For never let us hold their banner, sigh

本帖最後由 norman.ho 於 2011-11-19 10:18 AM 編輯 公仔箱論壇7 K) E, O- L, J$ r9 u( q
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For never let us hold their banner, sightvb now,tvbnow,bttvb8 e0 U% f, ~9 q2 Q, ]; ?/ Z

Here is an extract from one of my favourite war journalist/satirest Mike Carlton from todays Sydney Morning Herald ....
Sydney Morning Herald November 19, 2011

He started by ...
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When I was a kid I wanted to be an American. Passionately, longingly. Viewed from No. 53 Orchard Road, Chatswood, America beckoned like El Dorado, a shimmering kaleidoscope of glamour and riches.....5.39.217.76- ~, ]- N/ c  ?7 u: R
TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。7 i8 E3 T9 E3 U; q- ]# h' r+ ^# W( ]
And America? There is now a Grand Canyon of disparity between rich and poor, with the savings of the middle class plundered by the thieves of Wall Street, and millions out of work. In the 70 years since Darlene's birth in 1941 the United States has been constantly at war around the planet. When he left the White House in 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who knew what he was talking about, had warned of "the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex", but nobody had listened....公仔箱論壇$ }- E( r5 k; U+ R2 Y' U
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So now, when an American president comes to Canberra, probably the world's most peaceable capital city outside Oslo, F/A-18 fighters roar overhead and he zooms through silent, empty streets barricaded against the possibility of assassination. At Parliament House they closed down the press gallery coffee cart in case it suddenly started dispensing sarin gas or anthrax. To keep that perpetual war going, we'll soon have 2500 US marines based outside Darwin.% B: G! k& {% L) N, ~

But here's a parable for Australia. When he'd done his official meeting and greeting at Parliament House on Wednesday, the First Bloke, Tim Mathieson, (partner of the current Australian prime minister) strolled home to The Lodge on foot. By himself. No bomb-proof limousine, no motorcade of Secret Service agents bristling with guns, tear-gas grenades and emergency blood supplies.

"Why not?" he said to some TV reporters who stopped him. "It's the best way to get home for me. It's only 100 metres down the road."" r# K) q( p1 G6 ?' V

I liked that very much. Let's hope we keep it that way. I would not be an American now for anything, not even for a grey-shingled mansion in the Hamptons and a guaranteed week in bed with Diane Keaton.

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