ATTN WGTN RIDERS: BIKES BEING TOWED

[jazbug5]

BIG thanks to Rogerd for posting this, and Cath for letting me know.
The signage was a joke, and there was no advance warning that they'd be closing the park spot or anything.
As I was chatting to the nice official nearby (apparently the Parking S.S. had turned up with tow trucks, confabbed and then buggered off) Hamish came by and advised me to move it, what with them being b*stards and everything.
If I'd left it any more than 5 minutes, I'd be facing a big bloody bill that I really cannot afford.
Nice one, council Bods.
About 8 bikes & mopeds got stung; I hope they fight it.
Bloody ridiculous; they were far from being in anyone's way; and if some nutjob wanted to bomb the march (as if), I'm pretty sure they'd find some other, more efficient method.
Grrrrrrrrr!

[Blakamin]

Bloody ridiculous; they were far from being in anyone's way; and if some nutjob wanted to bomb the march (as if), I'm pretty sure they'd find some other, more efficient method.
Grrrrrrrrr!

I dont think a moped-bomb would have the same effect as a van full of semtex :sneaky2:

[Paul in NZ]

It does feel weird aye, and I most certainly know what you mean about Labour. Kinda strange how after all this time and of all the dead soldiers they pick this unknown one and bring him back today with a huge military parade.
anyway, hope no one got towed.

One of the oddest things (to me) is the dramatic increase in the use of Maori protocols and greetings etc for this unknown warrior. Nothing wrong with that given the recent make up of our armed forces (such as they are) but this unkown warrior would be pretty jolly surprised by it (had he known)

In WW1 troops of colour were regarded (quite wrongly) with a great deal of suspicion by the officer class (mostly british) and usually seperated.

All rather - Odd really....

I guess it is a nice gesture and we are slowly moving towards a greater concept of us as an independant nation. And perhaps it IS good that this unknown warrior resides here so that future generations that never met the old diggers can glimpse the symbol of sacrifice and thus understand the gift they bought us so dearly and with so much pain and bravery and which we are slowly sqandering, our freedoms.

However, a little part of me wonders if a callous, publicity hungry, diversion seeking government and an award seeking architect with a theatrical vision are the real reson this has occurred!

Paul N

Sad for all the poor bastards that gave up their youth or died calling for their loved ones in fields of conflict everywhere..... Thanks! We won't need a bloody silly building to remember you all by... Everytime we twist that throttle open, feel the burn and breathe in the clean air, we should give a little prayer and I bet they would prefer that!

[Blakamin]

However. I little part of me wonders if a publicity hungry, diversion seeking government and an award seeking architect are the real reson this has occurred!

Paul N

Sad

unfortunately, I think you have hit the nail on the head...

and totally off topic, i occasionaly play some inteweb war bizzo with some guys who are mainly about my age, and none of them even knew about the 11th hour, 11th day etc.... and these guys are right into the history of killing enemies??? :spudwhat:

[Paul in NZ]

and none of them even knew about the 11th hour, 11th day etc.... and these guys are right into the history of killing enemies??? :spudwhat:

Same reaction today from my patriotic co workers who questioned my questioning and still didn't know the significance of the day...

Shessh!

Paul N

[James Deuce]

Had that discussion about November 11th and got blank looks.

I also object to the phrase warrior in relation to this. Unknown Soldier is a much more appropriate term given that he was a member of a disciplined, trained modern Army. He's not some red haired, bearded, kilt wearing, Celtic looney looking for a stoush. He was a man doing his duty, not seeking death and mayhem, but peace and order. For all we know he may have met his doom cowering in a shell hole in Flanders. Whihc is much more representative of industrial warfare.

Warrior is a belligerent term, not at all representative of the best of a generation lost to someone else's war in a far off place.

He represents all those people lost to war that weren't returned home, that no physical remnant was ever found, a symbol for grief.

Soldier is a dignified phrase used to describe a human being who defends the values of his culture. Warrior belongs to a different spirit of warfare, and a different age.

[MD]

Too right Guys, its a shame that Labour and the Maori pc brigade hijacked the occasion for their personal gains. Hopefully most people will see through that. Only 4% of our soldiers in WW1 were Maori (according to the DomPost recently) so why was every ceremonial highlight monopolised by Maori? Unlikely the unknown soldier would have chosen that, or to have been called a warrior.
Anyway I watched and have to admit that only a heartless bastard could have not been moved, if only for a moment. When I first laid eyes on the coffin it really hit me and drove the point home that this was a real person who probably lived for days, weeks months dreading that today I might die and suddenly it happened, somehow. Did he suffer, did he die crying because he knew he would never see his Mum, Dad, Brother, Wife Girlfriend or worse of all his daughter or son again. It was sad thinking about it but we owe them that, to think about them from time to time, so the tomb for me is a good idea. RIP Guys.
Heavy stuff, time to go for a ride to cheer up

[simo]

All New Zealanders should be suspicious with " trouping the colour", as it know in the forces, there is only one colour and its Labour Party Red, it is hypocracy with nobs on, when you consider how St Helen and her lessy mates have decimated the armed forces and turned them into peacekeepers!

[Slingshot]

unfortunately, I think you have hit the nail on the head...

and totally off topic, i occasionaly play some inteweb war bizzo with some guys who are mainly about my age, and none of them even knew about the 11th hour, 11th day etc.... and these guys are right into the history of killing enemies??? :spudwhat:

What do you play, I play a bit of Battlefield Vietnam online, as does Wkid.

[Blakamin]

What do you play, I play a bit of Battlefield Vietnam online, as does Wkid.

we used to play BfV but the ground combat wasnt that good, so we're back to Blackhawk Down
if ya get into anything like that, look us up.. http://www.silentdeath.net.nz/
i'm "ABloke" if ya wondering

[LB]

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I couldn't help but be moved by the procession also. Whatever we think of war/politics/PC-stuff etc, a shitload of guys died horrible horrible deaths, and those who lived experienced things we can't even begin to imagine. Whole families of guys were wiped out. And the worst thing is that man hasn't learnt a thing over all this carnage.

I'm not sure why it was suddenly, after 90 years, decided to do this, but out of respect for all those who died and all those who lived through these awful wars, and knowing that seemingly nothing will stop people fighting and killing each other, I shed a tear as the procession passed by. I surprised myself by being so affected. Like Mark Dunn, I think the tomb is a good idea, and we owe it to those who defended us.

Back onto topic, they were ticketing bikes outside my work too (Lambton Quay by Stout Street). I found out about it last minute and managed to get hold of Matthewt so he could shift his bike, I didn't know who the other two belonged to.

Slightly off topic, in said park outside my work several people over the last couple of months have been ticketed for not displaying their warrant/rego sticker to be readable by the back numberplate. $200 and do not pass go, just like that.

Jaz: glad you got your bike shifted. Hamish said he'd seen you. I agree strongly re the signage - it should have been on neon paper at eye level on the "bike parking" sign poles.
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[NC]

*makes hair into a mohawk*

I pitty the fool who ever tows my bike away!

[rodgerd]

Too right Guys, its a shame that Labour and the Maori pc brigade hijacked the occasion for their personal gains. Hopefully most people will see through that. Only 4% of our soldiers in WW1 were Maori (according to the DomPost recently) so why was every ceremonial highlight monopolised by Maori? Unlikely the unknown soldier would have chosen that, or to have been called a warrior.

The only hijacking I'm feeing here is a bunch of dicks who can't put their obsessive hatred for Helen Clark aside for five minutes to honour fallen soldiers.

[Paul in NZ]

The only hijacking I'm feeing here is a bunch of dicks who can't put their obsessive hatred for Helen Clark aside for five minutes to honour fallen soldiers.

Well you could read it that way. But you would be wrong! Not about us being dicks (cool, I'm a dick, an arsehole and a wanker now - excellent)

But you are wrong about us not honouring fallen slodiers. Most of the comments are more about protecting the memory rather than letting it get hi jacked by people that don't value it. Not particularly directed at Ms Clarke but at most politicians btw.

Ironically, these are the very sorts of people that tend to send soldiers to fight with substandard gear and treat them shabbily when there are no war on? Funny old world....

Stress less. I have no idea how old you are but I'm the child of one of those that did serve and our family lost plenty and we saw the effects. We grew up knowing what was done.. We don't take it lightly.

Paul N

[Blakamin]

I've still got family members in the forces... as far as I know, theres always been someone in the family in the DF.... I've grown up with great respect for what these people have done so we can live the way we do...
shit, I've probably missed 3 dawn services on ANZAC day since I was born!
and I totally agree with Paul

But you are wrong about us not honouring fallen soldiers. Most of the comments are more about protecting the memory rather than letting it get hi jacked by people that don't value it. Not particularly directed at Ms Clarke but at most politicians btw.

I think the politicians should stay out of anything honouring anything, (unless its another politician) because we all know its just a photo-op to them :disapint: