Liverpool FC Forum

Big Niall wrote:Below is a cut and paste from wikidpedia of a former British army major's comments on a time in the 1970s when the British soldiers shot randomly into a crowd. Do you respect these soldiers (use search  on google - blood sunday derry, if you want to read the full story)




The city's coroner, retired British army Major Hubert O'Neill, issued a statement on 21 August 1973, at the completion of the inquest into the people killed.[29] He declared:

“ This Sunday became known as Bloody Sunday and bloody it was. It was quite unnecessary. It strikes me that the Army ran amok that day and shot without thinking what they were doing. They were shooting innocent people. These people may have been taking part in a march that was banned but that does not justify the troops coming in and firing live rounds indiscriminately. I would say without hesitation that it was sheer, unadulterated murder. It was murder.

over a hundred rounds were fired directly into the fleeing crowds by troops under the command of Major Ted Loden. Twelve more were killed[21], many of them as they attempted to aid the fallen. Fourteen others were wounded, twelve by shots from the soldiers and two knocked down by armoured personnel carriers.

Yeah the Bloody Sunday was a disgrace mate and a massive blot on the British Army. The whole Northern Ireland saga is a minefield -the whole of my mums family live there and have had to put up with loads of and my mate was badly hurt back in the late 80s when the RAF Bishops Court was bombed by terrorists. Its a whole shocking saga from start to finish and both side guilty of a lot of stuff - The young soldiers where following orders and the terrorists where following orders. Its the guys at the top that should be held accountable.

Bam wrote:

who ridiculously sing 'God save the Queen'

But John what is wrong with them singing that considering the Celtic supporters sing the Irish national anthem ?

taff wrote:Many British people were conscientious objectors not because they were scared but principled. 

Its a tricky argument as I feel strongly about the silence and respect to soldiers as its peope from streets like we are from who tend to fight and die and a school friend of mine was killed in Ireland although I can confirm he didnt have a clue about politics just wanted a career in the army and we came from a high unemployment area.  But the irish history is littered with atrocities by the Brits and I am amazed that anyone arguing about respecting history doesnt know any of this.

On mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter etc, and if two people from different sides argue it will rarely be resolved.  For the record I am British and Protestant but it doesnt mean I am proud of all British History.  In fact Churchill is hated in South Wales for ordering troops to fire on striking miners, but History will correctly record him as the man who kept the world free.

My argument against Celtic is that it is a club on british Soil and Two minutes once a year is something that should be respected then if they did that I would be happy for them to protest about whatever they wanted. I feel the same about the white poppy,  just one day a year to show respect to the fallen and injured, the vast majority were decent people who found themselves in a hellish situation and surely we as a diverse nation can have this respect within ourselves.  I symapthise with Irish history and in parts I dont either, I also agree with the search for peace but we have to allow time for respect for those that sacrificed and then go back to our various viewpoints.

Just one more thought, I was hugely impressed by the Ireland England rugby international in Croke Park especially th erespect shown to the English anthem, it showed Ireland as a mature country and considering the history there with the shooting it was immensely moving to see the Irish nation respect the country that committed those murders.  Now that is what I call respect and maturity