The conscientious objector
Posted on
January 11, 2014 by
Chris Cairns
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How very apt. How telling… excellent!
Has there been a comparable display of blatant cowardice from a British Prime Minister before? I suppose if they beat us in the referendum they can just erase it from history as Gove wants to do regarding British motivation and stupidity in ww1.
Excellent. Should have put Captain Darling next to him?
A Bullingdon Braveheart?
Sorry I don’t like the title at all. Conscientious objectors were people of integrity who stood up for what they thought was right.
The militaristic figure in the cartoon is scared He is in effect a coward and should be named as such, so please change the title to “the coward”
Just the tonic for the WoS troops on a cold January morning. Well done, Chris!
Have to agree with Edward above. Poor choice of title, perhaps consider changing it to something else. May I suggest ” Lack of Moral Fibre”, that was a term used for those who were unwilling to go into battle.(Usually due to battle shock or PTSD in new money)
Cameron won’t have PTSD until after he debates with the FM.
Erm, gents, I’m fairly certain his use of the phrase is supposed to be sarcastic.
“unconcientious” maybe?
Cameron is typical of the generals of WW1, staying safely, way back behind the front line as his officers are picked off one by one by the YES campaigners.
The way I read the title was that Cameron would like to present himself as a conscientious objector on this issue, rather than acting in his own self interest. Although parallel arguments about motivation were used against actual conscientious objectors, so I can see why people may feel a bit sensitive about it, I don’t see this cartoon/article as reflecting on people who genuinely acted through conscience. It’s obvious who the target is.
“The way I read the title was that Cameron would like to present himself as a conscientious objector on this issue”
Precisely. Cameron is CLAIMING to be staying out of the debate as an act of conscience, ie he’s not Scottish and doesn’t have a vote so he shouldn’t take part. But conscientious objectors didn’t join the army. Cameron is depicted in uniform. He IS taking part, he’s ordering other people to go and do his dirty work, but he won’t step into the firing line himself. In other word, he’s a fraud and a liar. That’s what the title’s about.
Yes , the Generals used the young men as fodder in WW1 most not fighting themselves . One could call the Generals cowards and one couldn’t possibly say that one was calling David Cameron a coward too ! Conscientious Objectors had to be very brave and lots actually died in the war .
O/t Brown is now giving a speech in Fife about offering The Scottish people more powers ! He had a decade as chancellor and Prime Minister to give us more powers ! Actually he denied the power of accessing air duty tax although it was recommended . He makes me so angry !
Whenever Camerons around this subject, there is always a sense of chickens clucking .. don’t you think ??
Fearty ??
Title aside (I’m sure no offence was intended) the point is Cameron
is unwilling to debate our FM. He wants to pull the strings from the
sidelines whilst being afraid to put his balls on the line.
This could be for a variety of reasons; he thinks AS will win a debate,
he believes the Tories are so toxic in Scotland many DKs (or indeed Nos)
will immediately become YES voters, or that he will fracture some of the
media support.
Either way, he ‘wants his cake and eat it’ – a cowardly position where
he wants influence but for whatever reason is afraid to stand up for
what he believes in. Another instance of hoodwinking voters.
By the way, check out the name of the image file. That’s funny too.
I think their trying to suggest, like a general he likes the high office, but wont get his hands dirty (no mud on the boots!) – lalso suggesting that this is the last thing that leaders who ‘blaw hard’ like this tin-pot general would hate to be called.
There is something very deluded and distinctly odd happening in Westminster; it has more to do with bluff than myopic ignorance and I can’t help feeling that as the actuality spills out from the pages of the serialised book ‘The Claim of Scotland’ by HJ Paton ( a now recognised hero for Scotland), everytime they demand a’real debate’, we instinctively know that’s the very last thing they want exposed to.
The BBC and all newspapers are lined-up in regimented order to obey the dictum of somebody protecting the UK position – that is some feat of organisation and the thought and planning that has made this happen has to come from the very top of the tree. Why do we have battle-hardened journalists sitting on their hands as lie after lie, fudge after fudge comes from these, the crassest of UK politicians and not a single question is being put to them?
David Cameron is within a whisker of losing the UK’s resource rich entity that is Scotland, yet not a whisper is coming from the conservative press demanding action. In Scotland we are seeing the direst ever Labour, Tory and Libdem performances yet not an ounce of serious condemnation is sticking. The farce of naming JL as ‘Debator of the Year’ sums it up.
If there is a game of bluff going on – it’s a very serious situation and bodes ill for everything coming down that single track line, so call it for what it is – a massive con-trick and tread vary warily indeed.
“But whatever each of us takes from these acts of remembrance and hours of debate it is always worth remembering that the freedom to draw our own conclusions about this conflict is a direct consequence of the bravery of men and women who fought for, and believed in, Britain’s special tradition of liberty.” – Michael Gove, 2nd January 2014.
Eh?
Only 58% of the adult male population was eligible to vote by 1918. In the same year, the Representation of the People Act was passed which allowed only women over the age of 30 who then met a property qualification, to vote. And it took until 1928 until they had equal voting rights with men, 20 years AFTER the end of WWI.
So if liberty includes the concept of using your vote to elect those in charge of passing laws which affect you, then Britain did not have a tradition of liberty before WW1.
And I won’t waste my time here dissecting the Divine Right of English Kings which was the reason to have a 9 year Civil War in England, the dissolution of Parliament & the murder of thousands of people all across the British Isles.
Gove is nothing more than a right wing, jingoistic, gob shite.
My thoughts were that CO actually had a great deal of “moral fibre” as they faced ridicule, or imprisonment. Many served on the front line as stretcher bearers and died there, refusing to bear arms. I’m well aware it is aimed at Cameron, so i’m not being too precious about it.
Whenever I see those images of WW1 leaders, in the rear with the gear, I am minded of this poem by Siegfried Sasson:
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath,I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,And speed glum heroes up the line to death.You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,Reading the Roll of Honour. ‘Poor young chap,’I’d say—‘I used to know his father well.Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.’And when the war is done and youth stone dead,I’d toddle safely home and die — in bed.
I’m into military history and while the Grove line about the First World War is a load of rubbish so is the kind of stuff which is being produced here. It is not true to say that the generals sent the men off to war. 78 Brigadiers or above were killed and at least 187 were wounded – Bloody Red Tabs by Frank Davies and Grahan Maddocks, ISBN 0 85052 463 6.
However this is little to do with the act of cowardice of Cameron in refusing to support the Union in debate with Cameron. In any case if it is going to be head of campaign debating it should be Dennis Canavan vs Darling. That I’d like to see as it would be integrity vs a rogue.
Heh. Belter, Chris.
Cameron is ideal for the role of General Hogmanay Melchett, sitting on the sidelines with the fat wheezy boys helping Matron to hand out the half time oranges.
Good one Chris. No cuddly Hamish, more than a touch of Gilray. It should hurt and I hope it does.
Cameron IS a coward in the first world war he would have been shot for cowardice. He KNOWS his lack of knowledge of Scotland would lead to him being shown up for what he is, but you could say that for 90% of Westminster MP’s -quote Davidson ” they want to celebrate the deaths of hundreds of thousands of English people ”
Never to question of course what these actual THOUSANDS of English troops were in Scotland to do, which was to defeat us and murder us! They came here, we did not go there. The ignorance astounds me.
One other point, I like many Scots are furious about the celebration of the START of World War one. It is a shocking political ploy to try and make us feel more British. However, I think most of us will see straight through this and see it for what it is. After all Scots suffered more fatalities than the English by far, in proportional term. We have nothing to celebrate in regards to the start of the war, rather we might the END of it. It is indeed shameful and an insult to our dead and their bereaved ones. The English can speak for themselves, but I am disgusted to the core.
Perhaps we should have a campaign to send Cameron a white feather every day until the referendum.
Re Gordon Brown’s intervention, I’m 62 and have been following the debate on Scottish government for at least 45 years. Based on my experience of Westminster, Whitehall and the Labour Party over that period, as well as the evidence of those even older than me (for example see H J Paton’s 1968 book ‘The Claim of Scotland’, which the Rev has been promoting), I’ll predict a possible future.
Immediately prior to the referendum, Labour produce a set of proposals for enhanced devolution. No wins narrowly. Labour goes into the 2015 elections offering a Royal Commission to examine their proposals. Then, either Labour fail to win power, in which case the proposals are never heard of again, or Labour win power and after a decent period in which to establish terms of reference, find a chairman, etc. the commission begins its sittings. Just before the next election, the commission reports.
Then, either the Tories win in which case the proposals are never heard of again or Labour win and they proceed to draft a bill. By the time the bill is drafted the proposals of the Royal Commission have been watered down after protests from Whitehall. During consideration of the bill, a Labour back bench revolt removes all tax raising powers from the proposals. In 2025 the bill passes into law and the Scottish Parliament gains powers over the control of air guns.
At the election that year, the Tories win and then repeal the act which they say was totally unnecessary and a waste of parliamentary time. At the subsequent Scottish elections the SNP win a second landslide and introduce an independence referendum bill.
You have been warned.
Always reminds me of the line from Blackadder, “We’re right behind you, lads, about thirty miles behind you”.
@ G H Graham
I agree, but husbands could vote on behalf of their spouse, up until 1948. We have only enjoyed the privilege of universal suffrage for 66 years (my parents are older than that). Hardly the blink of an eye in the history of these isles and certainly not the mythical history touted by the likes of Gove, who is a dangerous and poisonous individual, IMO.
Yet, with the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill about to add to the raft of anti-democratic policy that has come from Whitehall over the last 30 odd years, it looks as if our public space and discourse, along with our potential to influence public policy, is being withdrawn from us as we watch.
Is the opportunity to select which of the Westminster political tag-team holds the purse strings, really deserving of a democracy kite-mark?
Trying not to nitpick Rev, but CO were in the army and refused orders, and were imprisoned and others served as stretcher bearers. But accept the thrust of the cartoon but the CO had more integrity than DC, thats all.
“Trying not to nitpick Rev, but CO were in the army and refused orders”
No. That definition is very recent.
link to en.wikipedia.org
When in the first gulf war the Commanding officer of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards said in a speech at chrismas to the troops we will make this (we were standing in the middle of a desert) our little piece of England. Which in return i said i thought this was the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards,i got a few laughs and a few growls but nobody gave me into trouble. Still the best calvary regement in Europe still the worst lead.
More excellent satire from Chris.
Now when is someone going to do something about the lack of satire in Scottish politics? It’s really troubling our unionist friends.
O/T – Yes Aberdeen meeting tomorrow:
Yes Aberdeen Volunteers
Ciaran McRae 9:10pm Jan 10
Hello everyone,
Just a note to say we have a venue confirmed for a volunteers meeting with thanks to Alexander.
We have Goals booked next Sunday from 2.30pm
Inverdee Playing Fields
Great Southern Road
Aberdeen
AB12 5XA
I would like to see as many faces as possible to this mini event as this will be the launch of volunteers activities and a motivational for the start of the year.
I’ll be there!
I would be very careful of all laws that may be brought in PRIOR to the referendum. At any rate those which effect Scotland in any way. They work in the most underhand way, so we need to scrutinize absolutely everything and by every angle. They are so devious, they can never be trusted, so no matter how good or bad something is, beware of everything they say or introduce. They will always work against us, as history has proved.
O/T BBC Radio Scotland GMS this morning.
The shear hypocrisy of Lib/Dem MP Mingin Campbell talking about parliamentary democracy. He is in discussion with a UKIP rep regarding the UK in Europe.
Debate starts approx 1.09 mins in:-
link to bbc.co.uk
@Rev Stu,
Cameron is CLAIMING to be staying out of the debate as an act of conscience,
So maybe the title of this post should be; ‘The Conscientious Coward’?
These young men didn’t go to war they went on a four year holiday. Gov can come out with the rubbish he has as there is no one from that time alive to contradict him. While the memories of that poor generation should never be forgotten it isn’t a cause for celebration but should be one of national disgust that so many were slaughtered and for what “a land fit for hero’s” As soon as it was over the so called elite went back to business as usual men went back to the terrible working conditions that they had endured before the war and the women who had done the work while the men were away were soon put back into there servile roles. I for one am disgusted that this solemn year of remembrance is being hi-jacked by the unionists to usurp the referendum in some Union jack waving way it wasn’t as if the men had a choice to go. I think what is galling idiots like Gov is that Blackadder was a bit to close to the truth if the men were treated so well the way he portrays how was there so many mutiny’s over there conditions or is that a myth as well.
Andrew Morton, I don’t agree about the feather but I think you are spot on with the rest of your post.
In looking to the future, it would be interesting to see how historians depict The Labour Party post 1945, not Oxford historians of course-lol
Rev, did you not have a story on the WW1 Front news paper, & the Satire against the Officer,s in command, it was ither here or on BBC proggrame, A General overrule, a Officer who wanted to court marshal the private,s for their Satirical comment,s.
“Now when is someone going to do something about the lack of satire in Scottish politics? It’s really troubling our unionist friends.”
I agree with Doug Daniel. Here we have another fine satirical cartoon from Chris Cairns and of course, there is Greg Moodie`s brilliant cartoon work for the National Collective. Who knew tubas could be so much fun?
I mean, have you seen the latest from the Scotsman`s Brian Adcock? Tired, repetitive, unionist crap.
Paul says
“As soon as it was over the so called elite went back to business as usual men went back to the terrible working conditions that they had endured before the war”
I think this traditional song sums it up. It been going on for a long time.
‘The Unonscientious Cameronian’?
i think the differing attitudes to WW1, can be found in the teaching of military battles within our public/private schools ie Eton etc
Re Gordon Brown.
I think Gordon must be politically ‘ring rusty’ as he made a right gaffe in the Herald.
He allowed himself to be presented as the man tasked with reassuring ‘Wavering-Labour-Voters’
Now BT/Scottish Labour, have never so far admitted that their own vote was soft and that they were fully aware that a lot of their core vote was ‘Wavering,’ so this is great news indeed.
I wonder how long it will be before BT/New Labour realise this gaffe and send the Duncan Horseshits out to backtrack on Gb’s behalf.
Oil workers in Scotland are being killed because Westminster Health/Safety Laws are not being implement, and Holyrood does not have the powers to licence it’s own industry.
Putin would support Scottish Independence. The UK (US) losing a seat ‘at the top table’ would be better for world peace and harmony. Instead of Westminster following the US around the world like a poodle breaking UN/International Law, raging illegal War.
Scotland not have to educate rest of UK students for free (subsidised junkies). The EU have reprociprical agreements. rUK government would have to pay. EU students get a free education because Scottish students cam get a free education in EU countries.
Spain doesn’t have the right to veto Scotland’s continued negotiated EU membership. It against EU rules. People in Scotland voted to join. Scotland obeys all EU rules/Laws and directives. Westminster and Spain do not. Catalonia and Spain both have corrupt Administrations Spanish gov is corrupt. The right wing dictator Franco bombed the Basque region, using the German airforce, during the Spanish Civil War 1933-37?. Spain only became a constitutional monarchy in 1975, when Franco died. ‘Geronica’ – Pablo Piccasso – the famous war protest painting.
DeGaulle vetoed UK membership consistently, considering Westminster’s policies were not consistent with being good Europeans,
Cameron’s great uncle, (a family? estate in Huntly), died in ?War. There is a commemorative War memorial to him in Huntly.
The Murphy embarrassment on BBC, telling Porkies. Pink as a pig.
International Criminal Court approaching.
Where’s the Chilcott verdict?
His overtures to Putin make him look more like Corporal Clot!
To all who have commented above: please see Wee Ginger Dug, in the Wings list, and read the article, The Bonnie White Feather Club.
“One could call the Generals cowards”
Considering the casualty rate of general officers during WW1, the quoted sentence is a grossly blatant lie.