THE Armed Forces Day in Keighley was publicised as a “Brilliant family day out”.

There were lots of young children seen bringing away plastic guns with them and being encouraged to try out various guns on the site. Means of warfare should not be a means of play for young children.

During the event three local women stood with banners featuring the messages “War is not family friendly” and “Give peace a chance”.

In the evening Keighley Film Club showed the film of the play Journey’s End, depicting the last few days of a company of the British Army as they waited for a German attack.

Anyone who protests about militarism in this country does not do it with either disregard or disrespect for soldiers, but because of the suffering of those men.

It leads them to conclude “never again”, so no one else’s children or their children’s children will suffer in the same way.

The old guard politicians and the military had their day in the 20th century, which was deemed to be the century of war. But the 21st century seems to be going the same way.

The causes of war are numerous: poverty, injustice, lack of good governance and inequality can all contribute.

Visionaries are needed to develop ways of resolving conflicts at an early stage. Armed Forces Day is not the way forward.

SYLVIA BOYES Showfield Keighley

* Keighley Armed Forces Day organisers spokesman Tracey King responded: “We are not promoting war, we are promoting what people have done for us. Everyone was just having fun – it was a fabulous day.

“There were only three protesters there. Luke Davison, of Keighley Armed Forces Association, went over to talk to them and asked if they wanted to look around the event. They refused.”