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Jennifer Nash on A bit of a mess Australia is a democracy once every three years, the rest of the time it is a parliamentary dictatorship (Robert Menzies). ... more
Ann Laidlaw on Daniel O'Donnell Great interview much appreciated.Many thanks for sharing.Take care God bless Ann Laidlaw (Producer & Presenter of the Daniel ... more
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R.Wallace on Richardson report Well, I like the idea proposed by one of the independents in a hung parliament- lets have a joint prime-ministership, with a ... more
Independence Day on Richardson report I hear that the 3 Independents are looking for an honest politician to support.LOL.I think that they may have to lower their ... more
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kaylene on Kitten torture case It is distgusting the soft penalites dished out to these cowardly people who commit these horrible crimes. It sickens me. ... more
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Jennifer Nash on The big question In 2008 Robert McClelland told us how great Kevin Rudd was and how he would introduce long overdue 21st century human rights ... more
Bella on The big question According to Richo then... Ms Gillard was only interested in a 2nd debate because she was behind in the polls and knows it. more
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Randall Wallace on Abbott in studio with Greg Cary For many years, elections have been decided by up to 10% swinging voters-and there is nothing the 90% strong voters who vote ... more

It’s the soldier

Posted by: Greg Cary | 25 January, 2010 - 10:35 AM

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us
Freedom of the Press.
It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us
Freedom of Speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the
Freedom to Demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the Right to a Fair Trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag. ~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

Blog comments

Very thought provoking. You have to admire and respect the service personel when you think about this poem

Glenice Barrett Wednesday 27 January, 2010 - 2:11 PM
Our Flag (Author Unknown)
Our flag bears the stars that blaze at night.
In our Southern Sky of Blue
And a little old flag in the corner,
That's part of our heritage too.

T's for the English, Scots and the Irish
Who were sent to the ends of the earth,
The rogues and the schemers, The doers and the dreamers,
Who gave australia birth.

And you are shouting to change it
You don't seem to understand,
It's the flag of our law and our laguage,
Not the flag of a far away land.

Though there are plenty of people who'll tell you how,
when europe was plunged into night,
That little old flag in the corner
Was their symbol of freedom and light.

It dosn't mean we owe allegiance
To a forgotten Imperial dream,
We've the stars to show where we are going
And the old to show where we've been.

Now my bit:
If you don't like these things in our Country
The way they are to-day
You can pak your bags and leave'
For we won't force you to stay.

Bill Halbesma Monday 25 January, 2010 - 8:44 PM
My dear uncle Bill we buried the other day. He fought in atrocious conditions at Milne Bay against a totalitarian regime. I am glad he didn't get to know of the regimes we have now here. Censoring of oppositions missives, Christmas cards for God's sake !!!!!

Brian Monday 25 January, 2010 - 5:27 PM