They Shall Grow Not Old...

[reprise]

I just wanted to remind the other members of this messageboard that ANZAC Day is rapidly approaching, and that while the ANZAC motto of "Lest We Forget" has been pretty much hijacked over the last couple of months, we do not need phrases or icons in order to honour the ANZACS - you haven't seen GBW offering to return the Statue of Liberty to the French just because they're currently engaged in a pissing match.

And nor will you see any of us who are truly anti-war doing anything other than marching side by side with our veterans on ANZAC Day.

My personal ANZAC Day agenda always involves this year's ANZAC horse - perhaps only Australia honours the courage of the animals which were part of both our biggest glory and our biggest tragedy.

I wish that the rest of the world - right now - could see what ANZAC Day has become. Somehow, this incredibly self-conscious nation has managed to find a way to have a national day which acknowledges all the pain and courage and sacrifice which has gone before and which also emphatically says that we never want to do it again.

Russell Crowe said it best :

"God bless America", "God Defend New Zealand", and "Thank Christ for Australia".

[Jon_in_london]

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.

[reprise]

that the "Ode" which we regard as such an "Aussie" icon is actually a British poem which end swith the lines:
"for all her faults, we love her still, Brittania rules the waves". Did you happen to know that our nation anthem has a verse which reads "When gallant Cook from Albion sailed...".

Pardon me while I vomit. Talk about "regime change" in the Middle East - some incredibly underqualified, over-egoed, bitter woman is our legal head of state? If the best examples of democracy that the "free world" can come up with are George W Bush, John Howard and Tony Blair, then I weep for the future of this planet.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by reprise
that the "Ode" which we regard as such an "Aussie" icon is actually a British poem which end swith the lines:
"for all her faults, we love her still, Brittania rules the waves". Did you happen to know that our nation anthem has a verse which reads "When gallant Cook from Albion sailed...".


Which Ode? Surely not waltzing matilda? I didnt know that about your national anthem.

Originally posted by reprise

Pardon me while I vomit. Talk about "regime change" in the Middle East - some incredibly underqualified, over-egoed, bitter woman is our legal head of state? If the best examples of democracy that the "free world" can come up with are George W Bush, John Howard and Tony Blair, then I weep for the future of this planet.

Which bitter woman? the queen? dont worry I have a plan. It involves a very sharp axe.

[reprise]

The Ode (http://www.rsl.org.au/about/ode.html), still recited at 11am and 6pm each day in every RSL club in Australia.

(Our national anthem is Advance Australia Fair)

[Tony]

What the hell is AZNAC day?

[reprise]

ANZAC Day (http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzac.htm)

More on ANZAC Day (http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac_tradition.htm)


Edited to add additional link

[Baggle]

Sorry to rain on the parade, but one thing struck me....

Brave animals? I doubt any of the animals involved knew the danger that was ahead of them. They probably just wanted another Scooby Snack...

I love animals as much as the next person, and my dog goes everywhere with me, but I doubt that there are many courageous animals out there, especially horses. Only those that have been conditioned over time to do a certain task.

I suppose you could say the same about soldiers, but I think that'd be taking it too far.

-Baggle