KEEPING OUR VALUES

I GREW up in a time when Australians were challenged by hardship yet still managed to get ahead if luxuries were compromised.

The difference between now and then was, they respected one another for going without, rather than for what they had.

Optimism was plentiful as people were rewarded through their hard labour and good deeds.

They drew satisfaction from this as opposed to today where many Australians are greedier and less content. Self-interest has replaced goodwill and as such, our community spirit is dwindling.

Takers rather than givers have slowly infiltrated into our society with our welfare system catering to them rather than rewarding the workers who are the backbone of our country.

Once people wanted to help the less privileged as it was primarily due to misfortune but today, the expectations are unrealistic, with far too many thinking they have the right to be kept by the country.

Once, accepting charity was the last resort as pride was the essence of society therefore helping someone through financial hardship was done subtly and not as a response to outstretched hands that have been idle for far too long.

Not long ago, one wage was enough, now two wages are not enough and it is because people want it all now and face the fallout later and, when it comes, everyone else is to blame because it has become an age of self-entitlement.

Once, a hand shake was as good as a contract as honour could be relied upon but now, many Australians are letting materialism consume them and the media control them and so- mewhere along the way, the basic values of life are being lost.

From our roots (including those of the Aboriginal), evolved a beautiful and proud culture that is unique compared to anywhere else in the world and our fallen sacrificed themselves for it in both world wars.

Now globalization is destroying civilisation and it seems the reason for their sacrifice has all but been forgotten as we continue to dishonour our heritage to appease foreigners and activists, rather than standing firm on the principles our soldiers died for.

Foreigners are being encouraged to buy our land, with some demolishing our entrusted heritage for profit.

If our country is not being sold off overseas, it is being legally invaded by cultures that demand change so that we are forced to respect their way of life, at the expense of ours.

With sanctimonious politicians at the helm, Australia is being stolen away from us and anyone who opposes this, is labelled a “racist” or a “bigot.”

Our fallen did not die for future Australians to dispel their own culture – they died to preserve it and, our way of life in which Christianity played a fundamental role. On Anzac Day, we should not only remember them but also why they made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

I often wonder if our fallen would do it all again if they could see how Australia now embraces “diversity” (which, in reality, means we are anchored to nothing), rather than the staunch values they defended and died for so they would remain the core of our country.

H. QUINN, Toowoomba