I looked out the window of my office in Canberra this morning and noticed a helicopter towing a banner. It was moving slowing across the Parliamentary Triangle and on to Kingston and Fyshwick.
Nothing particularly unusual about that, except that the banner said "Happy Birthday Navy".
And that struck me as odd. Why would the government spend money on fuel, design, construction, not to mention resource hours on a happy birthday sign for the Navy?
Don't get me wrong, the Navy plays a critically important role in Australia's defence. But spending vital Defence dollars on this form of celebration seems completely inappropriate.
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3 comments:
Kev, maaate, get a grip...what part of WOWSER don't you exactly understand?
For a start, was it an ADF chopper? I'll be a bit surprised if the Navy has Sea Kings stationed in Canberra, but maybe our forward defense planning boffins have taken account of enemy subs turning up up in Lake Burley Griffin, who knows?
Maybe a bunch of ex-Pussers,( or even some Pongos in a show of grudging inter-services respect) had a whip-around, and did it off their own bat.
Give 'em a break, let 'em have whatever meagre honoring they get.
Remember, it's these men and women, and ones like them, who have had to do the disgustingly dirty work for this government... Tampa ring a bell?
"From the second deck of the Adelaide, Able Seaman XXX saw a mother struggling in the choppy water with her young child. Without even waiting to put on her life jacket, XXX dived twelve metres into the sea to haul the frightened pair to a life raft".
Peter Reith, Robert Hill, (and his Rear Admiral Gates, who later in his illustrious career had to admit before an enquiry that he "endorsed a decision not to include crashworthy seats" in Sea King's, like what nine Australians were killed in) are rewarded with dream international posts for their dubious services rendered.
And you begrudge the able seaperson and her comrades in protecting arms a bit of 102nd birthday bunting? What part of betrayal and bad faith don't you exactly understand?
Look, I know it's been a long Summer of Kevin, and you might be a bit tired and emotional, can be forgiven for uncharacteristically taking to staring out the window.
But really Kev, you use the name of Kokoda as a talisman when it suits, but the closest you've probably come to cordite is banging away at a few clay pigeons at Belmont, and a ceremony at Duntroon. How about you reflect for a moment and re-offer our Navy boys and girls a hearty
"Happy Birthday Navy, and Thanks"?
You might observe the Anglican Rite these days, but the one you were brought up in included the Manly Art of Owning-Up. Non-micks might mock the idea of Absolution, but we know that Grace, Charis devolves for the Confessional ACT.
Sermon Endeth. Dominus Vobiscum. Virilter Age.
Other than that, keep up the Good Work.
How about it? Repeat after me...
"Happy Birthday Navy. Thanks"
Sincerely, GoodToBeWithYou
I appreciate your sentiments Goodta.
"Happy Birthday Navy. Thanks"
There you go, I'm more than happy to say that because its not the celebration of the Navy's birthday that I have a problem with.
You sure it was a Marist, not Jesuit, school you went to?
Flippantly, GoodtoBeWithYou
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