War over German invasion of history

THE FRIDAY THING: IT comes as no surprise that Germany has asked us (told us, maybe) not to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the First World War next year.

Well, if we had lost 2-0 maybe we wouldn’t be in the party mood celebrating the massive efforts of our brave troops and remembering the hundreds of thousands who paid the ultimate price.

The German government even sent a special envoy to the UK asking us not to celebrate our victory in a war which we did not start and did not want but that was forced upon us in the interests of the survival of our country and its ideals. The German envoy says we should focus instead on the idea that the European Union brought peace to Europe. Talk about rewriting history!

And of course there is an only slightly veiled threat in the German message. We are warned that the way Britain marks the Great War could affect relations with Angela Merkel’s government and thus the way the European Union deals with us in future.

Commemorations should focus, they seem to believe, on the benefits of the EU, which of course we all really enjoy.

Professor Sir Hugh Strachan, of Oxford University, and an outstanding historian says, sensibly, that the emphasis should be on celebrations: “If we are going to be honest to the history of this war from a British perspective, then it can’t all be about waste and futility,” says Sir Hugh.

“A lot of people fought and died thinking it was all worthwhile and we have to respect what those motivations were.”

We should all go along with that, irrespective of German sensitivities and attempts to browbeat us into seeing it their way. Their consolation will probably be going further than us in the World Cup!



FINAL WORD: As expected, it looks as though the good folk of Foxdenton are really up against it in an effort to protect their much-loved neighbourhood from developers.

A business park and 500 new homes are earmarked for the site, which has always been one of the treasures of the borough. For the people who live there and love where they live, it is a nightmare proposition.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, a Chadderton councillor and member for environment and housing, is in a difficult position. He sees the benefits for Oldham from the development but has sympathy with local residents whose votes he depends upon to retain his council position.

Will Dave champion the cause of the Foxdenton residents or the big-money developers waiting in the wings? Watch this space.