Let's celebrate ANZAC Day whilst also celebrating the freedom the ANZACS fought for!
Do unvaccinated voices matter? Don't ALL voices really matter?
As the daughter of a WW II veteran and someone whose birthday just happens to be on April 25th, the ANZACS have always meant a great deal to me!
I value and treasure those who have voluntarily put their lives on the line to keep me and mine safe and mourn for those who were lost in the line of duty.
But today, we see the service of both military and police forces being utillised - not for the good of the people - but to protect those who are actively involved in killing, harming and enslaving us all.
The attempt to pass an Aboriginal Voice referendum that seems intended to steal even more from the original Australians rather than to provide them with the honour they deserve (the same honour we all deserve) is the last straw as far as I’m concerned.
We are all Australians.
We are all entitled to be heard.
We are all entitled to be respected.
We are all entitled to our inalienable rights and freedoms.
And whilst thinking about this and considering what ANZAC Day actually means - and the fact that ALL Australians - original and immigrant - fought for freedom in our wars, I thought that perhaps ANZAC Day celebrations should encompass what is happening now.
We are seeing our freedom destroyed in ways that would have sent our forefathers running for their weapons to fight against - not foreign invaders - but their own government.
Because they valued freedom enough to lay their lives on the line to protect it.
We should honour that sacrifice by - at the very least - standing up together against those who would make a mockery of their service.
Might I respectfully suggest that on April 25th this year, wherever we happen to be in this wonderful country, we spare 5 minutes to hold those we love and care about close and consider how terrible it would be if we once again lost that ability to be close to them and to hold them due to insane policies and illegal mandates?
I am not calling for rallies or protests. I am calling for each one of us to stand in our power, to love our families, our neighbours and our country and, through that love, to support our precious, precious freedoms including our voices which those in power have tried so hard to silence. In that way, we will manifest the REAL Australian voice.
Thanks Meryl and Lyn for your responses. I guess we may have to agree to differ.
I felt the need to speak up, though, because the post seemed to assume I had a similar view on this other topic when I joined this site because it focussed on issues of vaccination.
Hearing what you both say, it makes me see we must be wary of seeing ‘narratives’ and (forgive me!) ‘conspiracies’ everywhere even when they’re not there… because we have ourselves become traumatised as a result of our recent experiences. I guess everything is a narrative, but on this issue I think what we see has pretty straightforward differences of outlook and approach. I don’t think the indigenous leaders, people, or us, are being conned or usurped (though I’d be interested to hear examples of how if you think they/we are, ). This issue has been going on so l-o-n-g and it’s just coming to a head in this particular form at this particular stage in the struggle.
I looked with interest at the links you sent, Meryl. No longer reading/watching MSM, I haven’t followed discussion (for the past 2 years) about the Voice, but the differing views both inside and outside the Aboriginal community seem pretty much as expected. Mundine has reason to think a treaty could be more effective, but this has been discussed amongst the indigenous community for ages and I think he’s in a minority, or at least the Voice is what has emerged out of the debate as the most achievable in today’s political climate and therefore the important foot in the door to start walking a new path. Their leaders have emerged though struggle and debate more arduous I reckon than any our representatives go through, and if they hear this is worth going for and working with, I’m with them. They’ve at least got some political leverage and nous.
Obviously some of white Australia dismisses and is fearful of it. It is confronting for all, but I feel it’s an educative and necessary process that could help Australia grow in stature and self respect if we can just let go of grunges and take it on board straightforwardly, the way we are being asked to. There’s a basic Truth that has never been and just has to be recognised and embodied formally (and therefore I think constitutionally, because a treaty seems even more late-in-the-day)…(drum roll!) …that the real original people here are the Ab-origines.
It is a declaration of principle from which right action can follow, it cannot yet be a detailed policy.
In other European settled countries like Canada and New Zealand treaties recognised who/what preceded them and they thereby accord at least a level of necessary status to First Nations people, but here, where there never was any treaty, my sense is that we have continually hanging over us a deeply buried (and guilty) wish to disappear the indigenous people… But ‘terra nullius’ it never was and never will be… Enough of us must come clean to create the possibility of a future together on a true, not false, foundation. This is a big step further than an apology from one politician in one Party, a referendum about the importance of the indigenous voice with the country behind it carries much more weight.
My perspective is no doubt partly formed by my own origins as a white African of English settler parents (also WWII veterans, by the way!) - born and brought up in East Africa and living there till I was ready to leave home. When independence came, it was better that we settlers didn’t seek a future in that country and I was in fact brought up to appreciate that that day would come. I reached for sunny Australia thinking it a place where indigenous people were successfully sharing their country, only to find the shoe was completely on the other foot. Aborigines are amazed that I seek them out to talk to and that I’ve learned some of the local language. They even say ‘why are you speaking to me?’ and I am shocked. I grew up with black people, they are part of my humanity, and my soul insists that everyone’s dignity is of ultimate importance, and a country’s stature cannot be any bigger than its heart and respect for everybody, and essential truths.
I’ve said enough and forgive me if my passion about this is equal to my passion about harm from vaccinations. I’m following through, though, because the subject was raised in a way that drew this out.
Let's not celebrate any day - until this war on humanity is fought and won.