Happy Anniversary
Which is a very inappropriate title because neither of the two anniversaries which fall on today are particularly happy events.
Firstly, it's seventy years today since the cane toad was released in Australia, although this site gives June, 1935 as the date of introduction. Whatever, it's a fairly good warning to pointy heads to make sure of what they are doing before they try to change the biology or ecology of a system.
Secondly, in the current flood of WW2 commemorations, it may be timely to remember a battle in an unpopular war - particularly in light of the differing opinions floating around about our commitment in Iraq. It is 29 years today since the battle of Long Tan. I have immensely conflicting feelings regarding Vietnam. Firstly, after the French were defeated, that should have been that. The American involvement was unnecessary and ill-advised and so, by extension, was ours. Millions of people died for no good cause. What's worse, the Americans must have known for at least three or four years before they were defeated that they could not win, but still they stayed, so people kept dieing.
On the other hand, I have nothing but contempt for the trust-fund rebels who, to this day, maintain their 'moral superiority', which they demonstrated by such edifying activities as throwing blood at soldiers and labelling them 'babykillers'. No wonder the poor buggers had such a hard time fitting back into society when they got home.
My very first memory of anything regarding world affairs is of a newspaper photograph - in colour - of a young naked Vietnamese girl running screaming through a burning village. The village was burning because it had been napalmed. So had the girl. Her skin and flesh was melting and running down her body. That photo gave me nightmares for years, They never really went away. Ever since then I've needed a hell of a lot of evidence before I've supported any war. Even today I sometimes tear up when I see footage of wars, not battle footage, but parade grounds and suchlike. It's the sheer normality and averageness (is that a word?) of the soldiers that I find distressing. These are/were the kids next door and they're being sent to slaughter. I still get angry when I think of murderous cunts like Haig and Ludendorff. Check the stats, then convert the numbers to people. It's pretty easy for a bunch of armchair generals to urge us to invade (insert target of the day here), unless said armchair generals are in the military or have medical or chronological reasons for not being in there, they are hypocrites and/or cowards.
Which is a pretty long winded, roundabout and nearly incoherent way of saying that we should all be profoundly grateful that there are men and women who are prepared to take on the immense responsibility and risk that comes with armed service. They are better men (even the women) than I will ever be.
Firstly, it's seventy years today since the cane toad was released in Australia, although this site gives June, 1935 as the date of introduction. Whatever, it's a fairly good warning to pointy heads to make sure of what they are doing before they try to change the biology or ecology of a system.
Secondly, in the current flood of WW2 commemorations, it may be timely to remember a battle in an unpopular war - particularly in light of the differing opinions floating around about our commitment in Iraq. It is 29 years today since the battle of Long Tan. I have immensely conflicting feelings regarding Vietnam. Firstly, after the French were defeated, that should have been that. The American involvement was unnecessary and ill-advised and so, by extension, was ours. Millions of people died for no good cause. What's worse, the Americans must have known for at least three or four years before they were defeated that they could not win, but still they stayed, so people kept dieing.
On the other hand, I have nothing but contempt for the trust-fund rebels who, to this day, maintain their 'moral superiority', which they demonstrated by such edifying activities as throwing blood at soldiers and labelling them 'babykillers'. No wonder the poor buggers had such a hard time fitting back into society when they got home.
My very first memory of anything regarding world affairs is of a newspaper photograph - in colour - of a young naked Vietnamese girl running screaming through a burning village. The village was burning because it had been napalmed. So had the girl. Her skin and flesh was melting and running down her body. That photo gave me nightmares for years, They never really went away. Ever since then I've needed a hell of a lot of evidence before I've supported any war. Even today I sometimes tear up when I see footage of wars, not battle footage, but parade grounds and suchlike. It's the sheer normality and averageness (is that a word?) of the soldiers that I find distressing. These are/were the kids next door and they're being sent to slaughter. I still get angry when I think of murderous cunts like Haig and Ludendorff. Check the stats, then convert the numbers to people. It's pretty easy for a bunch of armchair generals to urge us to invade (insert target of the day here), unless said armchair generals are in the military or have medical or chronological reasons for not being in there, they are hypocrites and/or cowards.
Which is a pretty long winded, roundabout and nearly incoherent way of saying that we should all be profoundly grateful that there are men and women who are prepared to take on the immense responsibility and risk that comes with armed service. They are better men (even the women) than I will ever be.
posted by Dirk at 6:05 pm
9 Comments:
your right. we should be grateful. and also hopeful that the morons who send them places feel the same way and don't take them for granted
Great blog, Dirk!
Rat,
it isn't the leaders you have to worry about, they always take the soldiers for granted; when the people start taking them for granted, then the leaders get free reign.
Ranger Tom,
can I call you Ranger. Ican highly recommend your blog too. But I might just be ranting.
Not to mention that I need a sub-editor.
Cane toad, Schmane toad.
JenJen,
dare ya to say that to Gordy. He was a Cane Toad.
As opposed to a Trilobite or Ladybug.
You can Dirk, on both...
Nice one.
I'm one of these latte left no-good peacenik types (even though I don't drink lattes, I probably still qualify), and as much as I hate war, I also hate how badly returned soldiers are often treated. I tend to get very angry when governments try to cut benefits for war veterans, or ignore their needs completely. It's a pretty complex issue, and one I have some discomfort with (I remember reading a story years ago about a young German soldier post-WWII who had to wear his uniform after the war because he had no other clothes and was living in poverty, and was assaulted in the street as a consequence. Only time I've ever felt any sort of sympathy for a Nazi), but as I call it, if a country is going to send its people to fight a war they may not want to fight/may not agree with, it should look after them if they're fortunate enough to return alive.
Mmm, long-winded comments. Fun.
Soldiers are victims before, during and after war. They are targets for "protesters" before they go, targets for the opposition when they get there and - at best - neglected by the government and society in general when they return. An under-appreciated asset.
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