On April 26, 1973, government minister Dr Jim Cairns (centre) shared a platform in the Sydney Town Hall with representatives of communist North Vietnam (whose visit to Australia he sponsored), surrounded by Viet Cong flags and a huge picture of dictator Ho Chi Minh.
Abbott, trying his best to engender a trade agreement for Australia’s benefit says in a speach;
Even at the height of World War II, Australia gave the Japanese submariners killed in the attack on Sydney full military honours. Admiral Muirhead-Gould said of them: “theirs was a courage which is not the property or the tradition or the heritage of any one nation…but was patriotism of a very high order”.
We admired the skill and the sense of honour that they brought to their task although we disagreed with what they did. Perhaps we grasped, even then, that with a change of heart the fiercest of opponents could be the best of friends.
And it goes feral. Abbott haters rush to point out the Japs were uncivilized and committed a host of attrocities and therefore Abbott should be ashamed of himself. Abbott was talking about the midget submariners who attacked Sydney and the fact that the Australian authorities at the time buried the Jap crews with full military honours. You’d have to think that these guys could be considered as just fighting for their country as that is how Australia thought at the time, but no The Abbott haters are bringing out every atrocity the Japs ever committed.
Can’t win, can he. He was talking to the Japanese Prime Minister and Abbott’s speach writer tried to pick a uncontensious moment of WW2 history that wouldn’t upset the Abe or Australians. One doesn’t set up trade agreements by pointing out to the other party that 70 years ago “you guys were a bunch of savages”.
He quotes a WW2 Admiral and the Abbott haters still castigate him.
Which brings to me to the picture showing one-time ALP Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns (centre) entertaining the enemy at Sydney Town Hall just
months after Aussie troops withdrew from the war zone; (that’s months, not 70 years) while good friends of mine we still in hospital recovering from wounds, and two years before the invasion of South Vietnam and the end of the war.
Some months later Whitlam recognized China and 31 October marked our trade agreement with them. The Chinese, at this stage, were busy helping the USSR fund the North Vietnamese army’s invasion of South Vietnam.
That, apparently, is OK but for Abbott to try and set up a trade agreement a full 70 years after that war is not on.
Strange days indeed
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Kev – on this issue you don’t speak for everyone who served in 7RAR –
“The RSL has received multiple inquiries about its position on recent comments made by the Prime Minister. The State President of the RSL,Graham Edwards,was overseas when the comment was made, but sent this message: ‘I cannot share the comments or sentiments of the PM. I have visited Sandakan, Hellfire Pass and read the stories of the Kokoda Track, the execution of POW’s and of various other atrocities committed against Australian and allied troops and civilians.
‘These acts did not reflect courage, pride or character.
‘While we as a nation have moved on and now share strong trade agreements, friendships and many other interests common to both countries we should never forget those dark days of threat from Japan nor should we attempt to rewrite history.”
I don’t have a problem with our PM praising a visiting head of state, but as the son of a WW2 Veteran who served against the Japanese in New Guinea, I reject the obsequious tone and the gratuitous references to honor.
If my father was still alive, he would be disgusted.
I reject the obsequious tone and the gratuitous references to honor.
Read my fucking piece again mate. Neither obsequious or gratutitous Abbott is simply trying to boost our trade agreements in an attempt to claw back our economic state after the Rudd/Gillard debacle.
And don’t reply without addressing the commos in the ALP like Cairns et al who are allowed to entertain the enemy during the war whereas we can’t try to nornalize relationships 70 years after.
Of course Graham Edwards would say that – he is an ALP stallwart and ex MP and is obliged to put shit on Abbott no matter that he’s behaving like a leader.
If your father “would be disgusted” at a PM referring to a WW2 Admiral paying repects to the enemy dead from a submarine attack that happened 70 years ago then I can see where you get your problems from.
Agree with you wholeheartedly on the Jim Cairns aspect Kev, also Gareth Evans another ALP waller that sported a North Vietnam medal after meeting with the Communist group. As for all those wowsers that probably drive Japanese cars, Suck it up and get on with life.
“Read my fucking piece again mate. Neither obsequious or gratutitous (sic) Abbott is simply trying to boost our trade agreements in an attempt to claw back our economic state after the Rudd/Gillard debacle.”
As a proud Australian, I don’t kowtow to anyone, and it’s disappointing to see our PM doing just that. I recall him saying he’d sell his backside if it meant gaining power during the negotiations around the hung parliament, so I guess he’s behaving true to form.
Gratuitous essentially means unnecessary.
The trade agreement with Japan had already been secured when Abbott made the statement. By definition, what he said was completely unnecessary. It’s typical of politicians of all stripes to ignore the sacrifice of soldiers in past conflicts to engage in attention whoring.
Would it have been OK if the agreement had been with Germany, and Abbott had made remarks celebrating the honour of, say the Gestapo, to appease Angela Merkel?
“And don’t reply without addressing the commos in the ALP like Cairns et al who are allowed to entertain the enemy during the war whereas we can’t try to nornalize (sic) relationships 70 years after.”
As for Jim Cairns inviting North Vietnamese to Australia, that was also obsequious and gratuitous.
You see Kev, I will always call posturing when I see it, wherever it comes from.
“Of course Graham Edwards would say that – he is an ALP stallwart (sic) and ex MP and is obliged to put shit on Abbott no matter that he’s behaving like a leader.”
Edwards was speaking with his RSL hat on. His statement found a lot of support amongst ex-service personnel who aren’t blinded by their political allegiances.
“If your father “would be disgusted” at a PM referring to a WW2 Admiral paying repects (sic) to the enemy dead from a submarine attack that happened 70 years ago then I can see where you get your problems from.”
My father, (when he’d finished raising a very successful family – a Director-General, a music teacher, a school principal, a CEO of a very successful technology outfit, a Doctor and a Workcover consultant) taught all six of us that honesty and loyalty are virtues to be cherished. If that’s a problem, I’m happy to have inherited it.
I recall him saying he’d sell his backside if it meant gaining power during the negotiations around the hung parliament
No you don’t, you recall Tony Windsor saying Abbott said it. Windsor has as much credit on this blog as does Milne – ie, none.
Graham Edwards always talks with his ALP hat on no matter what other hat he may be wearing at the time. I know him personally and that’s just Graham.
As expected you didn’t really answer the point about Jim Cairns. Just try it once for some creditability. Just admit the truth – the Australian communists supported the Vietnamese communists while our troops were dying. Try it, it may be enlightening.
The fact that the trade deal had already been established has no bearing on the subject. Abbott had to reply to a speech by Abe when he spoke in the House. He has to reply and he did so in a reasonable manner. Raising the Nazis is an argument loser. The submariners mentioned in the Admirals quote were sailors pure and simple.
The entire exercise of you and your left wing mates is simply to try and cast Abbott in a bad light. No matter what he does or says, he is wrong.
He’s not perfect but he is beating the shit out of the last mob and you are all afraid that the voters are noting it.
You might like to do some work on pointing out how Abbott is handling the MH17 crisis. I’m sure you can fault him but do keep in mind he has handled it well and your worse nightmare is happening.
The people are working out that Abbott is doing a fairly good job.
“As expected you didn’t really answer the point about Jim Cairns. Just try it once for some creditability (sic).”
Read my lips – “As for Jim Cairns inviting North Vietnamese to Australia, that was also obsequious and gratuitous.”
“The people are working out that Abbott is doing a fairly good job.”
Really?
See – http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2014/07/27/galaxy-52-48-to-labor-5/
And this is post MH17.
that was also obsequious and gratuitous.
No it’s not! Read MY lips…Cairns entertained the enemy during the war for their benefit whereas Abbott was trying to find common ground 70 years after the war for our trade balance benfit – see the difference? ALP vs Libs – fair comparison in my mind.
You’re quoting Crikey mate – don’t rely to heavily on that to perk you up.
The Libs always suffer bad polls after taking over from the ALP as we have to make hard decisions to get the economy back on track. Admittedly Abbott and Hockey could do better selling the budget and it’s basic remedy for years of overspending and under delivering but the people will eventually see through Shortens hypocracy and react accordingly. Watch the polls next year – they are the ones that matter.
Kev, no rusted on ALP/Green coalition supporter will admit to anything good about Tony Abbott, they have been brainwashed by their parents.
In the same instance none of them will say a word against the ALP/Greens coalition for the same reason.
On top of that, teachers in general that I have known that also served in the Forces seem to have bigger ego’s than teachers in general.
Roly I don’t like to generalise but I can think of one ex headmaster that fits the bill better than most.