Letter: D-Day: a benchmark of barbarity and intransigence

Sir: In reply to the article by Alison Veness, I find it hard to believe that a person of a similar age to myself can fail so utterly to understand the reasons behind the commemoration of the D-Day landings. Surely Ms Veness can see that the overriding point is the sacrifices made by the men and women in the defence of democracy, the system that we still enjoy to this day? We should look back with a great deal of pride at a time when the democracies, with all their inherent weaknesses, came together in a massive display of common will against an oppressive fascist enemy.

I also take exception to the use of the speech by Falstaff used in the article. That speech was made in defence of personal cowardice; to link it in any way with the actions in Normandy 50 years ago is plainly wrong.

Yours sincerely,

STEPHEN GAVIN

University of Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne

3 June