in their lust for glory.”I am mystified that they are apparently not tortured by guilt, and that they have managed to get away with it all.”Oh, and I love the new profile pic, Quentin”Thank you. I’m sad to say goodbye to Nagai Kafu, my old avatar, though. I was enjoying being Kafu.
Yes the new profile pic is cool! :yes: I did the same sort of thing of course, but with me it was a pic of the Aphex Twin with just a little retouching done by myself. For some reason many more people have added me as their friend since I started using a pic of myself. I’m guessing people can produce a better mental image of a person when they have some sort of realistic visual representation of them.My blog was originally going to be anonymous, hence the Aphex Twin avatar, I’m guessing that perhaps you had the same intention? I haven’t read all of your 243 posts so please excuse me if you’ve mentioned this before! :lol:I found it incredibly difficult to share my feelings with the world, let alone share photographs of my ugly mug on the INTERNET of all places! :yikes:Open to ridicule and open to hate and I was pretty much expecting it! Luckily this is probably one of the nicest community sites around, but I was rather disappointed when I read your post about anonymous commenters making an ignorant and hateful mess on your fascinating blóg. Up to that point everyone seemed to be friendly and caring. My past anonymity was some sort of emotional barrier against this. Fortunately I’ve been luckier with people here, anas_demons88 like yourself has had some nasty experiences with some folks. I’m rather worried about her, she’s not emotionally well and people have been really disrespectful to her. She hasn’t posted in a fair while 🙁 Sent her a message, but no response. I hope she’s all right, I dunno why I care, it’s just my nature I guess.I suppose one doesn’t really know who’s going to end up reading this stuff. I hope no one who knows me regularly visits my page to kind of spy on me! EEEKKK!!! :worried:
Hello Aidan.I thought, first of all, that your Aphex Twin picture was you. So I had rather a different image of you as a kind of malevolent – in a nice way – trickster, which is what that image seems to evoke. It wasn’t actually my intention at any point for this blog to be anonymous. I think I put up the Nagai Kafu image first for a number of reasons, not least of all the fact I didn’t have a suitable picture of myself on the computer at the time. Also, I wanted to be Nagai Kafu. I don’t really know why I do keep a blog, though. It’s really the last thing someone like me should do, since I tend to regret it every single time in my entire life that I open my mouth. Keeping a blog is just about the best way to torture myself that I could devise. I think I originally intended to post here quietly quirky and interesting things. Instead of which I’ve ended up posting lots of rants, attempting to set the world to rights, and seem to be making many self-defeating essays at enlightening myself and others. It’s quite embarrassing, really. Somebody stop me!!!….. as they say.I don’t mind people leaving negative comments here, as long as it’s an even playing field, so to speak, which it definitely isn’t when such comments are anonymous. Even with negative comments, if the person is not anonymous, I will, quite naturally treat them as a human being. If they are anonymous, it’s very hard for me to think of them as human, and to treat them as such.
If you don’t treat them as human, then what do you treat them as? Imps, gelfs, lepoards, llamas, diseased cacati plants or none of the above and to the side? :left: :right:I’m both disturbed and pleased that you thought I was Aphex. Surely I’m not that odd… :worried:… well perhaps I am. :rolleyes:
Strangely, I just assumed that Aidan was somebody who looked exactly like Aphex Twin — that’s my logic for you. I signed up with Opera just to comment on your (Quentin’s) ‘blog, then decided to use it to get back into the habit of writing. I’m still not entirely sure what ‘blogs are for.It seems antithetical for me to keep a ‘blog too, because in “real life” I am laconic almost to the point of being mute. I constantly worry about how my written persona is interpreted.
That’s funny, because the reason I started up with Opera is pretty much the same one–I found Quentin’s blog and wanted to comment on it. Opera still has some of the most interesting places to visit out in the blogosphere, and I thought it would also provide me with the opportunity to practice writing again.I’ve seen you as intelligent, informed, and engaging, lesold. And Aidan scared the hell out of me with his original picture 😮 I have no idea who the Aphex Twin is. I much prefer his real persona.I am downcast to think that all this time I had no idea that picture was Nagai Kafu, Quentin (and must admit I’m not familiar with that name). Pardon my inanity, but the photo bore (I thought) a striking resemblance to Stan Laurel…whimsical and wistful at the same time.Enough hijacking of topic…
With most people I’m pretty much like you Lawrence. A man of few words, but I’ve always had a lot to say. I’m not fearful of my own thoughts, I’m just fearful of others (a major contradiction of course!). A paranoid intellectual complex, hmmmmmmmmm…I do talk quite a bit with people who I trust though. I just need to cross a barrier and then I’m one of the ‘normals’ again. Otherwise people just see me as an arrogant, giggly moron! Which I am, so they’re quite right, but there’s more to me than that!… I think… uhhhhhh… probably?Well okay I’m not really arrogant, it’s just some people get that vibe off me. I’ve been told by three people on three different occasions, that it’s due to my very good posture! LOL! Which apparently purveys proudness and strength! Both of which lack!!! I don’t hide my inadequacy at all, so I find some people’s attitudes towards me troubling. Most people think I’m a ‘nice guy’ however, who’s easy to get on with and acts like a reliable pencil dispenser, grrrrrr…First impressions are a killer! I’ve talked to many people about this subject and most of them believe in it. I find the idea of shaping a permanent view about a person by a first meeting as absurd, ludicrous! It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever! I see it as totally illogical, but they accuse of the same thing. Perhaps I bother to understand people, rather than place judgement on them, like some kind of god.If I kept to my first impressions of you Quentin, then I would never have messaged you, or had some nice rambling comments with you on Opera.If you really want to know how disastrously wrong my presumptions/first impressions of you were, but only through reading your blog/about page, then read the following, but if you don’t, close your eyes and press the alt AND F4 buttons on your keyboard simultaneously! Well if you’re using a IBM & Compatible PC anyway! :Dstuck upself righteousjust a tad classistdownright evil (joking!)pompousemotionally flat (opposed to my sine wave of melodrama)anda bit of a dickSee all of these impressions changed dramatically in the opposite direction, but if I took my first impressions seriously I’d have never bothered contacting you! *hits forehead in bemusement*I dare not ask people’s complete list of their first impressions of me! :worried:I am a bit of a trickster, yes, I must agree! 😀
“If you don’t treat them as human, then what do you treat them as? Imps, gelfs, lepoards, llamas, diseased cacati plants or none of the above and to the side?”Mainly Llamas, I suppose. “I constantly worry about how my written persona is interpreted.”So do I. I think it would be most healthy of me not to care, since if someone doesn’t like me there’s clearly no point whatsoever in trying to persuade them to. I suppose I am most worried that those who currently like me or think that they do, will discover that they don’t like me, after all. “I have no idea who the Aphex Twin is.”Aphex Twin:”I am downcast to think that all this time I had no idea that picture was Nagai Kafu, Quentin (and must admit I’m not familiar with that name).”He’s one of my favourite writers. I’ve mentioned him occasionally:http://my.opera.com/quentinscrisp/blog/the-nagai-kafu-way-of-lifehttp://my.opera.com/quentinscrisp/blog/show.dml/5867“stuck upself righteousjust a tad classistdownright evil (joking!)pompousemotionally flat (opposed to my sine wave of melodrama)anda bit of a dick”That’ll make a great epitaph.First impressions is an interesting topic, but it’s far too late for me to do it justice at the moment. Suffice it to say, I suspect they are over-rated, yet also wonder if there’s not some kind of mystical truth lurking in the whole first impressions thing waiting to leap out and bite me in some way.
Aye it would make a great epitaph, I love Spike’s, but I prefer to be original! 😀
I’ve just watched the Channel 4 drama, The Mark of Cain. I found it very powerful. I hope that it helps open up the army to more scrutiny.Another link:http://www.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/04/so_long_longford_the_mark_of_cain_is_back.php