100 year old WW2 veteran: "the sacrifice wasn't worth the result of what it is now"

[SvennoJ]

sc94597 said:

SvennoJ said:

What it means is that we have let his sacrifice be for nothing as we're well underway to new fascist oppression. It doesn't mean that he wanted Nazism to steamroll the world in the 1940s, it means that its happening again. It means we haven't learned from history and are repeating the same mistakes that led to Nazi Germany.

Yes he can make that assessment. 

Eh. The U.K's government is being ran by a social-democratic/social-liberal coalition Labour Party. And the British people are much freer today than in the late 1930's and early 1940's, at least if we are talking about positive freedom. Although there is a good case for negative freedom too (Alan Turing was castrated in 1952, he killed himself two years later, as an example.)

I am skeptical that he is arguing against the far-right here and that the people spreading his message are either. 

These are the sort of media institutions spreading this message. The same ones tongue-bathing fascists.

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/why-is-this-second-world-war-vet-crying/

"While Penstone may feel that his honorable service is betrayed as Britain has become increasingly authoritarian, others may feel that Britain has become freer by banning hate speech and importing large numbers of migrants."

https://www.allsides.com/news-source/american-conservative-media-bias

Here is the full interview



Unfortunately they never let him clarify and quickly pivot away from his sentiment. It stays ambiguous what he meant with his comment. Terrible reporter.

"What we fought for was our freedom, but now it's a darn sight worse than when I fought for it."

Seems to imply he thinks there is less freedom now, freedom of expression? Could indeed go both ways. I don't the man. But do see free speech under attack.