Old Diggers and Olympic Flames - Warning NO WW1 Aviation Content!!!

G'day all,

I thought I would share this with you, although it is not about aviation, it still involes a 109 year old WW1 Digger, Jack Lockett. This is from the Official Olympic site at;

http://www.olympics.com/eng/

Daily review: 25 July 2000

Sheparton to Bendigo to Maryborough

"Thursday marked the halfway point for the Olympic Torch Relay, with 50 days to go until the Flame arrives at Homebush.

The highlight of the day was Australia's oldest living man, 109-year-old Jack Lockett, carrying the Torch through a 15 000 strong, emotional crowd cheering him on as he lit the cauldron at the lunchtime celebration in Bendigo.

Jack is a much-loved member of the Bendigo community, he has lived through three centuries and fought in the first world war. He has 15 grandchildren and 23 great grand children and resides in good health at Bendigo Health Care Group's Careshalton House."

I wish I could share the news footage with you all. Australians at best are not overly jingoistic, but last night watching Jack walk with the flame, waving to the crowd, made me a proud Aussie.

Regards,

Andrew.

Et pouquoi pas ?

Pardon l'erreur - POURQUOI pas !!

G'day Hugh,

I believe from my school boy French, you have just asked me "and why not?"

I assume your question refers to Australians and Patriotism. The simple honest answer is I don't know, smarter men than myself have been stumped by this question. I suppose that we all are proud to be Australian, but it is something we don't thump our chests over.

Andrew.

[Vin]

…and who are the politest people in the world ?


Vin

Politest ? That would be the Canadians - "Step on a Canadian's foot and HE is the one who apologizes". From my own experiences, though, I would place the Dutch very high on any scale of civility.

Andrew, Not only am I touched and impressed by the story you tell, it is good NOT to see a comment relaying that some pacifist group did not attempt to prevent Jack from performing. As you know, such groups want to protect our children from exposure military murderers.

Good for the Aussies -- go for the gold!

>it is good NOT to see a comment relaying
>that some pacifist group did not
>attempt to prevent Jack from performing.
>As you know, such groups want to protect
>our children from exposure military murderers.

What a really dumb thing to post. ANZACs are hallowed in Australia. We put aside a day for them each year and we cheer them in parades across the country. For very good reasons.

In 1915, Australia was an independant nation barely 14 years old. Australian Democracy had been set up as a unique and Australian mix of responsible government, constitutional right and popular representation. Despite Australia having developed a unique culture by that stage, to the rest of the world, Australia was still a minor English colony with less than 5 million people in it.

The first world war marked when Australian culture was exported to the rest of the world for the first time. Not only was it obvious that Australian culture was differant, ie the culture clashes, but it withstood the extreme pressures of combat. Australian values such as mateship, cooperation and interaction, not only survived the test of combat but earned the respect of Australia's allies and enemies.

The ANZACs not only put Australia on the world stage, they also validated Australian culture and values by openly putting that culture and those values to test in combat and making those very Australian attributes work. Even in such dismal circumstances as the defeat in Gallipoli, the deprivations of Palestine and the inhumanity of France.

The debt Australia owes the ANZACs and is very aware they owe the ANZACs is they validated Australia. The validated the Australian Nation, the Australian Culture and the Australian People as worthy of recognition and respect in the nations own right.

Since that disgusting little worm Howard vetoed total Australian independance for 2001, the next most symbolic date is when the ANZACs hit the beaches at Gallipoli.



cam
AFC - http://members.xoom.com/PointCook/index.htm

Cam, Most Americans, myself among them, also honor our veterans. But in this country, there are activists who choose to protest, sometimes semi-violently, when veterans are being honored. They argue that the country should not honor men who go off to war and kill others.

I must be dumber than you for stating than I am glad to see such a thing did NOT occur on the occasion described by Andrew. Chalk it up to American education.

G'day Mark and Cam,

I have to agree with what Cam said, but Mark I can understand your statement, their are a lot of people in the world who tag themselves "do gooders" who would have the opinion that an ex Veteran could be seen to idolise war. I am pleased to say that Australia is a little different, our Diggers are national treasures, especially those boys still alive from WW1.

Every year as their ranks grow thinner, more and more people line the streets of our capital cities and country towns to watch the ANZAC Day March. These men and women are all special, from those WW1 vets to the men and women who served in East Timor, perhaps the loudest cheer last ANZAC Day was reserved for the Veitnam Vets.

I said in a previous post that Australians don't thump their chest about patriotism, well, ANZAC Day is the exception.

If someone suggested to an Aussie that Jack Lockett should not carry the Olympic flame, because he would be idolising war, then I would like to "educate" them (i.e. knock their block off.), so would about 17 million other Australians.

If the U.S. has got to the level of Political Correctness that you stated Mark, then God help you all. I am glad to be an Aussie.

Regards,
Andrew

BTW, Hugh, was my translation correct?