Hero. I for one am sick to death of the wanton misuse of this noun. There are recent usages which are apt, but others that are sadly inappropriate. The Evening Gazette seem to be fixated with one member of the Blackpool Council, naming every former soldier with a gong this mythical legend. Chambers Dictionary explains this noun as a man of distinguished bravery: a person reverenced and idealized.
Perhaps the Gazette should check Major Jim Houldsworth's Royal Marines history of active service? Hero status definitely is not seen therein. That aside, anyone who can disorganise the parade for the people on or near the 11th of November with such ineptitude needs some form of recognition. After all, how difficult must it be to look at a watch and determine that when the big finger is on twelve and the little finger is on eleven, then everything stops for two whole minutes of reflection?
It is rumoured that the Ex Service Liaison Committee have commissioned a showing of Riverdance instead of standards and veterans, along with the Mashona Baptist Choir to chant the Matabele massacre song. For those who do not know, 11th of November is Remembrance Day, a day when a whole nation remembers the 20 million victims of one conflict, and the 40 million plus of a second world conflagration, and the thousands of soldiers who have died, been injured or have served, before, during and since.
It is also Rhodesian Independence Day.
For the record, more Rhodesian than ANY other nationality - in relation to size of populations - rallied to the bugle when Hitler frightened the cowards into their middens.
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