Air Shows Should be Banned

I hope the Shoreham air tragedy will result in a review of air shows globally but I doubt it. I have always been opposed to air shows on two grounds - they promote militarism and they are exceptionally dangerous.  The main reason they have not been banned throughout the world is because of the PR benefit for air forces and military-industrial complexes generally.

Britain is, in some respects, a highly militarized state. It does not have large armed forces (and, apart from its navy, never has had) but the British establishment, as evidenced by its ugly colonial past, has always been tough and brutal. It has never shied away from the use of force to promote state [establishment] objectives, and its control of the media allows it to paint a rosy picture of the military and to prevent criticism of Britain's military adventures. The agreement of the media, in the main, to go along with the promotion of militarism is inexcusable but is an established feature of British life and society. The use of air shows, which attract families, is an important element in painting a rosy picture of militarism in Britain.

If it were not for the overriding political objective to use air shows to promote militarism, they would have been banned around the world decades ago on safety grounds. They are incredibly dangerous as the events of last Saturday demonstrate. Sad to say (and it might appear to be contradictory as family groups make up many of the visitors to air shows), many of the people who go to air shows probably go because of the risk of something happening. I have always believed that to be the case. If I'm right and even if, as is likely, the British Government does not takes steps now to ban air shows, it is possible that the Shoreham tragedy will act as a wake-up call for the British public and the public generally throughout the world. I certainly hope so.

Air shows are becoming more popular in this country, mainly as part of the efforts by the Government to move this state away from its commitment to neutrality as a result of its commitment to the European "project". The Shoreham tragedy should be used by opponents of militarism in Ireland to put an end of air shows, which have no indigenous link with this society and would not take place in the absence of a political agenda,