Spot the difference

Originally posted by pintohoo: ↑

ATM - I'm just outside of Villers-Bretonneux ----

Here's the difference --- since late WW1 -- Ozzies are basically revered here --

""The school in Villers-Bretonneux was rebuilt using donations from school children of Victoria, Australia (many of whom had relatives perish in the town's liberation) and above every blackboard is the inscription, "N'oublions jamais l'Australie" (Let us never forget Australia).^[19]^[20] The annual Anzac Day ceremony is held at this village on Anzac Day, 25 April. Traditionally, Australian commemorations have focused on Gallipoli. However, Anzac Day commemorations since 2008 have also focused on the Western Front, and dawn services marking the anniversary of the battle of 24/25 April 1918 are held on Anzac Day itself at Villers-Bretonneux.^[21]^[22]
Villers-Bretonneux is the sister city of Robinvale, Victoria, Australia.^[23]"

Compare it to how we are seen by people in the recent military engagements we have involved ourselves in

what have we got from being in Afghanistan for example - or Iraq 2??

Enemies - we have enemies - we are also known now as war criminals

that's a HUGE difference --------- time to see just what we have done to bring this upon ourselves ------------ to have enemies in the world - where if you are an Ozzie - you are marked ----------- in comparison to the legacy that our soldiers AND our schoolchildren left for us from 1918

very much time to rethink

one cannot argue with results

1. People from Villers-Bretonneux want to come to Australia bringing gifts and welcome us with open arms in their homes

2. Many groups in Afghanistan and Iraq would love to come to Australia a blow the hell out of us or shoot as many as possible

If that's not cause for a rethink on how we are doing things - well, what is?

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ville...die.-,19th century,during the First World War.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Simon_(politician)}

^{"In 2015, Simon was awarded the honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for "distinguished service to Australian-French relations."[1][3] On April 25, 2018, welcomed French Prime MinisterEdouard Philippe and Australian Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull to Villers-Bretonneux for the grand opening of the Sir John Monash Centre, which was dedicated to the Australian military and its soldiers during World War I.[4]
Dr. Patrick Simon contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in France in late March 2020 and was placed in intensive care for more than fifty days.[1][5] He was initially admitted to a hospital in Rang-du-Fliers, but was transferred to CHU d'Amiens hospital in Amiens.[4] Simon's condition initially stabilized in April, but rapidly deteriorated in May 2020.[5][3]
Patrick Simon died at CHU d'Amiens hospital in Amiens on 13 May 2020, at the age of 63 following a seven-week illness with COVID-19.[1][2][5][3][4]
The Australian Ambassador to France, Brendan Berne, ordered flags at the embassy in Paris to be flown at half staff in Simon's honor.[1] The small town of Robinvale, Victoria, which is twinned with Villers-Bretonneux, paid tribute to Simon, saying, "We extend our condolences to Mr Simon's family, friends, the Villers-Bretonneux community, and the Robinvale-Villers Bretonneux Association members during this sad time."[6] Robinvale was named after Lieutenant Robin Cuttle, who was killed in action in Caix during the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux in 1918.[1] Simon had visited Robinvale several times, most recently in October 2019, and developed close personal and professional relationships with the town's leaders.["}

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You make a very interesting distinction pintohoo between our
involvement in the 14-18 war and how that is now appreciated
by the subject country and our recent involvement in ME war
which for many may have not been appreciated..

I guess 14-18 war was an invasion of France (and others) by
Germany which saved France from German annexation and
the enemy was clearly defined as an outsider.

Our involvement in ME wars are a mostly interference in what
are basically civil wars( Afghanistan & Syria) or external interference in a country's
internal affairs (Iraq) and the best than one can hope for is half local support/apprciation
unlike France with respect to WW1 which was/is virtually 100%

I spent 7 weeks in central France a few years ago and the reception of the
local French country people was absolutely amazing. They took us under
their wings, wined & dined us and involved us in neighbourly and community events,
sagged us about our Australian French and we made many lasting friendships
We were even invited to the local town hall and given a tour of the region in a Cirrus plane!

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1196142/china-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-doses/

At one point in the flight I asked my neighbour (pilot) what was the big lever for overhead
and he said...."No, No, dont touch...that's the parachute for the whole plane!"
That certainly gave us a sense of security!

That night we had wild boar on a spit with lashing of red wine and amazing salads.
and we all danced rock 'n roll till late.