Written By:
notices and features - Date published:
7:01 am, April 25th, 2022 - 13 comments
Categories: Anzac Day, history, Peace, uncategorized, war -
Tags:
A more sombre and quieter Anzac Day today with planned ceremonies being pared back in this post Covid world. The numbers attending will be down. But it is still a day of reflection that should be acknowledged. Events in the Auckland region can be accessed here. Wellington events are here.
Simply like to record my thanks to my Granddad on my mothers' side who did catering for the American and NZ troops in Wellington, my Uncle Ernie who was jailed as a WW2 Conchie, my Auntie Flora who raised the children after her husband who served at Gallipoli finally succumbed, my father-in-law who commanded the big patrol boat for nearly a decade, my Uncle Des who served in Tobruk alongside the Australians, Uncle Vic who was a gunner in Korea but wasn't ever the same, and all the cuzzies who are in service now for NZDF.
Rest in Peace to those oldies now gone, and to all thankyou for your service.
'
Anzac Day, the Commemoration of Disinformation
Always grief and loss in our house. My parents, pre-teens when adored older brothers were farewelled never to return amid the jingoistic fervor of the times, were inconsolable on the day.
This is an American song about what can happen to forgotten soldiers there. I may disagree with the decisions of those leaders who choose war, but it is still important to support those who did their duty as they saw it.
It is a fan made video, but apparently has Waits' approval (according to the posters comment). A little hissy at the beginning, but that fades once the music starts.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qwg3y_FnLmg
lets never forget not being prepared for war lets the bullies of the world push their agenda just as hitler had a huge advantage it took years a millions of lives to turn the tide against his evil axis.NZ is no where near prepared, Putin has emboldened aggression now all we have is a Scare force a navy with leaky boats an Army that could barely deal with MIQ.The World is heading into a Darker period Empires are flexing their muscles and all we have is virtually nothing except food to feed an army .Our NH90's are unreliable our seaspirites likewise we have a few texan trainers no modern long range drones if any drones or missile defence systems. Our Navy is outdated and has virtually no weapons do defend any attack.It take years to build serious capability this is no good for the short term.Plus war technology is moving rapidly and by the time the expensive US made weapons arrive they could be out of date. At the very least we should be investing in Cheaper long range drones upgrading our Army to a much larger effective fighting forc capable of training many more at short notice.Look ta the Ukraine Trump cut funding to their defence force opening the door for Putin.Now we have the Soloman islands in our back yard with Chinas expansionism and huge industrial capability not to mention its huge very advanced technological capability.NZ is in no posistion to defend itself or help allies.Lets never forget those who sacrificed their lives so we can live the lives we live now.
My paternal great-grandfather served in WW1 as part of the Maori Contingent 24th Reinforcement. My paternal grandfather vanished also serving during WW2 fate entirely unknown. My paternal grandmother died of an illness during WW2 for lack of suitable treatment. My father was not only an only child, but orphaned at the age of 14.
On my mother's side, although she was also an only child as well, lost five uncles to both wars. The one who did come home was the unlucky one. As a result I have no cousins and only a handful of distant relatives that I have ever met.
War has obliterated whole swaths of what might have been my family. Their voices haunt me.
War is the failure of politics. That it continues to haunt us is a failure of politics globally. Nearly 8b humans live in a connected, interdependent world. No nation, no empire thrives in isolation. And nations no longer have the moral right to commit war unilaterally. The sheer number of city killing nuclear weapons are so frightful that we have no option but to demand the nation states universally cede the right to war.
As the nation-state citizen cedes their right to use violence to resolve conflict in favour of a police and justice system – so must the same model be replicated at the higher level of a federated global system. The UN's fatal flaw of the UNSC veto must be repaired. The UN Declaration of Human Rights must be reshaped to ensure all humans have the right to live under a democratically accountable government.
The era of the totalitarian strongman dictators must wither and end. Soon.
Like salt to a stew, you make just a bit more sense on the whole after that.
I would reply to in defence of the poor RNZAF & the RNZN Rotary Wing & whatever else you wrote.
But I left my goggles behind early morning for dawn service so like a Army Officer with a map as I can't see or read a map LoL.
Hmm, this is not where I expected ANZAC memorial disruptions to come from.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300572731/man-arrested-at-national-anzac-service-in-wellington
Te Taipo says that Counterspin were prevented from sneaking a camera past a cordon, but only short snippets so maybe other details ommited. He should be getting psychological danger pay for subjecting himself to that drivel. Apparently the Auckland RSA requesting the Ukrainian flag to also be flown was all Deep State machinations. Almost makes the flat-earther seem rational by comparison. The Hellespont being on the other side of the globe means that logically; Gallipoli must be fake (if you accept the premise).
https://mobile.twitter.com/Te_Taipo/status/1518329842529611777?cxt=HHwWgsDRvdC8mJIqAAAA
Edit: I am going to have to learn how to embed Twitter links some time. Probably involves being signed into that site, and I am not inclined set up an account.
Good morning, or should that good afternoon?
From Dundee Beach (the NT One & not the Scottish one) lol.
I haven't got my goggles behind with me atm, so I'm a like a Army Officer with a map can't see & can't read.
I hope the photos & video works via my mobile phone.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/81HB2vhsR6S1bAor9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/w7938iBTi2KmyxCU6
Proud array of service there Scud.
Thanks Ad,
Should've been a couple more , but I took a stand against the Iraq War when the 3 Muppets went to War. it cost me alot even Rifle Fligh SNCO's or Rifle Flight Cdrs requested me, but was worth it the end.
I can't be bothered to chase up 1 or 2 more either as I have enough gongs already & bloody Ground Combat Badge.