What The Daily Mirror Did In The War
WHAT did you do in the war, daddy?
“Well, son,” says the Mirror hack, dandling the child on his knee, “I worked on a paper that had a WMD counter.”
The child looks disappointed. “We got all the way to number one hundred and something.”
Boy: And then what?
Hack: Well, we reached the biggest number in the whole wide world and had to stop counting.
The boy is now wide eyed. He craves more. The hack digs deep.
Hack: We broadcast pictures of Our Boys pissing on an Iraqi, but not really.
Boy: Pissing?
Hack: Widdling, But not really.
And…?
The hack undoes the buttons on his shirt and reveals a medal, on which is scribed “HONOUR THE BRAVE – Daily Mirror.”
He pulls out today’s paper, now yellowed with age. “WE WILL HONOUR THE BRAVE,” says the front-page headline. “Troops killed in action WILL be honoured with a new heroes’ award.”
It is a “Victory for the Daily Mirror medals campaign”.
Boy: But, why is it made of plastic?
Hack: Well, son, at the time there was a commodities crisis and gold was more expensive than cocaine…”
Posted: 10th, June 2008 | In: Tabloids, War On Terror Comments (8) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:07 am
7
AgendaWide Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I don’t think the medals mean to the Gurkhas.
fair point, the way the Gurkhas have been treated is appalling.
however, I was just referring to the medal/recognition of sacrifice issue, which is now finally being addressed; the other (very valid) points you mention still obviously have to be sorted out.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
3. M and A
thanks
4 Dairy says
’surely the most important thing is the recognition….?’
By the Daily Mirror
but yes, recognition is great.
But I’m not sure how much a medal is worth by comparison with
-good income (Salary at age 18: £16,227 -cheap for a life?),
good accommodation for themselves and families,
and the best compensation and care when injured (the new armed forces compensation scheme has left soldiers who have received horrific injuries upset at their compensation payouts).
I don’t think the medals mean to the Gurkhas.
See bbc website
‘ Gurkha veteran Indra Gurung handed in his medals in protest
Hundreds of retired Gurkhas have demonstrated in Westminster to demand the right to remain in the UK and pension equality with British soldiers. Fifty of the Nepalese soldiers have handed back their Long Service and Good Conduct medals in protest’.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
3. M and A
thanks
4 Dairy says
’surely the most important thing is the recognition….?’
By the Daily Mirror
but yes, recognition is great.
But I’m not sure how much a medal is worth by comparison with
-good income (Salary at age 18: £16,227 -cheap for a life?),
good accommodation for themselves and families,
and the best compensation and care when injured (the new armed forces compensation scheme has left soldiers who have received horrific injuries upset at their compensation payouts).
I don’t think the medals mean to the Gurkhas.
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7300521.stm
‘ Gurkha veteran Indra Gurung handed in his medals in protest
Hundreds of retired Gurkhas have demonstrated in Westminster to demand the right to remain in the UK and pension equality with British soldiers. Fifty of the Nepalese soldiers have handed back their Long Service and Good Conduct medals in protest’.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Recognition and money.
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/index.html?gclid=CLq2leOV6pMCFQyN1QodWnduVg
June 10th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I believe a silver cross or something similar is being talked about, not a plastic medal - I don’t think even the government would insult them with that.
does it really matter how it has been achieved (via media or whatever) - surely the most important thing is the recognition….?
June 10th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
2 M & A
could I request a correction please ?
‘may help’ not ‘make help’
M and A
done
June 10th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
A plastic medal in exchange for a brave soldier’s story holds a mirror to a paper’s cost-cutting effort’s to keep the paper’s price cheap enough for cash-strapped market.
Sorry, but the soldiers deserve at least the very best quality gold imo, but publicity Mirrored to the government may help
June 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am
..and about time too…