Why was Combo against the Falklands War?
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mechafi — 12 years ago(October 21, 2013 05:20 AM)
That was because the southern part of Germany, which happens to be Catholic, was also more conservative, prosperous and rural. National socialism was a "progressive" ideology that emphasized the importance of the working class/common man, welfare state and central planning. Rich bourgeois in the South didn't obviously like it. Communism, Italy's fascism and German national Socialism were all heavily Utopian/modernist movements. All the old values (like traditional religion) and traditions (nobility, monarchy and strong family ties) were to be wiped out for the New Man was destined to be born. Although the Nazis took inspiration from the past, they set out to create new style of National art, and National architecture. All culture was to be reinvented to serve the modern unified state.
Author Ernst Jnger (from Heidelberg, Roman Catholic), for example, who has been accused of being a fascist was really highly critical of the whole Nazi regime. While he was a militarist and a fervent patriot, he was also a monarchist, anti-socialist and opposed to racism. He spent the Second World War in occupied Paris doing drugs and drinking, disappointed with his country.
Of course, as Lutheranism/Protestantism was somewhat more liberal and vague than the strict Catholic dogma it might have been a factor in the acceptance of national socialism in the North. But the main reason is simply that the people in the North were more modern, less traditional and in need of socialist savior. -
shurbanm — 14 years ago(July 09, 2011 07:42 AM)
Why would you expect him to. The character was not following orders on how to think from above. He was doing his own thinking.
He actually explains this all in the movie - he says that men fought and died in the falklands war for shepherds what more do you need in terms of an explanation?? -
SpringSweetRhythm — 14 years ago(November 07, 2011 07:47 AM)
In response to the original question: the National Front were not allied with the Thatcher government. The Thatcher government above all supported economic freedom - freedom to thrive or freedom to starve. They argued that all British people, regardless of race, should have the right to make money. This, of course, was thinly veiled racism because it gave the upper hand to those already in power who were, of course, the white British population (obviously, the richer white population). However, the Thatcher government's values, however conservative and militaristic they were, were also criticised by the neo-Nazi National Front movement, which was mostly comprised of members of the white working class. They argued that the concept of "economic freedom" allowed immigrants to "steal" jobs that had traditionally been theirs. Thus, for them, the Thatcher government willingly worsened what they viewed to be an increasing problem in British culture, one where a growing number of immigrants were putting the indigenous white population out of work.
We usually consider those who oppose wars like the Falklands War to have left-wing views, and certainly if I myself had been old enough at the time to have any opinion on the Falklands War, I would have fallen into that camp. However, there was another group of people opposed to Margaret Thatcher and her government's policies for entirely different reasons, and Combo is meant to be one of those people.
Ultimately, I think that linking a criticism of the Falklands War to the racist views of the National Front is meant to essentially argue that Thatcherism fuelled the development of the National Front: it draws a connection between the Thatcher government's complete disregard for matters of race and for government systems that might help those in need to get back on their feet, and the growing unemployment rate and racial violence that occurred as a result. -
scottmc1971 — 14 years ago(February 22, 2012 12:56 AM)
The same thing occurred to me. The whole skin ethos as embodied by Combo in this movie was pride in being English and all that entails - including unquestioning loyalty to Queen and country. As the Falklands War was nothing if not an Imperial venture I'd have thought Combo would have been all for it.
"That, - Captain Bligh, - that is the thing; - I am in hell, sir - I am in hell." -
This_is_an_outrage — 13 years ago(November 14, 2012 02:20 AM)
What's interesting is that Combo seems to have vague, inconsistent ideas about the war. Remember how later on when he attacks the shop keeper, he says that Shaun's father died for his country before he accuses the shopkeeper of stealing jobs. I don't think Combo's the intellectual type who looks up articles in academic journals before formulating informed, reasoned opinions as to why he would be for or against a war.
Now in terms of opinions and ideas he may have heard about the war at a National Front rally or meeting, I think that while militarism and expansionism are often related to racism and xenophobia, isolationism may also be compatible with racism and xenophobia. While an anti-immigrant party could say that they don't want foreigners in their country, they could also say that they don't want dealings with foreign countries such as trade, aid, foreign investment and involvement in armed conflict all of which are argued to drain the country of its resources.
Furthermore, while far right political parties would certainly not be anti-authoritarian, they seem to have an anti-establishment streak that can ask people down at heel questions such as: why are you living in poverty and squalor while the government wastes money on a war that doesn't benefit you? The radical right (such as the National Front, Nazis, Fascists, you name them) seem to want to channel social discontent so they can use the atmosphere for plans such as the Munich Beer Hall Putsch or the March on Rome, whereas the conservative right (such as Thatcher's Conservatives) seem to want law and order as their agenda is served through parliamentary politics. -
ketmanscoop — 12 years ago(December 31, 2013 03:23 PM)
Maggie weakened the defences of the Falklands in the first place - think there was a naval taskforce moved, which signalled to the argentine junta that we weren't prepared to defend the Islands. A lot of people thought maggie went to war because she was going to lose the election the following year (she was massively behind in the polls) and that because there were only a few thousand people there and it is so far away that an alternative should have been found. That's why Combo was against the war.
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evanmang87 — 10 years ago(December 01, 2015 01:16 PM)
Not necessarily inconsistent. Although rank-and-file, mainstream conservative politicians are generally hawkish, the far-right fringe has often been less supportive of overseas wars. Here in the States, most Republicans are hawkish but guys like Pat Buchanan (independent right-wing politician), Tom Metzger (White Aryan Resistance), and David Duke (KKK and Stormfront) voiced opposition to the Iraq War and US government policies in the Middle East at a time when even a lot of Democrats, moderates, and liberals were supportive. I imagine it could be the same in the UK. The character Combo, like many right wing fascists here in the US, probably sees the war as a waste of lives of working-class white men and believes the real battle is at home against the hoards of immigrants, foreigners, minorities.