To all who pass this way  have A Happy and Healthy New Year

and may2o12 bring you and yours Joy & Prosperity

 

THE Australian Defence Force is exploiting forced cutbacks in military spending in Britain and other Western countries, embarking on an unprecedented drive to recruit laid-off soldiers, sailors and air crew.Defence, which has struggled to fill recruitment quotas in the face of increasing competition from the lucrative private sector, is seeking highly skilled specialists such as fighter pilots, special forces officers and submarine crews. And as an incentive, it is prepared to offer a fast track to Australian citizenship for so-called “lateral recruits” after just three months’ service.

 

This article and comic appeared in today’s The Australian. It makes one wonder where this country of ours is heading; those of us who have served our country and the thousands that have paid the supreme sacrifice. Is this what we have fought for? Is our citizenship so cheaply symbolised that it can be bought for just a pittance, three months service. What is happening to the mentality of those elected to Govern and those entrusted with the leadership of our Armed forces. It would appear that if we go down this track all we will have for the protection of our way of life which has been dearly brought since our Federation is a Mercenary ADF.

I have a list of people I know

All written in a book

And every year at Christmastime

I go and take a look

And that is when I realise

That those names are a part

Not of the book they’re written in

But of my very heart

For each name stands for someone

Who has crossed my path some time

And in that meeting they’ve become

A treasured friend of mine

And once you’ve met some people

The years can not erase

The memory of a pleasant word

Or a friendly face

So when I send a Christmas card

That is addressed to you

It’s because you’re on that list

Of folk I’m indebted to

And you are one of many folk who

In times past I’ve met

And happen to be one of those

I don’t want to forget

And whether I have known you for

Many years or few

In some way you have a part in

Shaping things I do

This, the spirit of Christmas, that

Forever and ever endures

May it leave it richest blessing

In the hearts of you and yours.

ANON