Band of Brothers and discarding the troops

I wonder if many politicians had experienced the hell of war would they be so ready to send troops into battle? Band of Brothers is an incredible series, and speaks about lots of issues. Episode 9 is perhaps one of the most harrowing and moving episodes of a TV series I’ve seen for a long time. It explores the effect of war and combat on the people involved, on a very obvious level when ‘Easy’ company discover a concentration camp but on a number of other levels including Nixon’s battle with the bottle. In an early scene a new replacement – O’Keefe – is shocked to see two French troops execute three German prisoners.  Perconte and the others shrug their shoulders and go on with the journey, yet later Perconte tears into O’Keefe for wanting combat when the veterans are tired of  combat, of the fear, the killing, and watching their friends die. I was really struck how violence breaks us inside, in some cases numbing consciences.

I remember protesting at anti-Iraq war marches in Belfast, but gave little thought to the effects of that deployment on those who fought. Yes I’ve lamented the huge loss of civilian life but never really considered the troops worthy of my compassion – they sign up for it after all. Watching Band of Brothers – although a different context – has made me realise that my commitment to non-violence must include a commitment to all the victims of violence – including the troops who serve in war zones. Watching the emotional and mental brokenness – especially in episode 7 when Buck Compton just can’t take any more of watching his friends get killed – made me realise just how much care and support soldiers need in the challenge to reintegrate back into ‘civilian’ life. In the UK alone it is estimated that 20,000 former soldiers in the justice system. Maybe those of us who campaign against war also need to campaign that those who carry out those wars on behalf of the politicians in comfortable offices aren’t discarded when they return.

This also means the church needs to be a place of healing for all who are broken as a result of violence, something the Crossfire trust has been trying to do for all ‘sides’ in the troubles in NI.

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The return of the egos – the Apprentice is back!

Wednesday nights are now being cleared in my calendar (or at least the time to catch up on iplayer) with the new series of the Apprentice. It’s one of the few programmes I watch on TV. I love watching and analysing how people relate to and treat each other, how they work in teams. It never ceases to amaze me how despite the fact that the aim of each programme is to win the task, so many are so self-obsessed that they would rather spend time and energy bickering, proving they are the best, bad mouthing colleagues or deliberately not trying to get others fired. I know after watching their performances I wouldn’t want to employ many of them. They claim to be leaders, to be skilled managers, yet they fail to be able to do some of the simplest tasks working in teams because their egos get in the way. Integrity is certainly not a word you often associate with many of the candidates. Servant leadership is also alien (despite not just being a biblical concept but also accepted in the leadership world). I really don’t like Philip – yes he may be a ‘grafter’ but did he say one positive thing in last night’s programme? Constantly sniping and trying to undermine his team leader. Last night in homegroup we were thinking about Philippians 3 and how Paul’s definition of maturity is someone who knows they haven’t yet arrived, who knows there is more to learn. For us that was a liberating discovery, when we realise maturity isn’t about thinking we are sorted or when we know it all, we can stop pretending, we can stop being defensive and can be free to be the people God created us to be. That sort of person to me is so much more attractive than the arrogance and over-confidence we see displayed on the Apprentice. I’m not a fan of Debra either – the ice queen, who again seems too quick to pull others down.  I wonder how employable going for broke to win the Apprentice really makes you? All that aggression may be good in the short term, but longer term an ability to relate and treat colleagues well does tend to be helpful…

Flora – are you really that desperate?

I rediscovered TV a couple of nights ago after a bit of a hiatus – or more accurately found two programmes in a row I actually wanted to watch. One was the incredible yet harrowing Magdalene Sisters – a frightening insight into some of the widespread abuse by the Catholic church. There’s a lot I could write, but that’s for another time.  On a lighter note I actually watched some of the ads. The flora one caught my attention partly as it was so bad. Gary Rhodes on tour taste testing Flora Buttery against something by Lurpack. Apprently most people prefer Flora. That is until you read the small print at the end. 200 people surveryed. 48% (96) preferred Flora to 45% (90) who preferred the other ‘leading brand’, with another 7% (14) who had no preference. That’s hardly conclusive – if I was trying to prove something there’s no way statistics like that would stand up. Firstly I can’t believe Flora think the viewing public are so stupid as to not notice these results prove nothing, and secondly that they are so desperate that they felt they had to use them in the first place!

Big Brother does it again..

I hadn’t realised we had another series on big brother until a few days after it started, and especially the last few days. As big brother becomes embroiled in another ‘racism row’ i have to admit to a large degree of cynicism. After the whole shilpa debacle is this simply big brother trying to redeem itself? I thought it was an experiment in social observation, although it appears to be becoming more like its orwellian inspiration and turning into social control. Obviously racism is wrong but this whole thing appears to be making a massive deal out of one comment. To throw someone out instead of warning them or talking to them about their behaviour and use of language is massively over-reacting. Apparently they weren’t concerned with her motives but in the offence caused to the viewing public. Rubbish. If they really cared about offending the viewing public they wouldn’t show half of what they do, and they certainly wouldn’t have let the ‘white bint’ comment made by another contestant go unchallenged. Big Brother stinks of hypocrisy and a crass attempt to raise the ratings which i certainly won’t be contributing to…