I don't think it was meant that way but there ya go, jump to conclusions - pour scorn etc.
I know, but that would be the result I was facetiously highlighting:
"I love my Queen/ King and country and I wish to join the British army along with my best mate here."
"Ah, that's what I love to hear. Name? Age? Religion? No religion? Ok, you'll be in this regiment. And yourself? Muslim, eh. Right, you'll be in the special regiment we've created specially for Muslims. No you can't be in the same regiment as your mate. You're a Muslim, you'll be in the Muslim regiment to show how much we value your diversity."
The above might not be entirely accurate, but that's basically how it will pan out if you start creating regiments based on demographics.
Muslims aren't having problems fighting other Muslims all over the Middle East at the minute...
Yes that's true, they kill far more of each other than they do non-Muslims.
However when you hear of British Muslims going over to help the insurgents fight British troops in Iraq/Afghanistan, sending a British Muslim regiment over to fight people they see as their 'brothers' still seems a daft idea.
Quote:
For hundreds of years Muslim soldiers, sailors and more recently airmen have valiantly served, fought and died as part of the British Armed Forces. Hundreds of thousands volunteered to fight in both World Wars and today hundreds continue to serve in the British Armed Forces.
As if I'm not aware? If you look back you'll see I'm perfectly aware - but it had a HUGE logistical cost in the world wars. One we could pay because we HAD to - but in a peace time army and support infrastrcture?
Muslims work n today's army BECAUSE they're integrated with and accept the Army's way of doing things in the day-to-day...
As if I'm not aware? If you look back you'll see I'm perfectly aware - but it had a HUGE logistical cost in the world wars. One we could pay because we HAD to - but in a peace time army and support infrastrcture?
Muslims work n today's army BECAUSE they're integrated with and accept the Army's way of doing things in the day-to-day...
I wasn't sure if your were, that's why I mentioned it.
I was actually replying to this part of your post:
How exactly would you combine a regimnt with separate dietary requirements, religious festivals, etc. into the Army?
Do the current Muslims who are indeed integrated in the army not have separate dietary requirements, religious festivals, etc? Of course they do. So not really sure why you think a full regiment wouldn't be able to.
Edit
I would have thought supplying a full regiment of Muslims would be logistically easier than having to cater for them if they are all spread over the place. (Note - I am not saying I agree with a separate regiment, just pointing out it would be easier and cheaper seeing as you mentioned cost.
Then what a gay regiment, a black regiment, a Catholic regiment, a Jewish regiment ?
Whilst it is always a good idea to have some people with an understanding of a region, its language its customs in a regiment that is serving there you do not need an entire regiment, and it would be divisive and put back years of work on integration.
I disagree. I don't think there should be any type of special regiments in the army,gay, muslim, female or otherwise. It just creates an us and them mentality. Just lob them all in together
I know, but that would be the result I was facetiously highlighting:
"I love my Queen/ King and country and I wish to join the British army along with my best mate here."
"Ah, that's what I love to hear. Name? Age? Religion? No religion? Ok, you'll be in this regiment. And yourself? Muslim, eh. Right, you'll be in the special regiment we've created specially for Muslims. No you can't be in the same regiment as your mate. You're a Muslim, you'll be in the Muslim regiment to show how much we value your diversity."
The above might not be entirely accurate, but that's basically how it will pan out if you start creating regiments based on demographics.
I saw it as creating a regiment within the British army to specialise in Mid East work when needed which wouldn't mean separating all Muslims who join - maybe I'm using too much common sense here.
Although the idea could have some advantages it wouldn't work because you'd need to have more than one, for example I can't see Sunnis fighting their own nor Shiites their own.
I would have thought supplying a full regiment of Muslims would be logistically easier than having to cater for them if they are all spread over the place. (Note - I am not saying I agree with a separate regiment, just pointing out it would be easier and cheaper seeing as you mentioned cost.
Not really.The presentday method of requesting/accounting for feeding hungry squaddies couldn't accomodate a whole unit of "special dietary needs"
I disagree. I don't think there should be any type of special regiments in the army,gay, muslim, female or otherwise. It just creates an us and them mentality. Just lob them all in together
...which is why women now fill front line roles, after all. But there will ALWAYS be a need for specialists....AND be recruits more suitable for one task than another.
Comments
"I love my Queen/ King and country and I wish to join the British army along with my best mate here."
"Ah, that's what I love to hear. Name? Age? Religion? No religion? Ok, you'll be in this regiment. And yourself? Muslim, eh. Right, you'll be in the special regiment we've created specially for Muslims. No you can't be in the same regiment as your mate. You're a Muslim, you'll be in the Muslim regiment to show how much we value your diversity."
The above might not be entirely accurate, but that's basically how it will pan out if you start creating regiments based on demographics.
Muslims aren't having problems fighting other Muslims all over the Middle East at the minute...
Yes that's true, they kill far more of each other than they do non-Muslims.
However when you hear of British Muslims going over to help the insurgents fight British troops in Iraq/Afghanistan, sending a British Muslim regiment over to fight people they see as their 'brothers' still seems a daft idea.
As if I'm not aware? If you look back you'll see I'm perfectly aware - but it had a HUGE logistical cost in the world wars. One we could pay because we HAD to - but in a peace time army and support infrastrcture?
Muslims work n today's army BECAUSE they're integrated with and accept the Army's way of doing things in the day-to-day...
I wasn't sure if your were, that's why I mentioned it.
I was actually replying to this part of your post:
Do the current Muslims who are indeed integrated in the army not have separate dietary requirements, religious festivals, etc? Of course they do. So not really sure why you think a full regiment wouldn't be able to.
Edit
I would have thought supplying a full regiment of Muslims would be logistically easier than having to cater for them if they are all spread over the place. (Note - I am not saying I agree with a separate regiment, just pointing out it would be easier and cheaper seeing as you mentioned cost.
this.
I saw it as creating a regiment within the British army to specialise in Mid East work when needed which wouldn't mean separating all Muslims who join - maybe I'm using too much common sense here.
Although the idea could have some advantages it wouldn't work because you'd need to have more than one, for example I can't see Sunnis fighting their own nor Shiites their own.
Not really.The presentday method of requesting/accounting for feeding hungry squaddies couldn't accomodate a whole unit of "special dietary needs"
...which is why women now fill front line roles, after all. But there will ALWAYS be a need for specialists....AND be recruits more suitable for one task than another.
In the days of the Raj and the Indian Army, the British thought that the Sikhs were the best fighters, they won several V.C.s.
Seems nothing is new under the sun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol5Dfs7jqFI
Thanks for that, I had thought about it when someone suggested a gay brigade.:D Would never get away with that today.
Yes but think of Rememberance Day..... they will get mixed up with the two minutes silence... they'll think it's two minutes violence.
I can't see that link (work filter) but I'm guessing it's that Monty Python camp squaddie sketch...:p
Like the African American regiment in South Park. Whose mission was called operation human shield?
Spot on
indeed
unfortunately when I think of a terrifying Sikh warrior, I see Bernard Breslaw in Carry On Up The Khyber.
"That'll teach them to ban turbans on the buses!!!"