American behavior? & Anzac Day

Corner of Picton

I was just listening to the NZ public radio station when the interviewers were discussing the rash of brute behavior on the transit system in Auckland.  One of the radio readers said, “Why are we seeing this rash of American behavior.”  The other personalities did not question this description in the least.  They continued to discuss the problem and accepted the “American behavior” remark as an apt description which all understood to be brutish, criminal acts of violence. 

This is what I love about traveling out of the US.  We see our country from the prospective of others.  I told this to a friend here and her first reaction was to say, “I’m sure you got right onto the phone to let them know what you thought.”   I said, “No, this is what I find interesting about traveling.  The description is apt for certain areas in the US.”  “Oh yes,” says she “we got lost in our camper in Los Angeles and ended up in a very dangerous area.  I think I saw what they call ‘Camper People’ all living in a terrible place.”  I replied, “Oh, that horrible descriptive ‘trailer  trash’, which is another name for the poor.” “Crazy isn’t it?” she says, “Richest country in the world and such poor areas.”  “Yep” says I, “but that’s another longer conversation.”

Crosses on Stockade Hill

Lest We Forget
Obelisk

Tomorrow Anzac Day is celebrated, or rather commemorated.  It’s been 99 years since the 25^th of April, 1915 when the Australian and New Zealand forces fought and died in Gallipoli.  8500 Australians and 2721 New Zealanders died in WWI. The Kiwis lost the most soldiers per percentage of population by country in that war.  Everyone wears a red poppy and remembers family members and friends who died in war.  A small local group tried to sell white poppies in contrast to the red to promote peace.  They are not very well received by the general public as they are seen as dishonoring the fallen soldiers. 

I have never been a promoter of war, but I have always respected our soldiers.  They have been given horrendous jobs to be done by, in my opinion, our dishonorable leaders. 

View of water and Howick from Stockade Hill

So tomorrow there will be many people on the hill in the Village watching the sunrise service.  There are crosses planted on the lawn to commemorate the Howick men lost in battle.  Some of the

crosses have a name, all will be remembered.  This I believe is honorable.

Rain here, as April is October in the northern hemisphere and May (November) will be here soon.

All good, J