Lest We Forget

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Lest We Forget

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We Will Remember Them

This video was produced before hundreds of British troops were killed in Afghanistan.  There will be many families and friends of those killed during this war who will feel the loss of their loved ones even more today.

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An Engineering Experiment Too Far

Australians will be marking ANZAC day on Wednesday 25 April and plans are being prepared for the centenary celebrations in 2015.

While the Australian Labor party continues its meltdown, politics has continued and within hours of the Queensland result a Perth newspaper reported that the Federal Coalition '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'.

Almost $370,000 of taxpayer's money was spent on focus group testing and a research paper used by the Government to guide commemoration plans, which list multiculturalism under 'risks and issues' to avoid 'unexpected negative complications'.

"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."

It's very obvious from the 390 comments that Australians are angry - not only about the expense but politicians interference in the day they remember their fallen.

Some say it's political correctness taken a step too far. I no longer believe in political correctness. It should be given its 'politically correct' name - social engineering, because that's what it is.  Social engineering has its place in societies but when it's manipulated by governments as a process of deceiving people into giving away the culture and customs, it is dangerous.

The film Wag The Dog is an excellent example of the dark side of social engineering methods being employed by politicians.

Usually governments are quite subtle in methods of changing systems but this utterly tactless, expensive report from the Australian government and motivated by moralists in government, will possibly bring about the demise of the Labor and Green parties.

Considering altering the way in which populations honour their fallen is an experiment too far. These remembrance days should not involve politics at all, as they are planned and organised by veteran associations such as the Royal British Legion, who raise their funds from public donations and not from 100% government grants.

I trust the UK government will take note of the responses of many Australians to this 'experiment'. 'Leave well alone' springs to mind.

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One Man's Story

By all the glories of the day

And the cool evening's benison

By that last sunset touch that lay

Upon the hills when day was done,

By beauty lavishly outpoured

And blessings carelessly received,

By all the days that I have lived

Make me a soldier, Lord.

By all of all man's hopes and fears

And all the wonders poets sing,

The laughter of unclouded years,

And every sad and lovely thing;

By the romantic ages stored

With high endeavour that was his,

By all his mad catastrophes

Make me a man, O Lord.

I, that on my familiar hill

Saw with uncomprehending eyes

A hundred of thy sunsets spill

Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,

Ere the sun swings his noonday sword

Must say good-bye to all of this; -

By all delights that I shall miss,

Help me to die, O Lord.

W N Hodgson

A more modern contribution.

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They Shall Not Grow Old

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Remember

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Ninety-two years later we still have many ex-service men and women whose lives will never be the same because of war.  In their efforts to protect us they suffered injuries which changed their lives forever.  They don't complain.  They deserve our gratitude.

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Remembrance Day

We Will Remember Them

Another soldier was killed in Helmand province yesterday. He was part of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles serving with 4th Battalion, The Rifles. His death bring the toll to 231.

In an hour's time the majority of the UK will acknowledge the sacrifice, willingly given, by so many in WW1, WW2 and various conflicts and wars since.

Let us also remember those families who were never the same again, having lost someone most dear to them and tolerated the loss quietly. Often I wish many families had spoken up about their suffering because then perhaps the people would realise just how much our armed forces contribute to this nation. They are there when firemen strike, when the police have problems, when health care workers decide to withdraw their labour and for thousands of other 'small' but not unimportant tasks which help keep these islands safe and sound.

This year I trust many of us will also spare a few moments to think about the injured from these wars. Their lives and and the lives of those close to them, have changed forever. Do we hear them complain?

A Soldier's Question.

We know at home we are quite truly known,

As those who can and do obey, for that is what we do.

Also at home are they who send us here and they who know we must obey.

For we are their protectors and their way must so be ours.

For we obey.

So in the searing heat of all around,

The sound of guns and moans of pain,

The further endless cries "This is the way"

By ugly sirens asking of us all,

Nought but that we must obey.

I ask you politician,Sir, is in your soul,

A thought as ugly as this war?

For when we do just as you say, and fight because we must obey,

You do not seem to have the pain,

Nor lose the friend that we must, in vain,

Attempt to save from your mistakes and egos train.

This dark place of home grown fate is not our dwelling place.

That lies far beyond this land of ancient ways and awful strife.

We do our best in sand and searing heat,

For all the things our masters say,

So, as our limbs and lives are blown away,

All that is left is that we must obey.

One question left for us to ask, from all this clever, fatal grey,

Of spin and secrets no one may yet gainsay,

To whom do you, flawed leaders, answer to?

To whom is it you ought or should obey?

We doubt your debt is n'ere as bloody as the one that we must pay.

The poem is courtesy of OldRightie

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