I remember saying to a person last year that I would be very proud of my boys to enter the military.
I stand by this statement, I would be very proud of my boys, no matter what they chose to do in life. But because I would be proud of my sons serving in the military does that mean I'm ok with war?
Well no I'm not. I hate war, I hate the fact that people can't get along for whatever reason, whether it be race, creed, oil or religion. But I have often thought does it make me a hypocrite to be ok with having a military but not having wars?
I don't think it does. The reason I say this is because early last year, I was involved in helping some people who lost their homes and belongings in the floods up around Charlton, Victoria. Whilst taking some food and goods up there, I met a lot of men who were part of the army, who had been called in to do relief. The same thing happened when the Black Saturday fires went through Victoria.
So I believe that the military is a necessary thing to have, not only to protect our country against unfortunate bullies, but also to help when there is a natural disaster in Australia. And unfortunately there is at least one every year in one state or another.
They are trained not only to fight a war, but they are trained in first aid and medicine, they are trained in people control, they are trained in counselling, in helping in big situations, they are trained to feed many, help house many and help care for many. So I don't believe cutting off our military is a good idea.
However to say all of this what do I think of war?
Well lets take the issue with Afghanistan. Now I know if any American's read my blog, they may not agree with what I'm about to say, and I accept that your opinions are different. But I too believe in freedom of speech and this is my opinion.
When the September 11 attacks happened, I was at home with three children, I was cranky because ABC had taken off the kids channels (my baby sitter, whilst I cleaned) and were showing some news thing. I took more notice of what the news thing was, just in time to see the first building of the twin towers in New York, collapse, I then saw the footage of the plane flying into the side. I was gob smacked. I instantly felt tears come down my face because I knew just how many devastated families there would be.
I was horrified by this event, however, America claims to be a Christian country, and in the bible it teaches to turn the other cheek. Is that what they did? No, George Bush set out to have major revenge. Now correct me if I'm wrong, on September 11, 6000 American citizens were killed. How many have American, English and Australian soldiers killed in response to this attack?
It has made me question, who is the terrorist?
We teach our children to stand up to bullies, but if your child killed the bully, your child would get into trouble for that, there would be a court case, and a chance that your child would spend time in some form of correctional facility. The media would portray your child as a monster, you would probably have to move because people would listen to the media and cast you out of your community.
So why is America, England and Australia right? Isn't this just what they have done? They have killed their bullies, and then some, yet there is no court case, there is no justice for their victims, and the media doesn't portray them as monsters.
Now when I say this, I don't mean the soldiers, they are doing a job that they are ordered to do. I don't hold them responsible. Those who abuse their job, like the ones we have seen in the media, by humiliating prisoners, they I do hold responsible. But for the war, I hold the Governments responsible.
I don't know what the answer is, I don't know how we should respond if a terrorist group does attack, I don't know what is the right reaction in that. But what I don't believe should happen, is small children killed, women who have to bury their husbands, who weren't even part of the Taliban. Mothers having to bury their children who were too young and innocent. But even the children who were part of the Taliban, who were brainwashed, do they really deserve to be killed? Really? In revenge we accept that it's ok to kill a child?
I can never accept that.
I have spent many heartbreaking hours looking at pictures and the affect that war has on these countries. And it hurts, it hurts to know that our Government is ok with this. That if I were to go to that country I would be instantly judged because of bad Government choices. It hurts to know that the country that I represent and am a part of is so willing to mame and kill people without even trying them at the very least for their crimes.
But what shames me even more than this, is that when a country is in crisis and war, like Kosovo was or the people of Karen are, when we allow them into our country for refuge, they are treated like second class citizens.
I have seen this first hand. When the Kosovo refugee's came to Australia, my Samuel was 8 months old. He was due to have his first lot of surgery on his legs. Whilst we were in the hospital after the surgery, a couple with their children, who were from Kosovo were also waiting. The children were toddlers and had been born with hernia's. It was the first time that the children were able to get the medical attention that was needed.
During this time, a nurse came in to see if the mother wanted to give her child a drink in a glass or in a bottle, the nurse quickly became very frustrated with the mother, who couldn't understand English and who didn't have her interpreter there. David was able to rescue the situation from the nurse who was about to have a meltdown, and show the mum the bottle, and use a form of sign language, of lots of pointing and signalling so she understood. It took all of 30 seconds to have the mum understand. Yet the nurse got angry and frustrated.
But what disgusted me more, because I could see that the nurse may have been busy, was that the refugees that came to the hospital were sent there with security guards in case they escaped. The dad of the children decided to go downstairs to get something to eat and have a cigarette, I might add that neither parent had left their childs side in about 8 hours or so. The security guard, came bustling into the room, shouting about where the man had gone, and carrying on. He treated the man as if he was a prisoner.
What a welcoming thing to have been greeted with. It was as if we as Australians were saying:
"Here come to our country, we'll give you respite from the shit that is going on in your country, but don't you dare think you are going to experience any of the freedom that we have".
And you know what made me laugh out of this whole situation. As I stood there singing and dancing with Samuel because he was upset after the surgery, the mum asked what had happened to Sam, and then cried when I told her, through the interpreter. A man in the waiting room when we came to get Samuel's plasters removed, moved so that I could sit down, next to his son, he stood for three hours, even after I said we could take it in turns, he told me no and not to be silly, while no other person got out of their seat to offer me theres.
Here we are so arrogant to a people, who I felt showed me more love and respect that my own countryfolk!!
Well, I'll stop ranting now, but I wanted to share some of the photos with you, so you could see, and make the decision for yourself, is war right?
Love you all
Sam
xxx
WARNING, SOME PHOTOS ARE GRAPHIC AND SHOW INJURIES, PLEASE DON'T LOOK IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE OFFENDED!!
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