I got this email today:
The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the
2012 London Olympics because they are deemed 'too British'.
Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background
might be 'offensive' to other countries taking part in the Games.
The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide,
but the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the
display team 'too militaristically British'.
Red Arrows pilots were said to be 'outraged', as they had hoped to
put on a truly world class display for the Games, something which
had never been seen before.
Being axed from a British-based event for being 'too British' is an
insult - the Arrows are a symbol of Britain .
The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas
trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over
the world.
The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid
was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly
spectacular.
It is to be hoped that common sense prevails, so if you disagree
with this decision, please sign the petition on the link.
<http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/?ref=redArrows2012>
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/?ref=redArrows2012
Please forward this on to everyone you can.
How pathetic can some politicians and do-gooders get. If people do not want British tradition and British ways in England then they need to decide if they are living in the right country for them.
I read this and thought it was a late April Fools joke........but then thought again and knowing how many ludicrous decisions are made in order not to offend anyone other than british citizens - perhaps not.
This is just plain daft, if they can't be used for the reasons stated, what does that do to the places were thay are used. I wonder if those places feel less important or they feel it doesn't matter if they feel offended.
This is double standards at it's best.
Use them for goodness sake.
If the powers that be are that worried then why keep them at all ??
Like I said it is just plain daft.
Aaaaaaaaaaaarg
XXJeannine
Snopes is always a good read... ;D
It's all down to the good ol' Sun noospaper, apparently. And untrue (as you'd expect from the Sun ;) ).
I must admit, like Alishka, that when I see anything that requests me to forward to everyone I know, I reach for Snopes. ;D
There's a response from the Red Arrows here. [http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/teamnews/index.cfm?storyid=66845B01-1143-EC82-2E376B2F89D95041 (http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/teamnews/index.cfm?storyid=66845B01-1143-EC82-2E376B2F89D95041)
This is very old, has been doing the rounds for ages, is a trumped up load of right wing crap and has been repeatedly shown to be so. ::)
Quote from: DenBee on April 04, 2008, 09:37:51
There's a response from the Red Arrows here. [http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/teamnews/index.cfm?storyid=66845B01-1143-EC82-2E376B2F89D95041 (http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/teamnews/index.cfm?storyid=66845B01-1143-EC82-2E376B2F89D95041)
Cheers DenBee. I am content with that response. Thanks.