Most patriots are not naïve about the strains of war and they realize that sometimes soldiers will act out their worst under the pressures of warfare. Yet there is an unparalleled history of military dignity, observances of the rules of war and concerted effort to observe the provisions of the Geneva Convention in fighting men and women. All of this fails sometimes not because they are soldiers but because they are human.
Yet it is that humanity that can also draw out the finest behavior in those under great stress and in life threatening circumstances.
Read more: I remember when.............my father held the sword of Damocles
In 1929, Joseph Stalin was hell-bent on getting the farmers to forfeit their rights to own their farms. The state would gain ownership of their land and they would end up working for the government. In order to carry out his plan, he ordered that the grain production regions of Russia and Kazakhstan be the focus of his attention.
Accordingly, a certain percentage of their produce would be funneled to the state. If any farmers resisted they were punished.
Irony or Planned???
I know it has been around for years but it is well worth looking at and having a closer look. Coincidence or something else? I have done some research and let us see how the conclusions meet the challenge.
Read more: Truth is often stranger than fiction - a thought for the day
There are basically two systems of law in the world, the common law and civil law.
The common law arose in England following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was so known because it was “common" to the King's courts and was based upon the precedence of previous judicial decisions, known as the Latin doctrine of“stare decisis"(to stand by that which is decided).
Read more: THE MARCH OF ABORTION - a history of abortion law through the ages
For over 100 years prior to WW1, America had pursued a policy of neutrality and isolation. This policy prevailed until 1917 when President Woodrow Wilson persuaded Congress to allow US forces to fight alongside Britain and France in the interests of preserving democracy and world peace. America did not enter a formal alliance but fought alongside the Allies.
The UK has seen many waves of invaders and colonisers – Neanderthals, Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, Norsemen, Normans and more recently Indians and Pakistanis. Only Irish, Welsh and Scottish inhabitants have had the strength to get special recognition today.
No human race evolved in Australia - several races walked, paddled, sailed or flew here over the past 60,000 years. Some displaced earlier arrivals, others mixed with locals. Some left rock art distinctly different from that of later arrivals and some destroyed or hid evidence of earlier tribes. Some were cannibals, some brought domesticated animals with them and all hunted native animals, sometimes to extinction. None can claim moral superiority.
Read more: Are We Indigenes Yet? Or are we singing to the Black Choir?
Since China unleashed its Batflu all those months ago, we have witnessed the transformation of our lives and our societies at a pace that is alarming. 2 weeks to flatten the curve has morphed into a roller coaster ride and a nauseating merry go round in the political circus that now rules our lives.
For a circus it is, and we are being controlled by the Ringmaster who increasingly yells " Roll up! Roll up! Roll up your sleeves!"
We are being locked up, locked down, whipped into submission through fear and MSM propaganda.
The concept of Mother’s Day as we know it in Australia began in the United States in the days of the Civil War by two ladies who were Peace advocates and suffragettes. They started a campaign to care for wounded soldiers from both sides by creating Mother’s Day Work Clubs to improve public health.
They made a Mother’s Day proclamation in 1870 and called on mothers of all nationalities to join together and promote the amicable settlement of international disputes. The movement did not succeed. The lady’s name was Anna Jarvis but she persisted with the idea of setting aside a special day to honour all mothers because a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world".
I remember the days before computers changed our lives. When I was a lad, I first trained as a civil engineer in the late 1950s to early 1960s. There were no electronic calculators, and all calculations were performed either manually, by trigonometric tables, or by using a slide rule.
We used to analyse the stresses and bending moments in structural elements using advanced mathematics based upon first principles, knowledge of which has long faded from my aged brain. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a classic two-pinned arch design which we studied. If you drive past both abutments, you will see the huge supporting pins which take the entire load of the bridge.
Read more: I remember when.... computers hadn't changed our lives. Fings ain't what they used to be
Born 111 years ago, Douglas Bader would grow up to be a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace responsible for more than 20 aerial victories during the Second World War. But his success stalled in August 1941 when he was forced to bail out of his plane over France, and he was subsequently captured by the Germans, ending up at Colditz prisoner of war camp until its liberation in 1945.
Read more: Douglas Bader - hero, flying ace and inspiration to reach for the sky
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