Man spat at Help for Heroes charity stand in Telford
Tuesday 27th July 2010, 2:09PM BST.
Two men had to be physically restrained from attacking another man at a family day out in Shropshire after he spat at a stand manned by the charity Help for Heroes, it was claimed today.
Mayor of Oakengates, Councillor Steve Wood, said he saw the man walk up to the stand before muttering something under his breath and spitting on the ground.
It happened at the Oakengates in the Park event on Saturday. The mayor today said it was an “absolute disgrace and an insult to our troops”.
He said two members of the public who also witnessed the incident had to be restrained from going after the man, who was Asian.
Councillor Wood added: “This act is completely disrespectful to the troops who are out there protecting the security of our country.”
The family event took place on Saturday and included a street market and various attractions in the park.
One of the attractions was the Help for Heroes stand which had a barbecue area attached.
It raised more than £500 as the residents bought wrist bands and burgers.
Councillor Wood added: “Most of the residents had come up to the stand and shown an interest but it was this one man that really made me disappointed with the whole day.”
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disgrace, disgrace, disgrace, need i say more
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Some people want to be helped
Some people want to be left alone
Some people need to be helped
some people need to be left alone
Some people see our soldiers as heroes
some people see them pests
Some People see them as rescuers
Some like to aim guns at their Chests
Some have welcome arms for them
Some have arms crossed and turned heads
Some people offer them food and drink
Some poison the food til the`re dead
Our soldiers do not know what response they will get
But they are prepared to defend, and sometimes fete`s met
It should be them in the coffins below
But they chose to spit and put on a show
Just wanting to cause us all pain and sorrow
Karma will catch up with those tomorrow!
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absolutely disgusting!!! If people are not willing to support our nation then they have no place being here… Regardless of their colour, creed or religion. And NO i am not being a racist, I think the same of white people who don’t support our soldiers!
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Well said Taran. Spot on.
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I’m not sure whether you realise that there’s a difference between “supporting our nation” and “supporting our troops”, Taran.
You’ll probably find that there’s a lot of “white people” who didn’t support our nation’s (i.e. previous Labour government’s) decision to intervene in Iraq for example, but that war-crime having been committed, those “white people” are generally 100% behind our troops as we realise that they have no option and are extremely brave to do so.
Let us assume that I am a “white person” who is not prepared to blindly support our nation in everything it does (such as give child killers another identity to keep them safe after being convicted of distributing kiddy-porn, or bending over backwards to invade countries because George Bush was having a bad hair day, or refusing to compensate, adequately, islanders who were evicted from their Pacific island homes so that we could turn it into a military runway), but that I’m prepared to fully support our troops once committed. On that basis, where exactly should I go to if I have no place being here.
Don’t make the error of equating support for troops with support for the nation – it’s not the same thing. Sometimes, to defend democracy, you have to stand up to the nation.
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People like this we do not need…
If that man didn’t agree with the whole principle of Help the Heroes he should stay away…
Really big of him to spit on the floor juvenile springs to mind.
Asian or not keep away if you haven’t got the decency to support this cause
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This was an offence and should have been reported to the Police. Any other comment from me would be unprintable, needless to say, this individual would certainly not like it.
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Incitement to racial hatred springs to mind as an offence committed?
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If this man hates our country and it’s soldiers so much he can always take the first plane out.
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Uncouth and distasteful as his actions were, you might consider James that this man, regardless of the colour if his skin, may be just as British as you or I – so your comments about taking the first plane out reveal your true agenda – i.e. anyone with a darker skin than you can’t possibly be British.
As Rodney says above, it is perfectly possible to have great sympathy for our troops, and to wish them a speedy and safe return, without supporting the political folly of war in Afghanistan, or prior to that, Iraq. This man may have been expressing his disgust at the war rather than the stand, albeit in a misguided. unpleasant and deliberately provocative way – a fololhardy and childish act.
As for spitting on the ground I’m afraid I see many uncouth people of all skin colours doing this – it’s commonplace.
If the Mayor of Oakengates thinks this is such a huge outrage I suggest he looks at some of the even worse behaviour on our streets by people like the English Defence League, who regularly bring fear, hatred and intimidation to our towns and cities, in much the same way that Moseley’s blackshirts did in the ’30s.
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Since you digress, I might add that asian or not, the culprit could well have been a socialist party/ socialist workers party activist – they have no love of our armed forces and they are equally as uncouth and obnoxious in expressing their opposition to things (in this case the war in Afghanistan) as the extremists of the far right are. I’ve seen these little darlings in action and I would poke them all off to some remote island with their mirror images of the EDL and BNP, so that they could all knock ten bells out of each other and leave the rest of us in peace.
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I’m confused Shropshire Star, did he spit at the stand or at the ground? Your headline suggests one thing when your article suggests the other, an attempt to court controversy no doubt, maybe a bit of racism in the comments too. All helps the page impressions eh? ;)
Given that these ‘heroes’ are trained killers, you’d think they wouldn’t be so sensitive to some idiot spitting.
I’m also not sure how Soldiers killing civilians in someone else’s country, fighting someone else’s war is helping ‘protect’ my country. Bring them home.
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It is to do with respect bob dobbs
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Yes, as expected, we have the usual pedantic, hair splitters. Whether he spat on the ground or at the stall under these circumstances is totally immaterial. Two people were moved to possible violence and had to be restrained and then the Mayor also added his own interpretation of the act.
All “normal” people know what the act of “spitting” means, it shows contempt, disrespect, hatred, dislike, disagreement – you name it, there cannot be any other interpretation put on it.
And just for a bit of “racism”, all “normal” and I stress “normal” people would construe the act of spitting at soldiers under these circumstances as a blatant case of racism itself.
A serious case of “Conduct likely to cause a breach of the Peace” was committed here and a PC would have had an instant power of arrest, pity there seems not to have been one there. If you don’t know why our soldiers are in Afghanistan then I suggest that you do a spot of reading and listening before coming out with silliness.
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They can’t come home, they are under orders, so support them whilst they are there or injured in the line of duty.
The soldiers don’t get involved in politics, they follow orders….
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You’d love that wouldn’t you bob? I’ve every right to voice my opinion on this matter (providing it falls within the papers moderation policy of course) weather you like it or not. Do you know why? Because I live in a FREE country, I’d love for more countries to be FREE but I understand it can’t be done down the barrel of a gun at the whim of a dreadful American president and a poodle British Govt.
Stuart, I’d suggest you do some reading that isn’t propaganda – read about previous ‘visits’ to Afghanistan and how successful they have been, I’d suggest a library but you’ve probably never stepped foot inside one.
I’m not condoning the man’s actions one bit but simply suggesting that our brave servicemen & women can’t handle an idiot who does not show them the respect that they *think* they deserve they they probably shouldn’t be in the Job.
I don’t want any of more of our soldiers to die for someone else’s pointless war, that said I do not respect what they are doing and you’ve only got to look through a few of the 92,000 recently leaked documents to see some of the atrocities that some coalition troops have caused.
Observer, I know they can’t ‘come home’, I said ‘Bring them home’.
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This is disgusting. My husband is a serving member of the armed forces and has fought for our country in dangerous places. Reactions like these to the fantastic work our troops do makes my blood boil! This guy deserves to do a long stint in prison to think about what he has done although he will probably just get a slap on the wrists!! Better still he could do some community service out in Afghan!
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I hope this disgusting man was arrested for a public order offence. He is obviously either poorly educated or misinformed.
I know tht two wrongs don’t make a right, and you should turn the other cheek but I wish the restrained guys had given him a right-hander.
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I agree with the two previous comments, If you cannot support our troops then close the door on your way out, we don’t need you here! I too am not a racist I will say this to anyone.
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This individual needs to be found arrested and charged with an offence I am sure he has committed one. NAME AND SHAME THIS DISGRACE.
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This is disgusting. The two people who were going to go after him shouldn’t have been restrained and maybe he’d have got his commepance….
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Well said, Rodney – For the life of me I can’t fathom what we’re doing in Afghanistan.
What was Iraq all about?
I’m sure the armed forces personnel deployed in zones of conflict are very brave, but that’s the job they signed up to do.
As for patriotism, well; for me patriotism starts by putting litter into bins.
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But James we, more specifically the armed forces are! So whilst they are there the boys and girls serving deserve our support, including help in rehabilitation when injured in the line of duty.
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The thing being said is he spat on the ground or on the stand it doesnt matter.
If the circumstances was the other way around and a ‘white person’ had done this they would be in court for a racism order!
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Shame on the people who restrained the two bystanders I say !
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Why? They upheld the law. I do not approve of the alleged spitting but equally I don’t approve of people being beaten for spitting.
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This person is just scum, and should be named and shamed, and if they have got any issues and dont like they way things are done, find somewhere else to live.
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Go back to the original article and the word “claimed” has prominence. If someone did as alleged and this can be proven then involve the police and courts. We still purport to be civilised in this country and so let’s use our laws as opposed to vigilante vengeance and arbitary deportations. And if you are going to deport then where to? The alleged offender might well be a British citizen.
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I support our troops but not the war. once committed they should have our full support. My comment on the bloke spitting is unprintable.
I am glad the two witnesses where stop, not for the sake of the spitter but for themselves, as I am shore he would of reported it and had the two arrested for a hate crime.
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Im a british Asian, and no I do not agree with the war or any war, end of. I have had dear friends go to Afghanistan all so called “white people” who to have their own positive & negative views about the war.
I wholeheartedly stand by the troops who defend this country and also think that the incident was bang out of order and totally disrespectful.
I have also helped raise a lot of money for H4H who do a damn good job of supporting all the poor souls who return to suffering.
No respect whatsoever to who ever it was and you were extremely lucky the 2 men were restrained, I can imagine the red mist. It’s people like that who give the rest of the decent, supporting Asians a bad name.
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Well put MP. This is not about the colour of the man’s skin or the politics surrounding the war. Therefore, racism and political agenda comments are not helpful.
This is about a man who has offended others with his actions, actions that are abhorrent to all.
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Well said. I feel very much the same, I dont want to see good people suffer like they are. Thanks for your comments.
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They should have sent this asian to the front
line and then he would have seen first hand
what it was like. Have not time for people like this.
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If you can’t stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front.
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Mrs Foulkes…I do so find your contributions amusing.
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our country is not at war so what are British troops doing in other country’s fighting others wars.every government that gets in are war mongers bring our troops home and save there lives and our tax money.
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The discussions about this act would be more balanced if we disregard the alleged spitter’s ethnicity. This is about an act of direspect. I did not and do not support the Iraq and Afghan invasions. I do however support our military forces in those theatres as I have known a number who have served there and I know that irrespective of the politics they do their duty. Rightly or wrongly (dependent on one’s perspective) I also support the right of objectors to protest as long as they do so within the law and within the confines of common decency.
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Thank you for your comments, most of these Blogs reflect the feeling most people have, however, the troops are there following orders and it matters not how people feel about British troops being there, these people are protecting our security at home, these parts of the world a breeding and training grounds for terrorists. Every time we get on an aircraft, ship, bus, train or public place a security risk is there. There are people in this world who would want nothing other than to upset and disrupt life as we know it. I was disgusted at this event the guy who spat did so knowing this would offend good people doing some work for a charity. I have friends from most cultures and as Mayor and a Councillor in Oakengates I like to represent people equally. This action was that of an individual rather than a religion or race. We and by that I mean all people need to learn to respect freedom of speech and freedom of religion, this is also being protected by our troops against those who want to change all that.
Kind regards to ALL.
Steve Wood
Mayor of Oakengates
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