Knighthoods (+ WW2)

[pietillidie]

On knighthoods, as opposed to that other great childhood parlour game filled with wonder and imagination called "the national entity Friedrich was born into was somehow less moral than the one Ivan was born into which in turn was somehow less moral than the one James was born into, at an abstract, emergent level I can't explain in any sensible, rational way pertaining to any known definition of the word 'moral'", at least a few stragglers were honest enough to laugh at the complete farce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRyO2lmQCK0 .

[Mugwump]

^ Hmmm, no difference between the US and Russia in political history. Good luck with that. The knighthood stinks, btw. Abbott is an idiot even though everyone says he is. That's often not true.

[pietillidie]

^ sure, right, and the nation that Wilhelm was born into in 1933 was just as "moral" as the one Karl was born into in 1995. Suggesting that there is no difference makes the usual patronising accusations of childishness rather jejune, I'd have thought.

Yes, but was that nation more extroverted and did it also have compulsive thoughts? On the other hand, it is well known that nations with PTSD tend more angry and withdrawn, and extreme cases can result in psychotic breaks. You see, right there lies a major tactical error. Germany ought to have been carpet-bombed with SSRIs! Plainly, the trauma caused by Versailles needed appropriate treatment. I mean, who in their right mind would treat a PTSD victim by bombing them!

Instead of the Killer Joke skit, perhaps Monty Python should have done a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy skit!

[3.14159]

Actually, name one country that hasn't acted amorally for the bulk of its history. I'd be surprised if you could.

Nepal

Swoosh, 3 points, nothing but net.

My mistake, I was tired and was thinking of Bhutan.

Nepalese Gurkhas didn't learn their superb fighting skills sitting around knitting Yaks wool & chanting Give peace a chance!

[Tannin]

I think it's really very sad that Abbott has copped so much derision and criticism even from his own side over his dumb knighthoods decision. Not that it wasn't a really stupid thing to do and not that it doesn't show how warped his political judgment is .... no .... the reason it makes me sad and rather despondent about Australia is that, on a list of the bad and dumb things Abbott has done since he lied his way into office, the knighthoods debacle rates well out of the top 100.

Sure it's dumb, but it's utterly trivial when you set it aside his big-ticket ****, and there are scores of them. Seriously, who cares about sending a dumb telegram to an elderly Greek aristocrat and announcing it on Australia Day? Why does that even rate a mention when it takes place against the background of his global warming denial, his lies about not cutting the ABC, his determined attempts to wreck the university system, his chronic mishandling of the economy, his failure to do anything at all to preserve our manufacturing base, his savage cuts to health and education, his massive purge of anyone in the public service having anything to do with climate policy, his wrecking-ball CSIRO policy, his insane, unfair scheme to pay rich women lots for having babies and poor women nothing?

[3.14159]

It's time Abbott copped some derision from his own side.
He has screwed the budget, blown out the deficit, destroyed manufacturing, waged war on the poor.
He is on the side of big business (over-seas and otherwise) anti-enviroment anti-... well just about everything he doesn't particularly like.
He is regarded by all Lib premiers as Toxic Tony, the unwanted man on his own teams hustings.
Every time he puts his foot in it all we've heard from the right is lies, excuses, blame, fear, the waving of the patriotic flag and calls for Labour to stop creating more mess for the incumbent government! (Not something they did in opposition).
The only real surety we have from these clowns (and Captain World Jester) is that if they say they are going to do one thing they will then turn and do the opposite as soon as it suits the newest unannounced agenda!
Now he has his two main media magician's calling for this head (or her head if your Rubbery Rupert).
Who they ^^^ see as his replacement is the only real question worth asking when considering the future of the P.M!
They can't just knife him and replace him with Bishop or even Turnbull.
The derision they've heaped on Labour for doing exactly the same thing is too horrific for even them to contemplate.
The Captain (and Crew) of the CFC (Coal-fired canoe) sTeam aUSTRALIA are caught between a rock and a hard place.
The best (& only) thing the captain cant do to help is throw himself overboard and let the sane(r) members of the crew put the leaky dis-functional tub on an even keel.*
The Libs have lost the confidence of the Australian people and should put restoring it at the top of their to-do list!
...
*They could start by giving Australian Submarine Co the orders it was promised before the election.
It can't fix canoes but it can and has built the best long-range conventional submarines in the World!

oh, as Tannin says, if demoting the Queens squeeze to "Sir" is what Yanks the Right's chain they should have a long hard look at their priorities!
.

[Tannin]

The best (& only) thing the captain cant do to help is throw himself overboard and let the sane(r) members of the crew put the leaky dis-functional tub on an even keel.

"Saner(er) members of the crew". OK. Can you name three?

[3.14159]

Larry, Curly and Moe!

[Lazza]

Larry, Curly and Moe!

Tom, Dick and Harry?

[GreekLunatic]

so why does phil the greek get a Knight hood of australia. What has he done for australia

[Lazza]

so why does phil the greek get a Knight hood of australia. What has he done for australia

He once asked an indigenous leader if they still fight each other with spears

[David]

so why does phil the greek get a Knight hood of australia. What has he done for australia

Apparently he's the patron of, like, 12 Australian organisations. I'm sure this is an extraordinarily onerous task and that he is heavily involved in their ongoing administration.

[Tannin]

The best (& only) thing the captain cant do to help is throw himself overboard and let the sane(r) members of the crew put the leaky dis-functional tub on an even keel.

"Saner(er) members of the crew". OK. Can you name three?

Larry, Curly and Moe!

^ Now there is a quality answer.

[stui magpie]

Nepal

Swoosh, 3 points, nothing but net.

My mistake, I was tired and was thinking of Bhutan.

Nepalese Gurkhas didn't learn their superb fighting skills sitting around knitting Yaks wool & chanting Give peace a chance!

Saw a genuine WWII model Gurkha Kukri at the Camberwell market late last year. Guy's always there, right up the north end of the market and has lots of eclectic war stuff.

I wasn't prepared to pay what he was after, but he was surprised that I recognised it.

[ronrat]

Swoosh, 3 points, nothing but net.

My mistake, I was tired and was thinking of Bhutan.

Nepalese Gurkhas didn't learn their superb fighting skills sitting around knitting Yaks wool & chanting Give peace a chance!

Saw a genuine WWII model Gurkha Kukri at the Camberwell market late last year. Guy's always there, right up the north end of the market and has lots of eclectic war stuff.

I wasn't prepared to pay what he was after, but he was surprised that I recognised it.

Met some Gurkhas at the Remembrance day ceremony at Kanchanaburi 2 years ago where they did some ceremonial work for the Commonwealth countries. Geez they were lovely people and quietly sat down after and it was only when I realised they might want a beer and asked them they said they would. I spoke to the organiser and the UK Ambassador invited them to drink that they partook of beer and the sausage sizzle. They wandered over to me with beaming smiles to say thank you and I just said, No thank you.