WHAT A CROCK OF SHITE
Double-edged sword: Fury at Anzac Day divisive fears
THE Federal Government has been warned that celebrating the centenary of Anzac Day could provoke division in multicultural Australia - and that there are "risks" in honouring our fallen soldiers.
The centenary is a "double-edged sword" and a "potential area of divisiveness" because of multiculturalism, a taxpayer-funded report from 2010 finds.
Bureaucrats spent almost $370,000 for focus-group testing and a research paper used by the Government to guide commemoration plans, which listed multiculturalism under "risks and issues" to avoid "unexpected negative complications".
Diggers groups slammed the report, saying Australians supported the April 2015 centenary celebrations, which are expected to stop the nation, and include travelling exhibitions and special remembrance services.
The report also says organisers should avoid references to current military action because it is "unpopular with young people".
The paper states: "Commemorating our military history in a multicultural society is something of a double-edged sword.
"While the 100th anniversaries are thought to provide some opportunity for creating a greater sense of unity, it is also recognised as a potential area of divisiveness."
More research into the impact of Anzac Day commemorations on recently arrived migrants was suggested.
But the report acknowledged that making the centenary events "overly political correct" would not be well received generally or by military personnel.
Commemorations should be "culturally sensitive and inclusive", the paper said.
It said events to mark the centenary and wars which had claimed the lives of more than 100,000 Australians should not be "unrelentingly gloomy". Any commemoration "needs to allow a positive end, make it uplifting after being reflective".
"Commemoration fatigue" was identified in focus groups if events spanned a planned four years - the same amount of time Australians spent fighting in hellish conditions at places including Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War I.
The paper has been panned by the RSL, which maintains Australia's enthusiasm for the day remains as strong as ever.
RSL national president Ken Doolan, a member of the Anzac Day National Commission and the Anzac Centenary advisory board, said Anzac Day held a "central place in Australia".
"The Australian people have said overwhelmingly that they want the centenary celebrated," he said.
Victorian RSL president David McLachlan said the commemoration had the full support of Australia's Turkish communities and the Turkish Government.
There were no multicultural issues with the planned event, Mr McLachlan said.
Ray Brown, of the Injured Service Persons Association, was horrified by the spending. "We've always seemed to get it right, we have never offended anybody.
"We seem to be able to acknowledge war is not a nice thing and that people on both sides lose out - and we have never had to spend $300,000 combined, let alone in one year," he said.
The cost is on top of more than $103,000 on focus groups to discuss "branding concepts" for the centenary in 2015.
A spokesman for Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon said the research paper was to "gain an understanding of the views, perceptions, knowledge and aspirations of the Australian people in relation to Anzac commemoration and the impending centenary".
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/fury...#ixzz1qB0Vdbzo
My thoughts are that there probably aren't too many Turks or German immigrants sooking and if any other more recent immigrants are not happy, they've obviously made an error in coming here and should probably look at getting a visa for Pakistan, Yemmen or Saudi Arabia where they'll fit in better.
"Bureaucrats spent almost $370,000 for focus-group testing and a research paper used by the Government to guide commemoration plans, which listed multiculturalism under "risks and issues" to avoid "unexpected negative complications"."
It'll be binned and ignored, principally from the outcry that will come of it - in affect right now. It's a "research paper" only as a proposal, and nowhere close to something "in actual effect". Not to be confused with "this is something the government has put in place as concrete". It's where the Australian Media (god bless their sensationalist souls) actually assists with this - providing those key headlines to create amplitude and general public voice against the paper.
I'm damn sure anyone that counts will look back and laugh at such a proposal. And for those who would actually take offense at ANZAC events, will a) be in the minority, b) be shouted down by the majority.
I saw it happen with Last Night at the Proms in the UK which was all about being British and singing God Save the Queen, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia etc and the "minority" caused an uproar claiming that it was culturally insensitive etc and so they had to tone it down.
It's a disgrace that these very same people who complain here are able to worship freely in the mosques and open up halal only restaurants, all built on the backs of the same Diggers we are honouring.
The people won't stand for it if there is any trouble
A good summary from The Punch:
http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/...ease-stand-up/
Pretty much sums it up
I think the REAL problems are going to come from "The Youth" of Middle Eastern countries within Australia who need a reason to try and establish their foothold within our country, who feel as though they have the right claimed on the backs of their heritage (which generally has no place within Australian shores); and the hippies who just need an excuse for a protest against The Man.Originally Posted by Toddy1
The people won't stand for it if there is any trouble
And possibly certain aboriginal groups barking on about their rights and the impact of the white fella (read into that - aka. mostly non aboriginal protestors and 1/4 bloods with nothing better to do; as all black fellas I know couldn't give two hoots about land rights and are very happy with their lot indeed).
You just have to look at Western Sydney to see what is brewing. And it's a dark outlook
Your intransagent attitudes will make the bureaucrat(s) who decided that ANZAC would be an excellent metaphor for the war against poverty/racism/climate change/people who make me feel bad about myself very unhappy.
I am completey dumb-founded by this report. Speechless.
Another waste of tax payers money by this stupid Government, lets just hope the go the same way as the Qld Labour party. As for the people whinging they can go & get stuffed, if they dont like how we do things here please leave.
Exercise Long Khan
Mentoring Task Force – Five (MTF-5) started its preparation for deployment to Afghanistan with Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA) from April 5-18. Sappers from 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, gunners from 1st Regiment Royal Australian Artillery and troopers from 2/14th Light Horse Regiment joined forces with the 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) infanteers in the extremely wet conditions at High Range where the entire MTF was in the field for an Afghan-like atmosphere.
The exercise gave the 744 members of MTF-5 in the field an opportunity to conduct combined arms live firing from platoon groups supported by artillery and mortar danger close fire as well as snipers and the light armoured vehicles 25mm gun from the cavalry patrols
Private Daniel Anderson from Mentoring Task Force - Five during a patrol as part of Exercise Long Khan at the Townsvile Field Training Area.
Private David Lomax from Mentoring Task Force - Five during a patrol as part of Exercise Long Khan at the Townsvile Field Training Area.
Private Gregory Wolujewicz from Mentoring Task Force - Five during a patrol as part of Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Captain Kym McCarthy, the Legal Officer from Mentoring Task Force - Five during a patrol as part of Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Private Tristan Kennedy from Mentoring Task Force - Five during a patrol as part of Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Private Andrew North from Mentoring Task Force - Five during a patrol as part of Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Mentoring Task Force Five - soldiers prepare for a mission with Bushmasters during Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Lance Corporal Gary Crompton from the 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment prepares for his next mission with Mentoring Task Force – Five at the Townsville Field Training Area during Exercise Long Khan.
Sapper Mitchell Smith from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment prepares for his next mission with Mentoring Task Force – Five at the Townsville Field Training Area during Exercise Long Khan.
Lieutenant Dale Bogae from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment prepares for his next mission with Mentoring Task Force – Five at the Townsville Field Training Area during Exercise Long Khan.
A Mentoring Task Force Five soldier guides an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle during Exercise Long Khan at the Townsville Field Training Area.
Nice pics there
I've been to the proms for the last few years and never saw this, if I had I'd have sang even louder to p1ss of the PC brigade/ackadakies!
As soon as I saw that dopey grin, much-too-long-and-will-get-broken camelbak tube and pristine weapon I knew that guy was a LT before I scrolled down to read the caption.
Not sure if this has been posted , but after watching this little preview about a book thats was released Australia's first commando campaign - Timor 1942 (ABC Radio National):
The Men Who Came Out Of The Ground: Timor 1942 - Australia's First Commandoes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6-Iw8GRDnU) good review
The gripping story of a small force of Australian Special Forces commandos that launched relentless hit and run raids on far superior Japanese forces in East Timor for most of 1942.
These Australians were the men of the 2/2nd Australian Independent Company – a special commando unit. Initially stranded without radio contact to Australia, the Japanese declared these beared warriors ‘outlaws’ and warned they would be executed immediately if captured. The Australians drawn mainly from the bush, were chosen for their ability to operate independently and survive in hostile territory. As film-maker Damien Parer said after visiting in Timor in late 1942, ‘these men are writing an epic of guerrilla warfare’.
Expertly researched by Paul Cleary, who is fluent in Tetum, the main language of the indigenous group of East Timor, it contains black and white photos.
Anyboody have anything to add about this book, such as what its like would be great! Im considering getting it.
Regards Brad
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
