Patriot Realm

The Brigade of Gurkhas is the paramount infantry regiment of the British Army and the ambition of every young Gurkha boy is to be accepted into the British Army.

Some years ago the British Army was down sized and three battalions of Gurkhas were made redundant. There was a proposal presented to the Australian government to enlist these battalions into the Australian Army and establish a base at Rosedale in Victoria. It was rejected even though, at the time, there was a shortfall in local recruitment.

The Singapore Police Force has a unit composed entirely of Gurkhas. "  Nowhere in the world have I ever been in a country where I feel as safe as I do in Singapore."

No wonder. They are fierce and mighty. 

Yesterday's article spoke of the Gurkhas responding to the Haka during recent military exercises between soldiers from New Zealand Army's 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and their British Army‬ counterparts from Royal Gurkha Rifles. RGR replied in turn with their traditional Kukri Dance. We spoke of the Maori Batallion. Today we look at the gurkhas. 

While on exercise recently, soldiers from New Zealand Army's 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, performed a haka to their British Army‬ counterparts from Royal Gurkha Rifles. RGR replied in turn with their traditional Kukri Dance.

Now, I think pretty much everyone around the world has seen the New Zealand All Blacks perform their famous haka before the start of a Rugby Union Match. 

I have never seen a team respond with an equal show of ferocity. Until now. 

As Steve Irwin might have said " Crikey! " If the Gurkhas ever decided to start playing footy, the Kiwis might finally have a game on their hands. 

Anyway, it got me thinking about the Maori Batallion. 

It all started because the son of one of the most famous Australians of the modern era, Steve irwin, decided to have a tantrum because someone took the mickey out of him over a cartoon skit. 

Yes, that's right. The son of the Crocodile Hunter, little Mr " I am a Celebrity, get me out of here " Robert Irwin, might be able to face the horror of the jungle and a few nasty Aussie creepy crawlies, but he couldn't cope with being lampooned by a cartoon. 

Steve Irwin was harpooned by a stingray and lost his life: his son is upset over a funny cartoon and has threatened legal action. 

Somehow, I wonder if Steve would be impressed by his young son's hissy fit. " Dad, they're being mean to me. "  Only they weren't. There was nothing in the cartoon that ridiculed him. Nothing. Zilch. If anything, poor Bluey the dog copped the worst of it after falling down a pothole and having to wait to go to the vet. 

The old saying that a photo speaks a thousand words is as true today as it has always been. I have been wondering of late whether it is time to stop hiring consultants and to hire some good old fashioned cartoonists or photographers to get a feel for a nation's health. These days, we get more honesty from a meme than we do from a memo. 

After all, one need only read newspaper articles anywhere in the world and the grammatical errors, poor spelling and factual distortion make me wonder if the writer is on work experience or is a graduate of a university majoring in wokeism and idiocy. 

We are being bombarded with falsehoods and trickery. AI is on the march. Photoshop and Computer Generated Imagery ( CGI ) are making us question what we see. Is it real? Is it an illusion? 

So today I want to talk with you about the power of the lens.  In times of crisis, such as natural disasters, political upheaval, or social movements, photographs become vital records that document reality. Images were taken that captured the reality, not the artificially created illusion that seems to mock us at every turn. 

Decades ago, women fought for equal rights and the ability to stand on their own two feet in defiance of old traditions. 

What I find so sad is that women's rights activists now seem hell bent on crippling women. Men in women's prisons, safe places and toilets. Men forcing women to hide behind veils and robes to stifle them. 

Not a word from these female activists. Not one word.  

Years, decades and centuries ago, it could be excused. But not today. In this so called enlightened and free and open society, women are free! Free to be slowed down, ridiculed and humiliated by men masquerading as women. What a tragedy. 

It is not the men who are allowing or encouraging this horror. No, it is women. White, middle class women and celebrities. And it makes me shrink in shame at what women have done and allowed to be done in the name of so called women's rights. 

Yesterday, I read something online and it struck me as significant.

We are in a cultural war. We are in a war of the minds. It was about Artificial Intelligence. 

I find AI incredibly helpful for research. I recently watched the old film " All the President's Men " and saw the two young journalists pouring over telephone books and electoral rolls and old newspaper articles... the voyage of discovery was long and arduous before computers.

Then it became easy to " google it. "  We are now in an era of AI. Instant information, articles seemingly written in a nano second. How lazy we could become. How quickly our brains would simply have a nana nap and let the robot do the hard yards or hard yakka.  AI is a tool. Like the computer I am using now.

Nothing can replace the power of critical thinking or the joy in writing something and knowing that it reflects who I am and what I believe.
I am a great friend of the wise men ; " Who" What? " Where? When" and Why? "

My feeling on AI, has taught me a great deal. It is merely a tool. Like a book, an encyclopedia of old or a google search. Nothing can replace critical thinking.

So it was with great interest that I read this today. it was written by a University lecturer who is concerned about her relationship with AI and that of her students.