Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD NOT DEMONSTRATE

I am going to upset a few people now, but it has to be said. Young school children should not be used to demonstrate against the war on the streets.

I sat on the first floor of Parliament Street last week and watched hundreds, maybe thousands, of screaming children. And they were children, aged maybe twelve to fourteen. They carried banners urging us not to attack Iraq, begging us to make peace not war and insulting the Prime Minister. One poster said: “Blair and Bush, out, out, out!” How profound.

They were larking about, jumping and joking, grinning and shouting, having a good day out. Some of them were rude to the police who seemed quite bewildered as to how to cope with such a youthful demonstration. What on earth were teachers thinking about, letting their pupils spill onto the streets in this way with their simplistic placards?

But I am even more horrified that a similar adolescent protest took place recently in Plymouth. If ever there was a place where wisdom should have prevailed over enthusiasm, surely it is in our garrison city.

Not just because children as young as twelve do not yet have the experience of life necessary to form judgements on this incredibly complex matter; not just because it can surely serve only to trivialise what is one of the most serious issues of our day; but also because there are thousands of school children in Plymouth whose mums and dads are in the armed services and for whom such crass demonstrations are just another kick in the teeth at a very difficult time.

The early casualties in the war illustrated the massive role this region plays in the front line of our military machine, with the tragic deaths of Plymouth Marines and helicopter pilots from nearby RNAS Culdrose. Most of us are rightly proud of the contribution these brave men and women make to our national and global security.

And most of them have parents, husbands and wives who get left behind when they go to war. And children. And if ever there was a time for us to close ranks and support these courageous families who are living daily on the edge of their nerves it is now.

Such is the valour and dedication of these service families that, however old we are, whatever our views on the politics of all this, they deserve our total and undivided support.

posted by Nigel on Monday, March 31, 2003