And Onto July...

It's a month, but this month is slightly important.

Tomorrow is the 1st July. 7 months into 2016 and I think we can all agree that, in terms of global events, 2016 has been kind of shitty.

At present, 2016's been kind to me. (How long that'll last remains to be seen). But it means that I'm going to continue to hope that 2016 improves for everyone.

But this July is important for two reasons. One of them is important for the world and the other is a personal thing.

The world event is the 100th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Somme. The 1st of July saw the first day of one of the worst battles the world has ever seen. Millions died on all sides and it was basically a massive slaughter. But, given the 100th anniversary just happens to fall 1 week after Britain decided it wished to leave the European Union, I couldn't help but think about the two events in tandem. 100 years ago, our ancestors fought to maintain peace and stability in Europe and last week we took a decision as a country to potentially destabilise it once again.

It's interesting because it raises the question, if the European Union was around in 1914, how would people have reacted?

Admittedly, if the European Union was around in 1914 then it's possible that WWI would never have occurred. Or at least not in the form it did. But given that Europe was divided 100 years ago between two massive power factions (Great Britain/France/Russia vs Germany/Austria-Hungary/Italy), it seems strange that anyone would oppose a united Europe. Now, some might argue that we're at a similar point to 100 years ago where France and Germany dominate the politics in the European Union.

Now, this is a debate for another time. I can't be arsed to go through all the points now. I'll wait until I'm a teacher for that shit.

But my point is this.

We should remember the Somme tomorrow. It's one of the bloodiest battles in history and I haven't seen a lot to commemorate or remember it. It might get mentioned on the news but that'll probably be it. One could argue "how can you remember something as bloody as the Somme" but then someone else could argue "a one minute's silence?"

It seems somewhat disrespectful that we're effectively ignoring that battle as a country, especially as it'll be exactly 7 days since the results of the European Union Referendum showed that we'd rather leave the Union rather than remain and try to reform it from the inside. But then, with so many people saying that they're ashamed to be British given the result, is it a bad thing we're not? Is now really the time to be patriotic and remember the past as we go into a potentially bright shining new future?

And if the motives of the soldiers who spilt their blood in Belgium 100 years ago tomorrow are contrary to the motives behind the potential execution of Article 50, then maybe it's best we forget them just for tomorrow.

I've been to the Somme. Not the battle of course (I'm not that old) but I've been to a particular area of the Somme where a number of Canadian Regiments went over the top. (And because France allowed the Canadians to keep that land and call it their own, technically I've been to Canada). Nowadays, it's covered in grass with walkways that tourists can walk along and statues commemorating the soldiers who died on that piece of land. But it's also got small cemeteries dotted around it too.

Now, I consider myself lucky to have gone to the Somme when I did (it was a school trip in 2010) because a couple of strange things happened during our visit there.

Firstly, the gap between the Canadian and German trenches were STUPIDLY CLOSER THAN PEOPLE THINK. They were absurdly close! You assume it'll be quite far away but, no, they were SO close.

Secondly, it was almost like you could feel the soldiers running around you. It was a very odd sensation it felt like the soldiers were running around us getting ready to go over the top. And that's when we all kind of realised that people our age fought. When you hear it in a classroom it's just a statistic. But when you're actually where they were, you suddenly start to picture yourself in that scenario because people your age were in that situation. It makes it real. You also realise you might be standing on a spot where someone was killed. Or hid. Or waited to go over. It's such a strange emotion when you're there and come to these conclusions. You suddenly feel a connection to the past like you can't get by sitting in a classroom watching a PowerPoint presentation.

So please spare a thought tomorrow. I'm off to Winchester Hat Fair tomorrow and, while it'll seem weird knowing a huge historical event happened 100 years prior but you need to only make a small reflection. Don't let it consume the day!

Meanwhile, in my personal life, I need to find a job.

I have a house.

I'm about to graduate.

I have a number of good incentives to remain in the area where I am (including a certain someone).

All I need now is a job.

And July is the make or break time!

It's also my birthday month. And I have some pretty awesome plans for my birthday week!

But I shan't say. That'd be telling...


Until next time!

The Late June Post Just To Show I Was Still Writing This Blog

Hi.

June happened.

A lot of things happened in June.

In my life and in the world in general.

Although so much happened that I actually haven't had anything worth ranting or writing about this month.

Although I did get a 2:1 in my degree. That's literally I can think to write of.

Until next time.

See ya!