Last Saturday, 25th April, was ANZAC day in Australia and New Zealand. It stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It is commemorated every year with a service at around 6am, with a “dawn service”. This was based on the time that the ANZAC forces started the landing on the Gallipoli peninsula on 25th April 1916. This year however things were different.
Quick History
Anzac day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served, and in many cases died, in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The day of remembrance was originally devised to honour the members of ANZAC who served in the Gallipoli campaign, their first engagement in the First World War. It is similar to Remembrance Day in Europe held on November 11th every year (and also on the closest Sunday to the 11th).
This year it was a little different…
It was an odd one because of this virus nonsense. Whereas tens of thousands would normally gather at war memorial sites, this year because of the lockdown and social distancing rules, people were asked to come out onto their balconies or to the front of their houses and stand in silence. At 6am!
There was a lot of coverage in the media with all the usual things you would expect. They even interviewed a 95-year-old second world war veteran who took part in the D- Day landings at Normandy. It is sad to think that pretty soon there will be nobody left who witnessed that war at first hand.
The paradox?
The media also used all the phrases that go with these events. “Lest we forget” and “those who gave their lives for our freedom”. All this at the same time as people were being told to stay at home. Freedom? Stay at home? Do not congregate? I don’t know. There is something very wrong with all this. I can’t quite think of the right words for how this all makes me feel. If you can help, then please let me know what I am searching for.
There is a certain paradox going on here. Men died so their sons and grandchildren could be free. Now the politicians are turning totalitarian and telling people to commemorate this day from the confines of their homes. Do you agree that this is an odd state of affairs?
The Bitch in Queensland
As if there are not enough stupid and ridiculous tales about this virus here is another one from the state of Queensland. I make no apologies for this one. Make your own minds up.
The Queensland government takes its advice from a woman called Dr. Jeanette Young. She is the “Chief Health Officer” in the state. This woman is making a lot of calls as to what people can and cannot do. The power has clearly gone to her head. It proves the old adage that once you grant a person a reasonable amount of power they will always, always abuse it.
This medical adviser would not allow four pilots to do a flyover in second world war planes, to pay tribute to the Anzac veterans. Even though the four separate planes were in four separate hangars. How much social distancing do they want for f*ck sake?
There will be many who think this “doctor” now represents everything that the veterans fought against. I choose to view things a lot more simplistically. As far as I am concerned, she is just a complete and utter bitch. Don’t take my word for it. If you want to make your own mind up then just look her up online. I think one look is all it takes.
School ANZAC Assembly
The kids are back at school (or those that are not doing the home schooling). Today, Dani’s school are holding some kind of ANZAC assembly, to include those staying at home. That should be interesting. I do think it is a good thing to teach youngsters about these things. Let’s see how it turns out. Off on the school run right now…