The Falklands War was one of the most crucial points of the second half of the last century, it was an example of Britain standing up to tyranny and dictatorship, in favour of democracy, liberty, freedom and sovereignty.
Now, more than ever, we can learn from those lessons with the current geopolitical situation.
I was disappointed to hear how today’s generation of young people has barely heard of the Falklands War. I think it is therefore crucial to teach the next generation about the Falklands Islands and why their liberation from illegal occupation by military dictatorship in 1982 was so important.
The Islands may be 8,000 miles from the United Kingdom mainland, but they are British territory and the Falkland Islanders wish to remain British, they have been British since 1832 and have continuously voted, democratically, to remain a British Overseas Territory.
That is why when Argentina invaded the Islands, we rightly stood up to the atrocity they inflicted and the illegal invasion of British territory.
It is absolutely paramount that young people today realise the importance of standing up to tyrants and dictators. It was about democracy and freedom and stopping the people of the Falklands Islands from having it snatched away before their eyes.
So this year, we must celebrate the victory against tyranny in Her Majesty’s Falkland Islands, as well as remember those who gave everything to defend freedom. We salute them all!
In the words of the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher: “The people of the Falkland Islands, like the people of the United Kingdom, are an island race. They are few in number but they deserve the right to live in peace, to choose their way of life and their own allegiance. Their way of life is British and their allegiance is to the Crown.”
