A Land Fit For Heroes, Yet Again

[major_clanger]

In the aftermath of both World Wars, injured veterans sometimes suffered abuse because of their appearance; there was even pressure for them to be 'hidden away'.

Of course, that wouldn't happen today, would it?

Comments

[blue-condition.livejournal.com]

What next, the blue benches to warn people that the person sitting on them might look strange? :(

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

Some of that seems to have been because of the lane closures for a specific group. We get this at the gym, there is an aerobic class in the pool on Sunday lunchtime which takes up all but the adult exercise lanes, and there is often a screaming parent demanding to know why their kid has to get out of the pool for a bunch of fat old women to prance about. It's posted and advertised, but they're there, it's been a pain to get everyone changed and in the pool, and the kid is upset. And these aren't people that have had to pay cash up front to get in.

I agree though, even if you have a complaint, that's not the way to go about things.

[rmc28]

Is it not possible to warn people when buying tickets to go in the pool that "you know it's just lanes and keepfit at 1pm, right?"

The original story is really upsetting. Even if my son was scared by a limbless person (though I rather expect he'd be nosy rather than scared, given his character and ours), I'd use reassurance and some explanation to deal with it rather than have a go at the person. I mean, scared is just temporary but they have to manage without that limb for life.

It sounds more like locals not liking their army neighbours and using any excuse to have a go, which is in turn rather depressing.

[redbird]

There's a big difference between "why didn't you post about the lane closures ahead of time?" [yes, your gym does, in this case they hadn't because they hadn't known] or even "I want a refund since half the pool is closed, and I want you to tell me when I can be sure my kid can get in" and "my kid shouldn't have to look at disabled people." If half the pool was closed off for the local high school swim team to practice, the locals wouldn't be complaining about how their kids shouldn't have to look at teenagers.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That is completely unacceptable. The levels of idiocy and prejudice some people display is beyond my comprehension, sometimes.

[nmg.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think that this sort of attitude was limited to Surrey, but I suspect it's more widespread. Sickening.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

It does seem to be particularly prevalent in upper middle-class areas; Headley Court has has a hard time for quite some while now for 'lowering the tone of the neighbourhood'.

[drpete.livejournal.com]

...and thus perceived to be knocking a few quid off the house prices. Always a contentious issue among the greedy Tarquin and Jocasta classes. Treble their council taxes and build a nice hydrotherapy unit for the soldiers.

[cuddles-batcave.livejournal.com]

Hoo rah!

What's really depressing is their parent & grandparents live and fought through 'The Wars', fighting for freedom, independence and unity. I blame education chiefs for spending less curriculum on some of Britain's formative history, so the yoof and their parents can still appreciate how much they have gained from the sacrifice of our servicemen & women have (and still do) make.