ANZAC Day.

[Grahameeboy]

sadly.. i do not see the appreciation the younger generations SHOULD have for the people in past generations who have made the ultimate sacrifice. yea .. its all good to go to the dawn service and buy the poppies .. but when is the last time you ( generalizing) have actually stopped at a rest home or at an RSA and just sat and talked to a Vet.. when have you shook an old man's hand and said " Welcome Home Soldier... Thank you"

Buckbuck, NZsarge, Sniper, Gunny, Doc, and a few others on here know what the life is like.. the loneliness of being so far from home and away from the people who love you.. the knowledge that death is 5 feet away and has your name.. seeing your mates die or get hurt. knowing at any time,your country will ask you to lay down your life to protect the ones who are at home waving signs AGAINST what you are doing..

In the US .. it is considered our DUTY and an Honor to serve. In NZ it seems to be the furthest from most peoples minds. Being in the USMC changed my life. it taught me Discipline, Respect and Humility in the respect of knowing that the lessons i learned were written in the blood of those who came before me.

Thank a Vet every day.. its because of them that you are here today and able to express your opinion.

Very true Sarge although to be fair Yanks just have a different attitude so you should not compare with NZer's and I see nothing wrong in people having war furthest from their minds because it is all about choice and expressing one's opinion.

Personally I think it is sad that so many men and women lost their lives or suffered trauma that they will never forget. However, I didn't go to any parades simply because I have no links (unlike you Sarge who) to what happened, Grandfather, Uncle etc who may have died / fought in the wars. Doesn't mean I don't care because it was on my mind but guess ANZAC Day is really a time for those servicemen/women and family's to remember and to a lot of others it is just a day off work which is their right also

There are other life lessons that can be learnt from other 'walks of life' not just war.

[SARGE]

Personally I think it is sad that so many men and women lost their lives or suffered trauma that they will never forget. However, I didn't go to any parades simply because I have no links (unlike you Sarge who) to what happened, Grandfather, Uncle etc who may have died / fought in the wars. Doesn't mean I don't care because it was on my mind but guess ANZAC Day is really a time for those servicemen/women and family's to remember and to a lot of others it is just a day off work which is their right also

i think thats where you and i differ GB .. i see ANZAC Day/ US Memorial Day etc as a way of paying those families who have lost someone back.. show them you will never forget their father or brother .. see and old lady at the war memorial and give her a "Thank you for your sacrifice..I couldnt live like this if your son/ Husband/ Brother didnt die.."

[Grahameeboy]

i think thats where you and i differ GB .. i see ANZAC Day/ US Memorial Day etc as a way of paying those families who have lost someone back.. show them you will never forget their father or brother .. see and old lady at the war memorial and give her a "Thank you for your sacrifice..I couldnt live like this if your son/ Husband/ Brother didnt die.."

Thats cool............we are all different.....bit worried that that is the only way we differ though SARGE.

[Colapop]

I stopped in at the Cenotaph (right outside parliament) today. The first time I've been able to go inside and read the inscription. I cannot recall the words by heart (yet) but the thing that sticks in my mind is this this phrase...

"They fought for freedom, justice and honour"

Kinda says it all really.

[SARGE]

Thats cool............we are all different.....bit worried that that is the only way we differ though SARGE.

well GB .. i look at it this way ... ANZAC day / Memorial day isn't about LEARNING about the history of the event .. its a way to show that we appreciate those who made the history.. but that shouldn't be limited to just one day a year IMHO..

could just be the Yank in me though.. we view the Military a bit differently that your typical Kiwi..


your RNZ Army and Navy fought side by side with my Marine Corps at Guadalcanal and Singapore to stem the Japanese Imperial forces advance to Australia and NZ.. anyone who bleeds with my beloved Corps is a brother in my eyes ..


with the US troops stationed in NZ in WW2 .. we could possibly be related ..


oh... and you're a Christian and i'm a Pagan with Atheistic leanings ..

[Grahameeboy]

well GB .. i look at it this way ... ANZAC day / Memorial day isn't about LEARNING about the history of the event .. its a way to show that we appreciate those who made the history.. but that shouldn't be limited to just one day a year IMHO..

could just be the Yank in me though.. we view the Military a bit differently that your typical Kiwi..


your RNZ Army and Navy fought side by side with my Marine Corps at Guadalcanal and Singapore to stem the Japanese Imperial forces advance to Australia and NZ.. anyone who bleeds with my beloved Corps is a brother in my eyes ..

oh... and you're a Christian and i'm a Pagan with Atheistic leanings ..

Agree, and I totally respect your view, however, we just view it differently........and yep probably the Yank in you......

Guess there are a lot of things that should not be limited to one day but being a BRITISH (sorry thought I would deal with that misconception) Christian of course every day is a something to remember.

I think with me I am an emotional person and it has to be something close to me to stir things up (I think I may be opening myself up to that one but what the eck) so I just don't have the same feelings towards ANZAC day whereas I would if I had an emotional link like you...doesn't mean I don't care about it though.

[Colapop]

Please take your discussion elsewhere - PM each other if you must... not in this thread.

[Drew]

Please take your discussion elsewhere - PM each other if you must... not in this thread.

How is thier discussion not for this thread? It is relevent to the original topic, and not in any way derogitory.

We should remember those who faught, but we will all have a different perspective on war.

[SARGE]

How is thier discussion not for this thread? It is relevent to the original topic, and not in any way derogitory.

We should remember those who faught, but we will all have a different perspective on war.

thanks Fizzer .. i was just trying to make a point that ANZAC day has become merely a " Day off" for most Kiwi's and has lost alot of its meaning to the latest generation that has not had to go to war thanks to your forefather's sacrifices.

[Pussy]

sadly.. i do not see the appreciation the younger generations SHOULD have for the people in past generations who have made the ultimate sacrifice. yea .. its all good to go to the dawn service and buy the poppies .. but when is the last time you ( generalizing) have actually stopped at a rest home or at an RSA and just sat and talked to a Vet.. when have you shook an old man's hand and said " Welcome Home Soldier... Thank you"

Buckbuck, NZsarge, Sniper, Gunny, Doc, and a few others on here know what the life is like.. the loneliness of being so far from home and away from the people who love you.. the knowledge that death is 5 feet away and has your name.. seeing your mates die or get hurt. knowing at any time,your country will ask you to lay down your life to protect the ones who are at home waving signs AGAINST what you are doing..

In the US .. it is considered our DUTY and an Honor to serve. In NZ it seems to be the furthest from most peoples minds. Being in the USMC changed my life. it taught me Discipline, Respect and Humility in the respect of knowing that the lessons i learned were written in the blood of those who came before me.

Thank a Vet every day.. its because of them that you are here today and able to express your opinion.

Well put, Sarge. Those who know me know of my enormous respect for those who courageously did/do their duty. As I've said to you before, things would be quite different if we'd come second

[Colapop]

Not a MOD, but these 'discussions' have a habit of getting out of control round here. I was just pointing that out. And there's another thread that things like that can be discussed.

[SARGE]

Not a MOD, but these 'discussions' have a habit of getting out of control round here. I was just pointing that out. And there's another thread that things like that can be discussed.

shit man .. i take any opportunity i can to stir up the God - Botherers

[Rhino]

Australia and New Zealand Army Corps.

We celebrate a 'day off', a holiday. How many of us remember those men and women who fought and gave their lives to protect our future. Regardless of whether they were right or wrong to fight, regardless of whether war is right or wrong, they willingly fought to protect a future they would never see. They fought to protect their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Too often we take for granted the freedom we enjoy in this country. We moan about the injustice of the law, we complain about how hard our lives are, and we complain about the ineptitude of the government. There are places that are worse, that are still wracked by violence and war.

Be thankful and remember those that have gone before. Lest we forget.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Very well said. If it wasn't for those who fought in both WWI and WWII most of us wouldn't be here. If The Allies had lost, those that were born in NZ would be speaking German, or Japanese and living in an occupied country.

[doc]

so I just don't have the same feelings towards ANZAC day whereas I would if I had an emotional link like you...doesn't mean I don't care about it though.

ANZAC day is our celebration of rememberance of your War. Your here, your invited. Thats all there is too it, you don't get a personal invite. If you attend it's appreciated no one will personally thank you its just the Kiwi way.

[Grahameeboy]

ANZAC day is our celebration of rememberance of your War. Your here, your invited. Thats all there is too it, you don't get a personal invite. If you attend it's appreciated no one will personally thank you its just the Kiwi way.

Sorry for any misunderstanding DOC...........