Peace seems elusive as ever
ANZAC DAY
MY reverence for Anzac Day is undiminished by what I experienced this week, but it caused me to think deeply about what we are doing to achieve peace in the world.
The chaplain who was at the dawn service read out a long list of wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions that Australia has been involved in. Listening to his comments, I realised that humanity is not learning the lessons of war. A few old men make decisions to send countless young men and women to war. Those decisions destroy people, lives, communities and countries. And still they do it.
Leaders deliver the same platitudes every year about the terrors of war. And still they continue to deliver young men and women to their deaths. There has to be a better way and we owe it to the next and future generations to find it. for service abroad, to assist in repatriating enemy aliens and bring troops back to Australia. The efforts of many women played an essential role in supporting Australia’s war effort. Lest we forget.
Brilliant reminder
THANK you Governor Kate Warner for a brilliant post-Anzac Day article (Talking Point, Mercury, April 26), a reminder of the outstanding contributions and sacrifices Australian nurses made to the war efforts during both World Wars I and II.
War against war
LEST we forget the Women’s Peace Army who waged the war against war. Remember Vida Goldstein, Cecelia John, Sarah Baines and Adela Pankhurst (daughter of suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst).
Not Governor’s role
FIRST, I must declare my deep respect for the offices of Governor and GovernorGeneral. Similarly, I have great respect for those who may have been belittled, neglected, victimised or disenfranchised by popular prejudices.
However, I must make a strong protest at the politicisation of these two important offices, particularly in the case of our Governor Kate Warner. Partiality towards any individual or group is not acceptable while holding that office. The Governor or the Governor-General must stand for and act for every citizen, without fear or favour. He or she must, on accepting that high office, put aside all partiality, political or otherwise, for the duration of that office.
He or she is, of course, fully entitled to personal opinions; the expression of which must be left until after their term of office. Failure to do so will leave us with an Australia we would rather not have.
Wonderful recognition
HOW wonderful was this year’s Anzac Day service? Wonderful to see families and friends gathering to show their support to our veterans. Wonderful also to hear our Governor, Kate Warner, bring to the fore the contribution of Australian women in World War I and II. Many of their stories little known.
Tasmanian Clare (Clara) Deacon, born 1891 in Pipers River, is one such woman.
She was one of the four Australian nurses to receive the Military Medal that our Governor spoke about at the service in Hobart. Clare and three colleagues risked their lives to rescue patients from burning buildings during a German raid. They were the first members of the AANS to receive the Military Medal for acts of bravery under fire. How wonderful to have a Governor highlighting the exceptional roles of women in our past. As Tasmanians, how wonderful to have one of our own, Clare Deacon, recognised to be at the forefront of exceptional service. How wonderful her story, and those of many other women, may now begin to be told.
No tanks
AVANT-garde, so-called art! (“Too controversial or too real”, Talking Point, April 27.) Let Hermann Nitsch immerse himself in a glass tank of piranhas and we will watch.
Arts need reason
“IMAGINATION abandoned by reason produces impossible monsters; united with it, she is the mother of the arts and the source of their wonders.” (Francisco de Goya, 1799)
Lead the way
THE latest statement from Donald Trump that he wants a human on Mars within the next three years receives my total support on one proviso — that the human sent to Mars is none other than Donald Trump himself.
Not listening to scientists
ONE can understand that so many Americans would rather go to Mars than endure under their new President. The surprising thing is that Mr Trump, who will not listen to his scientists and is sacking them holus-bolus, can announce that he, with the help of NASA, will get someone there a lot sooner than anyone expects.
President off course
PRESIDENT Trump: 100 days in office, 19 days on the golf course.