Towards a military state
When the term “khaki option” was used to describe Howard’s latest Governor-General , I thought yeah, that’d be right, but it didn’t overly concern me.
As soon as I read that Major-General Michael Jeffery was going to “talk on issues and principles and values and standards”, I got worried.
When he further mentioned that he would take a particular interest in youth issues, I knew what was coming:
He also signalled he would promote young people to be involved in youth groups and cadet organisations.
“I’ve always been a believer in youth movements - youngsters belonging to some youth group,” he said.
He said as Western Australia governor, he regularly encouraged participation in various military, police or environmental cadet services.
“It was incredible when cadet units were formed in schools for example, you’d get an immediate reduction of say 30 or 40 per cent in minor crime in that area,” he said.
It also encouraged people to take up careers as police or park rangers, or in the military.
Now we’re going to have a loudmouth figurehead banging on about “kids these days”, law-and-order, and trying to force kids to learn how to kill each other — under the eupemism, of course, of “national service” or “nasho”. (Do you really want me, Bailz or Yobbo running around with guns?)
This is a cynical appointment made to capitalise on the military momentum of Howard’s regime. He’s made a big deal of Jeffery’s interaction with the Iraq war veterans:
As the honorary colonel of the SAS regiment, he naturally turns up at any gathering that is very important to that regiment, and he was there on Friday at the reception … mixing very freely, very easily, and obviously a very welcome person.
All I hear and what I have observed tells me he is very much, in the proper sense of the word, a man of the people.
Prime Minister, a career military man mixing comfortably in military circles does not indicate that he is a man of the people. Although it might eventually, if he gets his way and forces every young Australian to pick up a gun…
Robert you are an absolute fuck-wit.
Care to elaborate?
More whinging from the left.
I notice that you decided to skip his mention of enviromental corps.
Geez, didn’t see that one coming.
What makes you think I support enviro-corps?
Heh. Curiously, one thing I got out of Scouts/Venturers was a sense of anti-authoritarianism, never mind the bits about the Queen, no monarchy’s going to help you when you’re in the middle of the bush. I’m not sure that’s what Howard, Jeffrey had in mind…
Frankly, given the choice between a member of the clergy and a member of the military, give me the khaki pyjamas any day.
Howard’s *not* going to make a choice that everyone can be happy with. Even if such a choice were available (is it?), he won’t be able to resist scoring points in some way. Given that, this guy’s not such a bad decision, is he?
Mark, I don’t think this is the worst choice he could have made. People seem to like this bloke, even if I don’t. I’d even grudgingly accept that it was a good, safe decision (hell, this guy has Acting G-G experience).
I’ll be worried if he starts campaigning on his values, though…
I’m with Mark on this one. Better the man of the khaki rather than the man of the cloth, and people will learn to ignore him in due time. I’d be more worried about Howard campaigning on some of Jeffery’s values than I would Jeffery campaigning on them…
True, but if Jeffery “sets the tone” of the debate, and Howard follows through, they could be a dangerous tag team.
Dangerous to what? The feminist multiculturalist project, yes. Australian society, no.
You think cadets is about “running around with guns”. O-kaaaay…
This post is the best screech I’ve read from you in ages Rob.
Jeez, Gareth, you’re starting to sound like Steve Edwards. Only he does it better.
No, that’s not all cadets is about. It’s about ritual abuse, instilling macho values in people, enforcing belief in hierarchical structures, etc, too. Much like the church.
Don’t tell me you support nasho, Gareth?
I didn’t need cadets to learn how to shoot a gun.
That said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cadets, as long as it isn’t compulsory.
To be honest though, who really cares what the Governor General thinks? People take more notice of Ray Martin. That’s what I would be worried about.
Plus Cadets tend to get called Chockos by real soldiers and AJs by everyone else. Who’d be one?
There’s a chance that Jeffery might start encouraging men to act like men again?
That’s great I say.
If Allah is willing, then it will be the way.
I dunno, Rob, those churchmen are pretty mild these days.
Yeah, let’s have cadets, but I’m not up for compulsion. I’ve got to say, the best thing about this guy is his support for Uranium dumps. Bring it on!
*childishness on*
Okay, everyone who got quite a good laugh out of FITC’s “manly man’s man” comment raise your hand. Yup, I thought so. Way to go, FITC!
*childishness off*
Actually I apologise for calling you that Robert. You’re obviously an intelligent guy.
I don’t think that there is much to fear though. In an interview on the Today show he made it quite clear he would remain apolitical. He said that a GG will give a lot of speeches and that he will try to only mention basic principles that are broadly accepted in them. He gave the impression that he believes it is clearly wrong for a figurehead to use their taxpayer funded position to advocate their own pet causes.
Clearly compulsory involvement in cadets is contentious. It is my belief that to advocate such a policy is the role of a democratically elected government. He seems smart enough to realise that.
Let’s give the guy a chance before we go around accusing him of being a loudmouth figurehead. And you have to realise that describing national service as “forc(ing) kids to learn how to kill each other” is pretty extreme.
As long as he sticks to broad brushstrokes, he’ll be fine. But it was during his time as WA governor that he talked about national service, so he has form.
And I stand by my characterisation of national service. Why else do they teach you how to use a gun?
“Dangerous to what? The feminist multiculturalist project, yes. Australian society, no.”
Gareth, geez that’s lame.
Robert, I’m leaning towards your viewpoint in terms of the military symbolism. And about national service, while we’re at it.
I’m sorry that I offended for feminine sensibilities mark.
Why don’t you reach down and grab your balls and remind yourself that they’re there?
Thanks for playing.
Human beings don’t have to be taught how to kill each other, Rob. It’s instinctual. Cadets would actually go a fair way to avoiding that sort of thing, by teaching kids things like discipline and responsibility.
You don’t seem to have as much concern for kids learning about socialism…
You not only supported, but attended and advertised protests that used school kids as unwitting tools of the International Socialist Alliance, yet you think that it’s morally wrong to let kids learn about military life?
Socialism killed a lot more people than the Australian Defence Force ever did.
You can describe national service in a lot of ways. If you are an overzealous supporter you could claim they are all brave young hero’s willing to sacrifice their lives in order to protect their nation . Or if you are totally against it you could exaggerate in the other direction - just as you have done.
I’d call it training in preparation for a potential large scale attack or national disaster. I’ve never served, but I can’t imagine killing each other is part of the training.
Most people tend to ignore the many legitimate points in your argument when you use over-exaggerated language.
this’ll be whack, we can call down suge knight, cos he loves letting kids develop spirit with guns, and a bit of nature…
nothing more I love then disempowered youths being stripped of individualism and educated in the ways of disembowelling their fellow human beings.
this country needs an enema
And for all of that, don’t we have National Service already? Of course, some people call it Work For The Dole.
And “FirstIraqThenChirac”? Heh. Shouldn’t that be “FirstIraqThenBurma”?
I can shoot a gun already, just these stupid laws of australia prevent me from owning the arsenal i could if i lived in america.
that said, i’m all for the aussie government giving me a firearm, just as long as it’s not that plastic bit of crap beazley chose. something like an m4 would be nice. although an m1a2 would also be very much appreciated, especially for freeway driving.
“You not only supported, but attended and advertised protests that used school kids as unwitting tools of the International Socialist Alliance, yet you think that it’s morally wrong to let kids learn about military life?”
1) Unwitting?
2) Do you know the first thing about socialism?
3) What is military training other than learning to kill people? Seriously, there is absolutely nothing else the military does. It’s either killing in offense, or killing in defense, but it’s still killing. I’d definitely say [i]war[/i] has killed more people than socialism.
-What is military training other than learning to kill people? Seriously, there is absolutely nothing else the military does. It’s either killing in offense, or killing in defense, but it’s still killing.-
Are you retarded, or just ignorant?
“I’d definitely say [i]war[/i] has killed more people than socialism.”
Well, if you count the entire history of civilisation, then maybe. I still wouldn’t bet on it.
In the last 100 years, socialism is waaay in front.
Don’t worry Yobbo! Socialism only killed pot-bellied middle class losers who deserved it! No loss to humanity!
And what happens if socialism starts wars?
It’d have a long way to catch up to capitalism.
Gosh I’m pleased I missed out on this ‘debate’.
Insert tongue firmly into cheek.
No, Jonathan, it was a quite serious comment.
I was referring to the debate, but humor, once again, has obviously been lost on you.
If it was REALLY “refering to the debate”, Jonathan, why save the comment until after the clearly serious comment which immediately precedes it? Ciao.
“I can shoot a gun already, just these stupid laws of australia prevent me from owning the arsenal i could if i lived in america.”
Yeah bailz! Easy access to guns by the growing unstable “American” youth because daddy can easily own a gun and keep it in the house makes me so happy to live in “America”! Can we say COLUMBINE??? God Bless The USA!!– That was heavy sarcasm, by the way Aussies.
“Dangerous to what? The feminist multiculturalist project, yes. Australian society, no.”
Oh! I see! So women and people of color AREN’T Australian society?? Jeez, I’m just a stupid “American”. I forgot that the only people that count in any society are white males. Jeez Gianna, what were you thinking when you were insulted by that comment, wake up and start thinking like the rest of this white-male-ball-grabbing oriented world already!!!
Uh… on the off chance you come back to read this, Raquel, y’might want to rethink that dig about Australians not understanding sarcasm. Y’see, bailz was being ironic (hence the comment about wanting an American-esque arsenal “for freeway driving”). And as we all know, sarcasm is but a less mature form of irony.