Arrests made at Wellington Dawn Service

[Toaster]

I beached myself on the coach today watching the History channel on war. Fuck, we don't know how easy we've got it.

Damn right mate. We live in the me myself and I generation. A vast difference to those that did what they did in generations past for the sake of others they would never know.

[BigG]

And the Govt. is thinking about removing sedition as a crime. Just in the nick of time these two wankers stand up as proof that we can still find just reason to hang worthless pieces of shit masquerading as humans.
I didn't go to the local ANZAC service today to defend anything that these 'past-their-use-by-date-left-over-hippies' claim that the day is about.

Their false statement that it is about 'lest we commit again' is rubbish. It's never been about that. Ás Paul said it's about paying respect to brave and selfless young men and women that gave up their lives or put their lives at risk to defend what they felt was worth defending. These idiots can't try and judge with their 2007 values (which appear to be non-existent) what was judged worthwhile 65 or 93 years ago. I respect and am truly grateful for what our previous generations have done for us. THAT'S WHY I GO TO ANZAC SERVICES.
Burning our flag is disgraceful behaviour on any day but so much worse to try and hijack ANZAC day for your own agenda. Today belongs solely to the war vets, lest we forget [ their sacrifice for us]

Amen well said Dude

[Delerium]

Here's the press release from the protesters... But I would like to say I do not support their actions and I think it was totally inappropriate. So don't attack me, I'm just the messenger. I have a military-wannabe bike. I like war.

ANZAC Day Protest - Lest we forget: already forgotten

Members of Peace Action Wellington (PAW) demonstrated at the Wellington ANZAC Day dawn service this morning, displaying banners that said "Lest We Forget: Already Forgotten - Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste" and "Conscientious Objectors: the real war heroes."

"ANZAC Day has ceased to be a day where we commit to 'never again', and has instead become nothing less than a celebration of the New Zealand military and the glorification of war," said Valerie Morse, Peace Action Wellington member.

"Lest we forget that the New Zealand military is currently engaged in combat in Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. Lest we forget that the New Zealand military is currently deployed in 18 different missions around
the world."

"Lest we forget that the military has, and always will, exist for the sole purpose of waging war," said Valerie Morse.

This morning's demonstration also marks the launch of Peace Action Wellington's 'NZ Troops Out Now' campaign. For further information about the campaign, go to www.nztroopsoutnow.org

"Peace Action Wellington demands the immediate withdrawal of all New Zealand troops and the cessation of all military training and joint exercises with other armies," concluded Valerie Morse.

And yet if it wasnt for the sacrifice that these very people, those that have served have made, these 'protestors' (I want attention) wouldnt be alive to make these statements. Guess what, those that are in the military are NOT war mongers. They serve to improve and prove themselves, to do their bit to preserve everybodys way of life. ANZAC day is NOT glorification of the military. is it recognition of the sacrifice made, a warning for the future and a time of reflection.

These peoples actions are in very poor taste. They are incorrect in their assumptions of the poples that serve attitudes and what ANZAC day is about. Their actions are blatently disrespectful, arogant and and down right rude.

Guess what, nobody wants to go and kill somebody. The referances to where people are serving. It fails to recognize why we are there. WE WERE ASKED TO GO TO TIMOR! We are not invading these places in an attempt to permanently occupy. They may disagree why we are in afghanistan. Do they then agree with the telebans actions of destroying the ancient bhuddas that were there. What did that achieve. These people need to get a grip.

NZ seems to have a general lack of patriotism.

[candor]

They lived in a world where life was simple. That was all changed by the wars that they fought in. They didn't choose to have their names engraved on a memorial. In a more simple world there would be far more simple and direct punishment.

It was more simple. An old man who was my neighbour when I was little called Jerry, just so happened to murder his wife and her lover in a crime of passion. He was quite meek and mild type normally and he used to help us make fudge!

But back to the point. His punishment........ he was given a choice in the 40's. Jerrys choice was to
A) Await processing in the Justice system after the war
B) Go to the front lines where survival averaged - not long!
What did Jerry do? He went to war, fought for NZ and survived (obviously) and returned a free man.

As Colapop said "in a simple more direct world - perhaps....(mre simple direct punishment)" .... like we'd be sending these people to a war zone to make citizens out of them?

I think I do understand the Dunedin protest. I agree with their sentiment that this Govt is seditious (if thats a word). I do believe strongly as hell that my grandad who was in Italy, Egypt and J Force as well and had some shellshock would be rolling in his grave if he knew how crap this country is going or gone.

People like Valerie don't get it. They are scared of their shadow - their active masculine principle. They don't understand that the warrior is needed EXACTLY as someone said BECAUSE BAD / EVIL DOES EXIST, and is an expression of love for the generations to come, not a bloodthirsty degeneracy.

If pacifists did not have warriors to defend them thee genes would not be long in the gene pool long. The stupidity of it all overwhealms me. They need to visit Monte Cassino (one of saddest places I've been along with Montsegur the last cathar stronghold) or maybe Dachau which they would never dare to disrespect as the tapu is tangible.

How I know war is love, is I know the thought of future generations is what kept them going. How I know is because my granddads lot of soldiers (?word)swore to give their medals to their oldest grandkids once home (if they ever got any).

He gave his medal to me when I was about 4 with a strange look and sombre heavy tone. He said "this is for you - it means NOTHING to me". Spent years figuring it out. Revisited it in my mind every few years seeing it from a different angle. If I tell people the guys have a different perspective than females on it. All I know is he did not like what he did, saw or learnt - which was never discussed (tho we got some ideas from his dying ramblings)- and greatly regreted the experience yet I'm sure he would do it again.

*Respect* to that. Prolly all these parties want to get rid of sedition because they are treacherous and have big plans for idiot protests?? Its got to say something about us that a whole lot think thats a priority

[NZHog]

I support their right to protest,they used it inappropriately. I would have told them so had I seen them.

They were Peace Action Wellington, they are very media-savvy. Their protest against the arms industry conference at Te Papa was actually quite cool and effective, but this Anzac Day protest was going way way too far.
http://peacewellington.org/index.html

[Skyryder]

I support their right to protest,they used it inappropriately. I would have told them so had I seen them.

I don't. Not at a service commemorating those that have given their life for their country.

Skyryder

[nudemetalz]

I agree, Fellow Guzzi Owner !!
It was one thing to have their protesting banners (which I didn't support by the way) but to disrupt the service which paid a tribute to allowing these a-holes to be alive is another thing.
Made me sick and want to go over and give them a 7.62mm injection !!!

[Paul in NZ]

This has grated me all day....

Above all else - we should remember that ANZAC day is not about agrandising the NZ Military which is one of the lowest key militaries in the world (and good on em) but in recent years, as the diggers from WW1 have marched into history, it is about our fathers and grandfathers (and the women too - just being lazy mit der typing) and what happened to THEM and US telling them THANKS for winning WW2. Thanks for a hell of a lot...

Why?

It's hard to say - harder to listen to and as time goes by, even harder for people to understand. Hard to understand how a young mechanic from ChCh could end up (after lying about his age and giving up a rank to get an overseas posting) in an advanced unit in Italy and be awoken in the night by a raid by a stranded group of SS troopers and jump from the back of his truck with his two mates right into the sweep of sub machine gun fire, have his two mates fall mortally wounded either side while he stands there faced with a child with a machine gun desperate to get home and willing to kill for a truck. HIS truck and now with a jammed sub machine gun facing a gentle man with two dead friends and a functional .303....... What would you do???Tears on both sides and no winners - but my dad took him prisioner. No trophies and no pride in evil deeds. Despite all this, and being at Monte Casino and many other places my father never raised a hand to me in violence (or any other creature I'm aware of) and is a decent man to this day. He need not justify HIS actions to me and if I am judged to be half the man he and his were I'd be happy...

Those men - on this ONE DAY deserve our understanding and support. They went through hell and potentially - the end of there world. To protest like that, to disturb such a moment... with those old men present..... well... I'm very very angry about it... BASTARDS.....

I'm thinking of protesting outside their next meeting - fucking low life cunts - I bet they would not have the balls to be CO's or anything if push came to shove... Bloody cowards

[Ixion]

Hm. Just a wee thought. A lot of Kiwis , and Brits and Yanks, went off to war, to die defending their country and what they believed in. They did their duty, and we , very properly , honour their memory.

A lot of Germans, and Italians, and Russian, and Japs (and others) went off to war, to die defending their country and what they believed in. They did their duty too. Should we honour *their* memory? Or is it just the memory of people on the winning side. Just wondering.

[Big Dave]

Or is it just the memory of people on the winning side. Just wondering.

Johnny Turk gets a nod at the Galipoli service.

[James Deuce]

Hm. Just a wee thought. A lot of Kiwis , and Brits and Yanks, went off to war, to die defending their country and what they believed in. They did their duty, and we , very properly , honour their memory.

A lot of Germans, and Italians, and Russian, and Japs (and others) went off to war, to die defending their country and what they believed in. They did their duty too. Should we honour *their* memory? Or is it just the memory of people on the winning side. Just wondering.

Johannes Steinhoff, Adolf Galland, Saburo Sakai.

All took the time to write back to a 10 year old boy who was encouraged by his English Grandfather to do just that after reading their Autobiographical War Diaries.

They're just people.

[Macktheknife]

I am surprised that the nearest people didn't smack these guys, I would have done. Burn the flag and disrespect those who gave so much for the rest of us, not on my watch.
Bastards.

[Krusti]

The one thing that makes me proud to be a kiwi and makes me well up in side is the way our fore fathers fought in past conflicts.

There are many negative things you can say about NZ but when real men where needed we were the best. I have nothing but respect for any kiwi war vet and I don't think many of us can even begin to comprehend what those guys went through.

How dare any one try to minimise what our guys did. We are not celebrating war but saying thanks to our fore fathers.

I am never more proud to be a Kiwi than I am on Anzac day.

[ManDownUnder]

I am surprised that the nearest people didn't smack these guys, I would have done. Burn the flag and disrespect those who gave so much for the rest of us, not on my watch.
Bastards.

Exactly... while not condoning violence, I have a level of respect for those that gave their lives that FAR exceeds the respect I have the right of one or two to mouth off at them.

Would i't be a shame if one or two of the fighting forces got a bit pissed of and smacked them on behalf of those that had gone before? It'd be kinda fitting really - It'd be defence of another member of the NZ fighting forces, or their honor at the very least.

The protestors deserve absolute fucking grief, and put money on the fact they'll be there next year - in their minds they'll have suceeded... so... a whole year to plan a nice retaliation.

Mack - you and me... bit of a diversion, get all the cops over with us - maybe give them a coffee or something. Snipe Sarge... you got any tactics... y'know either"Silently drop them and make them REALLY hurt", or maybe just walk up and a single blow to the (soon to be broken) nose?

Na - fuck 'em. I don't have the balls to be on the receiving end of hot lead - and I'll admit it. I hugely respect anyone that does.

[ManDownUnder]

A lot of Germans, and Italians, and Russian, and Japs (and others) went off to war, to die defending their country and what they believed in. They did their duty too. Should we honour *their* memory? Or is it just the memory of people on the winning side. Just wondering.

Yes - Without question. Who wins a war is a function of superior tactics, training and equipment. It doesn't confirm who was right or wrong. What confirms it for me is when the 70+ year olds reunite after 50 years apart. Last time they'd have shot each other on sight.

While I'm loathe to speak on their behalf, it seems there is no a mutual respect for each other. Possibly brought together by the horrors of war. I don't know, and hope I never do.

My point is I will probably never have to because of men like them. How can I not be grateful?