ANZAC Day
Hi all.
No doubt much will be written, said, and sung, about today, and what it means to be an Australian. We live in the lucky country, and our lads have fought in every major battle fought across the world since our federation in 1900. WWI, Gulf War, WWII, Gulf War II, Vietnam, Bosnia/Herzegova, and others I am sure I cannot remember.... Australian soldiers have been involved in lots of conflicts. Sometimes, we do not get into direct action, but are involved in supportive roles and strategic backup for our allies.
I often think that the general public, including myself, are not fully aware of what it means to be fighting for your life in a trench, of coming face to face with somebody whose sole intent it is is to kill you. Years back, War was thought of as a "grand adventure", although the harsh reality brough this country kicking and screaming into the modern age. Once blokes came back from war with missing limbs, shrapnel wounds and other frightful injuries sustained in the name of "freedom" and "peace", it became apparent that war was no longer an adventure but both a neccessity to thwart evil, and a dirty, nasty invention of mans greed and corruption.
We celebrate the courage and bravery of the countless millions through the last century of warfare: those who, rightly or wrongly, fought for our freedom and way of life against those who threatened to usurp that. We give thanks to those that died so that we may live. It was a sacrifice that many today would no doubt be loath to make.
I gave Gallipoli a spin on DVD last night, knowing that I would not get a chance to do so today. A fitting tribute to the gallant Australian spirit that was born into the mud and death of the Gallipoli peninsula, and the farewell of our country's innocence.
I suggest that today, each of us reflect on what living in this country means to each of us. The value of life, the value of democratic freedom (which appears to be rapidly eroding in the new War on Terrrrism) and the sacrifice that so many gave for that ideal.
God bless you today, as we remember the fallen.
Lest We Forget.
No doubt much will be written, said, and sung, about today, and what it means to be an Australian. We live in the lucky country, and our lads have fought in every major battle fought across the world since our federation in 1900. WWI, Gulf War, WWII, Gulf War II, Vietnam, Bosnia/Herzegova, and others I am sure I cannot remember.... Australian soldiers have been involved in lots of conflicts. Sometimes, we do not get into direct action, but are involved in supportive roles and strategic backup for our allies.
I often think that the general public, including myself, are not fully aware of what it means to be fighting for your life in a trench, of coming face to face with somebody whose sole intent it is is to kill you. Years back, War was thought of as a "grand adventure", although the harsh reality brough this country kicking and screaming into the modern age. Once blokes came back from war with missing limbs, shrapnel wounds and other frightful injuries sustained in the name of "freedom" and "peace", it became apparent that war was no longer an adventure but both a neccessity to thwart evil, and a dirty, nasty invention of mans greed and corruption.
We celebrate the courage and bravery of the countless millions through the last century of warfare: those who, rightly or wrongly, fought for our freedom and way of life against those who threatened to usurp that. We give thanks to those that died so that we may live. It was a sacrifice that many today would no doubt be loath to make.
I gave Gallipoli a spin on DVD last night, knowing that I would not get a chance to do so today. A fitting tribute to the gallant Australian spirit that was born into the mud and death of the Gallipoli peninsula, and the farewell of our country's innocence.
I suggest that today, each of us reflect on what living in this country means to each of us. The value of life, the value of democratic freedom (which appears to be rapidly eroding in the new War on Terrrrism) and the sacrifice that so many gave for that ideal.
God bless you today, as we remember the fallen.
Lest We Forget.
posted by Fernby at Tuesday, April 25, 2006
2 Comments:
Yay!! TWO posts! Now I don't have to figure out how to post a haddock to Em.
Great posts!
Are you going to post, or do I have to find out how much it costs to send a haddock express mail?
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