14 July 2009

War is hell. This week alone, 15 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan. The biggest loss of life in a single week since the war on terror began.

War takes lives. I accept that. This war, though, is one that no-one's winning. It's another Vietnam, really, but one that the leaders of the "free world" have dragged us all into so that we can lose our sons, fathers and brothers in the name of a cause that we haven't really got much chance of winning.

Is all this loss of life really going to change anything?

It's odd that the theme of this week's strip actually mirrors what's actually going on in the real world. War. Retribution. Destruction.

To the families of those who have given their lives in this war, I pass on my sympathies for their loss.

A small, bitter part of my has to dwell on the media here. Where is the fortnight of almost continual mention of the soldiery who have died in action? Where are the tribute concerts? Where are the hours of screen and news time devoted to the friends and family of those who have been lost?

And if Michael Jackson had died on the front lines, would the world have cared as much?

Since the world neglected to say it, I'll say it here. To my small audience. Take two minutes of silence and remember these people who have died in the last couple of weeks.

Farrah Fawcett - actress, Charlies Angels.
Karl Malden - actor, Streets of San Francisco.
Mollie Sugden - actress and national treasure, Are You Being Served et al
Lucia Lauria Vigna - oldest person in Europe, died aged 113!
Liam Fairhurst - 14 years old at the time of his death on 30th June, Liam raised money and awareness for sufferers of cancer. His work helped set up a holiday home on Yorkshire for young cancer sufferers. Read This.

And, of course, the British servicemen killed this month alone.

Cpl Jonathan Horne
Rifleman Joseph Murphy
Rifleman Daniel Simpson
Rifleman William Aldridge
Rifleman James Backhouse
Corporal Lee Scott
Private John Brackpool
Rifleman Daniel Hume
Trooper Christopher Whiteside
Captain Ben Babington-Browne
Lance Corporal Dane Elson
Private Robert Laws
Lance Corporal David Dennis
Lt Colonel Rupert Thorneloe
Trooper Joshua Hammond

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Comments for this comic

On 14 July 2009 at 09:01:54, Dufflious said:
As an aside; Thanks for the facial hair update, Dave ;)

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On 14 July 2009 at 18:11:12, Don MacDonald said:
Well said. Thank you for saying it! Don

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