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John
Wotherspoon
Email: jdwomi@gmail.com
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On this 25th
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Thursday April 25, 2013
Daily Blog John W
Previous
blogs
Dear Friends
Today
in Australia and New Zealand is a public holiday to remember the soldiers who
died in World War I at the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey which began on April
25, 1915. The name "Anzac" comes from "Australian
and New Zealand
Army Corps".
The battle itself was a big defeat for the "Allies" and a major
victory for the Turks. But the battle became a symbol in Australia and New
Zealand for bravery and courage. About 60,000 Australian soldiers and 18,000 New
Zealand soldiers died in World War I. More Australian soldiers died in WWI
than American soldiers - such was Australia's commitment to support Britain in
its war against Germany.
Anzac
Day is now a day to remember all the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who
died in all wars, especially WWI and WWII. In Australia and New
Zealand today, there will be ceremonies to remember the dead, and to pray for
peace.
Many people now regard
WWI as having been a great mistake which in turn led to WWII. Many people are
very critical of the way leaders committed their countries to war. In his book
"The Age of Consent", George Monbiot (who writes for the Guardian
newspaper in the UK) says "In the First World War, a few dozen
aristocrats sent eight million men to die in the name of nationhood". He
also laments the fact that "since the end of WWII, about 30,000,000 people
have been killed in armed conflicts. Most of them were civilians".
Monbiot's point is that war is not the way to solve problems. May the human family find other ways to avoid future conflicts.
My Dad a pall-bearer in Tobruk cemetery October 20, 1941
Dad's poem "Sleeping Heroes of Tobruk"
Dad's letter from Tobruk October 17, 1941
This
day last year on metro to Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre, I saw two
"foreign" men....speaking a language I didn't recognise....I asked one
of them "where are you from"...."Turkey" he replied. I
said "Tomorrow is Anzac Day"...."yes I know...my great uncle died
in battle of Gallipoli"! I said I was from Australia...and also had a
great uncle who died in WWI". We shook hands and wished each other well.
May Turkey and Australia never ever go to war again!
(no. of
times I've met a Turkish man in HK in 27 years ...could be counted on fingers of
one hand...!)
-------
Recent photos - see link below ("Recent HK photos")
God bless all on my sick list, in HK,
Australia, China and other places,
- especially dear friends battling cancer.....
Thank you for a prayer
God bless!
John W
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