WE also say “boo!” to the spectacle of an unwanted and unwelcome welcome to country ceremony at one of the nation’s major ANZAC Day services.
As stated by Senator Malcolm Roberts, Dutton and Albanese are cowards for caving into the mob outraged by a series of “boos” given at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance Dawn Service when the welcome to country speaker commenced his little lecture.
“For five long minutes the crowd was lectured by this man that this is Aboriginal country, it’s Aboriginal land, his father’s land and he did not mention the diggers once,” Senator Roberts said in a media statement yesterday afternoon.
“By implication, he was telling the veterans, currently serving Defence personnel and respectful Australians in attendance that this country wasn’t theirs, while failing to properly respect the purpose of the day, ANZAC.
“There are men and women sitting in that crowd on ANZAC Day who know someone who has died for this country. People died or lost limbs wearing an Australian flag on their shoulder. They sure as hell don’t need to be welcomed to their own country.
“Dutton and Albanese are cowards for caving into the outrage mob and not calling out the disrespect of holding a welcome to country on ANZAC Day.
“This is a day for remembering the sacrifice of all Australians, not politics. Booing is disrespectful, so is starting the Dawn Service with a political welcome to country. Australia voted no to dividing the country by race.
“The welcome to country has gone way too far and it should never be repeated on ANZAC day. Today is a day for solemn reflection and paying our respects. This sad episode of injecting politics into a national day of significance must never be repeated.”
Police arrested one of the hecklers, Australian nationalist Jacob Hersant, who was described as a neo-Nazi by media. “Why can they politicize it and make it about white guilt and Aboriginals over and over again?” he asked an argumentative Channel Nine reporter.
The confrontation sparked some negative public response but many were listening at the same time. A military veteran wearing medals agreed with Hersant and joined in the debate.
Hersant was not the only person booing the welcome. Perhaps half a dozen other people could be heard joining in to booing.
Cairns News notes that Aboriginals served in Australian Army in every conflict and commitment involving Australian defence contingents since Federation, including both World Wars and the intervals of peace since the Second World War.
The history of Aboriginal armed service has been recorded by the Australian War Memorial.
