ANZAC DAY 2007 War crazies out in force....

Is ANZAC Day beyond reproach? NO! The usurping of Anzac Day by our so-called leaders isn't merely about gaining political mileage. The media is complicit in aiding the power structure into bullying any opposition to the necessary unquestioned compliance with their need for militarism to meet their ends.

We hear a lot about graffiti, precious little about corporate graffiti which overlooks our highways and train stations and can be as offensive as it likes as long as it is there to earn a less than honourable dollar.

Yeah, the girls were insensitive in disfiguring a WAR memorial, but no, it is NOT the same as disfiguring graves, and perhaps they could use it on their resumes to get jobs in advertising, perhaps redesigning Howard's anti-terror posters that are placed where we can't ignore them.

To go on with the dying for freedom thing, some did, many did not.

Some soldiers may have been idealistic with fighting for freedom as a motive, but I remember a Viet vet who was called up, then had the OPTION to be sent over. He went, not for the country, but himself, because of the generous housing loan he would get for having served in a conflict zone. Many serving in Iraq are also generously rewarded financially for agreeing to go over there.

When there is conscription, many are so intimidated by the power structure and threats of reprisals, they will not say no, even if it kills them, which it often has.

I have sympathy for well meaning people using Anzac Day and the like for rememberance of dead and maimed comrades.

These people often are deeply religious, compassionate and well-meaning.

Their parents, teachers, and priests, who should be their spiritual leaders, often with good intentions and with no deliberate deception, aren’t up to their duty of trust, and let them down. Instead of teaching them to have a conscience based on their own thoughts and experiences, of teaching them to think, interpret and judge, and say and act, they are inoculated with that ridiculous excuse for lack of intelligent communication, FAITH.

They are drowned in what are often dangerous, erroneous and often down-right stupid world views that those in trust design into them virtually from birth, right through their childhood and schooling. And subsequently never question.

If the child has any grit in the face of these overbearing pressures from older, socially stronger and (whether the perpetrator realizes it or not) bullying “authorities”, rebellion occurs. Most are not Che Guevera: rather, James Dean, rebels without a cause. Reacting, rebelling, may be right, but the methods are often self-destructive and pointless. A hedonistic lifestyle of booze, drugs, sex, rock’n’roll, rap, say “you have loaded me with crap!”
There is a feel good factor, but no lasting betterment of the world, society, or even of the rebel.

I have disgust for Anzac Day footy broadcasts and pre-match "commemorations", politicians sound bites, the so called Left-leaning ABC news services, and jingoistic press coverage which are nothing short of out and out out propaganda used to push down to silence those who do not subscribe to their militaristic world view, and try to institutionalise this Anzac nationalistic jingoism as core Australian values.

Joel's Folkways Cafe in Mildura

On Tuesday I stopped in at my childhood home town of Mildura as a diversion whilst returning from Adelaide. Around lunchtime I noticed a little cafe which advertised that it hosts live music most evenings.
This being Tuesday, (along with Monday) it was one of the nights without the live entertainment.
What the hell, I wandered in anyway to chat with the owner.
He introduced himself as Joel (Anderson), and invited me to have a jam. He had an old nylon string acoustic as well as his own guitar.
He showed me various songs he had written. They typically had local and personal themes, many about the river (the mighty Murray). Unlike the Tamworth set, this wasn't "Country" music, but more an amalgam of folk and blues.
Nearly forty years ago I had written blues songs about my life in Mildura on the Murray River, so I was quite knocked out by Joel's choice of topic, enthusiasm and the quality of his writing.

Joel then played a "Chicken Pickin'" breakdown, at breakneck speed and complete with flashy showmanship as he alternately reached over and under the neck to play some of the notes in some of the licks. Totally mind boggling.
To show the breadth of his abilities, we then jammed on Aint Misbehavin', .

Joel's FolkwaysCafe is at 136a Eighth Street Mildura.

I wish him all the best, and next trip up I will go on a Wednesday to Saturday, and hopefully renew our aquaintance and jam with an electric guitar with his resident band.