Poppy Day

This year, as we, the rest of Britain, beyond Cambridge, and British Transport Police, reflect upon armistice day and all those incredibly brave (or even if not brave but frightened - but had no choice than to be there) British Forces personnel who gave their lives in the service of the country, from 1914 until today.

I and millions, are - however - going to have to 'find a way' to explain to their memory, and their surviving families how it is that a majority of members to Cambridge University Student Union's members, and British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan, have ruled against any promotion of the poppy campaign.

Buying a poppy is an act of the recognition of what those servicemen did by not shirking. By being there to defend the British way of life they believed in and wanted for their family.

Not buying a poppy means that this historical fact is somehow not known about or understood by people who are supposed to be among our most educated (students), or most loyal to the Crown and dedicated to the British Public (Police). Or that they DO NOT CARE.

Wearing a poppy is a personal, public, thank you - from the wearer to those that died and their families - through to those who have put their lives on the line by serving in the forces - including those who do so today.

Telling them and their memories and their families, that their sacrifice was and is not in vain. THEY ARE APPRECIATED.

I simply can not imagine what is in the minds of people who vote against doing those two simple things.

Not just not doing it quietly but sending 'a message from Cambridge, and the British Police - around the world's news platforms.

Smugness? Care not a jot for Britain-ness?

1. Why are you here to be educated you, students? Why not be educated somewhere else? If you do not respect Britain (and the British people who fund the Universities and your education).

2. What are you doing in uniform, Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan, if all you can understand about honouring sacrifice comes down to being seen 'equal in the eyes of charities'?. Is this the lack of respect you expect the British population to give to fallen Police officers.

I hope you 'such clever and intellectual' folk/students/police force can give me answers that will help me in my inner conversation with our fallen over the coming days.

This is a very dangerous arena for the Cambridge University Students Union to speak about 'democratic rights' - especially their STUDENTS' democratic rights.

Yes, Cambridge University students have democratic rights - effectively to do and say as they please.

I am proud to acknowledge that. Though I often do not like the outcome. Democracy is the hardest thing for human tribes to achieve and retain - and Britain has known it for longer than any.

Democratic rights were not however handed down by Moses nor dictated by Mohamed. Try discussing democratic rights in China or Saudi etc.

The democratic right those of the Cambridge University Students have exercised were protected or won by the servicemen and women who went into battle.

Battles they did not want or ask for.

It fell to their lot to bring back victory, keeping British values as they have been since Magna Carter.

And that is what they did/do.

885,138 soldiers did not come home from WWI and 382,600 did not come home from WWII.

Hundreds still do not come home from today's conflicts (255 were killed in the Falklands, 456 in Afganistan, in Northern Ireland).

Situations where the same things are at stake.

Very many of those sickening numbers have been students once at Cambridge Universities. Many will be in the future.

Tell us please, you students of such intelligence, what it is we say in our minds to the memories of those fallen?

Die, by all means, if you must - but we shall not be interested in you. We shall not ask future students to signify the traditional mark of respect for you. Because we do not have to. It is our right not to.

So, you are quite able to vote democratically, 'by a huge majority', as you put it, to let your students overlook and bypass the Poppy wearing tradition. Not to remind them of it, or educate those from abroad about it.

But a democracy that is used unwisely, especially by people who are supposed to be intelligent, comes at a price.

The price today, that you have managed to make yourselves (who most would applaud for being at a Cambridge University) reviled by - probably millions here and across the world.

The City of Cambridge will take years to recover.

You have grossly over-measured your own importance and your own thinking. Look at the comments flying around. You are hated inside and outside of Cambridge.

THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND ITS REPLACEMENT

Here is the 1st, and core, Motion

MOTION TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMEMORATION OF BRITISH WAR VETERANS ON REMEMBRANCE DAY ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Here is its replacement voted by 45 to 1

MOTION TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMEMORATION OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY WAR ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

2ND matter:

CUSU Notes:

1) That the general valour, courage and heroism of serving or formerly-serving members of the British armed forces is deserving of our sympathy and recognition.

2) That the immense personal sacrifices undertaken by members of the British armed forces both during and after their period of service are considerable and worthy of appreciation recognition.

3) That the commemoration of British war veterans is an apolitical civic mark of respect.

Replaced by:

CUSU Believes:

1) That the lives and deaths of all those who have been affected by war war globally and throughout history, including but not limited to those of the First and Second World Wars, are deserving of recognition and remembrance.

2) That the commemoration of veterans and casualties of war is a mark of respect for the lives lost and altered by war.

(the "appreciation recognition" and " war war " errors are theirs)