National Service: curse or cure?

05/11/2007

Long before my Dad died in 1991 he believed National Service should never have been abolished. Like thousands of people, my parents willingly gave up their youth to fight for this country.

 

I look at my Mum, whom is now in her 80s, and think how brave she was as a teenager to leave home not knowing what lay ahead and if you would ever return home. How proud your parents must have been when you did return - no longer a teenager.

 

Anything the pensioners get free or at a reduced price today - they deserve! How many of these so called tough yobs hanging about street corners in gangs intimidating people, seriously wounding them, even kicking them to death would have the guts to willingly go off to war?

Pensioners have earned the right to live out the rest of their lives in peace. Why should they live in fear of being hurt, robbed, raped, or  murdered?

 

There are no longer any deterrents. ASBOs and Tagging are something the yobs brag about and it gets them 'street cred'. Do their parents know where they are, do they care, or have they no control over them?

 

The Brits are disliked in other countries because of their bad behaviour. I keep a low profile when I go abroad-I am no longer proud to be British! The government say the jails are full. The yobs know they have nothing to fear - it's a vicious circle.

 

Bring back National Service, then the streets would be safer, the yobs wouldn't be hanging around menacingly, they would be away from home learning respect and discipline. Real hardened criminals could be put in a uniform & sent out to join our troops whom seem to be in every country where there is conflict. Who is protecting us?

 

It is high time the government got tough and sorted this problem out. Other countries still have National Service and even the death penalty.

 

If it is this bad now - what the hell will it be like when us 50s become pensioners? I dread to think.

 

With our troops scattered about the globe, The yobs running the country, Those in a union striking-what a laughing stock Britain has become. If I were younger and in good health I would pack up and leave the country like thousands of Brits already have.

Mrs. G  Carter
Blackpool

 

What do you think? Would you welcome the return of National Service? Let us know your views by writing to editorial@maturetimes.co.uk