tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post3185890538694974329..comments2024-01-20T10:32:53.309+10:00Comments on CairnsBlog.net: An open letter to ABC Far NorthMichael P Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890121680113642715noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-80283423280360438072009-04-02T11:47:00.000+10:002009-04-02T11:47:00.000+10:00My initial comment on this thread was, sadly, an A...My initial comment on this thread was, sadly, an April Fools Joke. The ABC has not yet replied to my email.<BR/><BR/>Second, Mick, I am sorry I raised your hackles. <BR/><BR/>Are you saying it is unpatriotic to query and oppose wars based on demonstrable lies? Are you saying it is patriotic to 'support our troops' even if they are losing life and limb (and killing and maiming locals) in a futile, open-ended military conflict?<BR/><BR/>If so, we have a different concept of patriotism. <BR/><BR/>As you are an anonmyous Mick, there's not much point in asking about your experience of real war zones. But tell me - how much experience did George Bush, Tony Bliar or John Howard have? I know they flew in, heavily guarded, for photo ops. But did they get a taste of the real thing?<BR/><BR/>Here's the words of one man who did have such direct experience, during World War One. It's an extract from what is probably the most famous war poem of that appalling, destructive, utterly futile conflict:<BR/><BR/>"If in some smothering dreams you too could pace <BR/>Behind the wagon that we flung him in, <BR/>And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, <BR/>His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; <BR/>If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood <BR/>Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, <BR/>Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud <BR/>Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, <BR/>My friend, you would not tell with such high zest <BR/>To children ardent for some desperate glory, <BR/>The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est <BR/>Pro patria mori."<BR/><BR/>See http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.htmlSyd Walkerhttp://sydwalker.info/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-76851867138394732242009-04-02T10:51:00.000+10:002009-04-02T10:51:00.000+10:00Typical Syd Walker,You only argue with the media w...Typical Syd Walker,<BR/>You only argue with the media when they don't support your heavily skewed, left-wing views and conspiracy theories. It looks as though common sense left you a long time ago. Show some respect to the diggers on the ground serving their country and trying to give the people of Afghanistan a better life, free from repression by the Taliban. And before you lambast me for being some right-wing neo-con, why don't you actually talk to some of the veterans who've been over there and get their perspective. Get out of Kuranda and go into the real world. It's not all peace and flowers. Reality bites doesn't it? But then again, you wouldn't know that because you've probably never been in a combat zone. Grow up.<BR/><BR/>On another note: keep up the good work in and around Cairns Mike. I may not agree with all your views, but someone's got to keep 'em honest.Micknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-58660862165529260652009-04-01T09:00:00.000+10:002009-04-01T09:00:00.000+10:00Amazing! This morning I received an email from the...Amazing! This morning I received an email from the newly-appointed News Director of the ABC. That's a reply after only two days! Full details at my blog: see <A HREF="http://sydwalker.info/blog/2009/04/01/a-new-broom-at-abc-news/" REL="nofollow">A New Broom at ABC News!</A><BR/><BR/>It's a good thing that woman are elbowing their way into all the top jobs. When will Julia Gillard sieze the reins? How much longer do we have to put up with a boy doing a woman's job in the <A HREF="http://sydwalker.info/blog/2009/03/14/the-changing-face-of-stephen-conroy/" REL="nofollow">Communications portfolio</A>?Syd Walkerhttp://sydwalker.info/blog/noreply@blogger.com