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Issue No. 137 | 24 May 2002 |
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An Aussie Icon
Interview: Just Done It? Tribute: Lest We Forget History: Solidarity Forever Technology: Unblocking the Superhighway International: Gloves Off Unions: Out Of Work Review: Strange Business Poetry: The Lawyer's Lament Satire: Government Mourns Loss Of Last Anzac
The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Postcard Week in Review
 Dancing With Trotsky? Not Bloody Likely.Your Tools Page is DownBig Dave FosterGive Us a Click!Will the Real Mark Latham Please Stand Up?Unified LabourThe Last SurvivorNot Hate Mail
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Letters to the Editor The Last Survivor
Dear Sir, What utter hypocrisy and bad wagon hijacking displayed by politicians and their ilk on the death of Mr. Alex Campbell, the last Australian survivor from the "Great War" For years all sides of politics have bit by bit reduced the state benefits provided to these veterans, particularly the disabled. Why is it, that this individual has been placed on a pedestal as a war hero, Mr. Campbell, displayed no attributes that were not displayed by the majority of his comrades? The use of individuals as "Icons" , to worship is another indication of the demise of the nation , and what depths have we reached when we need to beatify an individual whose only claim to fame is that he outlived his contempories , this public worship of a man is more blasphemous than Aharons "Golden Calf . The belligerent insinuation by commentators that any one who did not agree with the waste of productive time, in stopping work for one minute in memory of Mr. Alex Campbell, under the guise of a memory of unless massacres inflicted upon a nations youth is akin , to "Spanish Inquisition" ,imposition of beliefs on others.
While, Mr. Campbell, in all probability was a very nice person, I fail to see how the expense of a State Funeral and 19, million minutes of national stagnation are justified. My own Grandparents, were victims of the massacres with on the paternal side , my Grandfather and his brothers being members of the Ulster Volunteer Force ,and on the maternal side members of the 16th Division of the Irish Volunteers , where on the 1st of July 1916 , 1 man in 3 of the 36th Ulster division were killed or died from their wounds , so I can relate to the emotion of this War. But in the case of Mr. Campbell, his claim to fame is nothing other than being wounded along with millions of others of all nations, he is the last Australian survivor, and he is being used as just another icon to worship for a nation that has no God, but man made ones. This is in no way a personal reflection on Mr. Campbell, but the misuse of his death which included, just over one year military service in 103 years of life , as an pseudo reflection the nation.
This one minutes silence being paid for by employers, would be much better used if every person who wanted to pay their respects should contribute their wages for this minute to legacy , an organisation which over the past few years find it extremely difficult raise funds for legatees. I am also certain , that John Grey Gorton , who was in all probability , was more important to Gough Whitlam , than John the Baptist was to Jesus , had a more positive impact on the Australian Nation that 100 Alex Campbell's , who tugged the forelock , said yes "M'Lud" , and accepted their lot in life as being cannon fodder for the games their betters played when bored.
Brian Gnome
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