1 Bravo 6

Metalman, No offence taken mate, just a gentle reminder as our small force tends to become lost amongst the tens of thousands of servicemen and women. FRIENDS don't need to apologise to each other mate. One day I just might take you up on your offer of a beer. From what I remember, Budweiser was like soft drink to us Aussies. Our booze had a much higher alcohol content so we could drink your booze all night and still find our way home in the dark. We had to practically carry you septic tanks home. Rick.

This is rather important. I'm sure you would all agree. Please read this.... > >Here goes: > > A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon >on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about. > >The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, "This?" With that the men all began to laugh out loud. > >The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey, sorry man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!" > >The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honor." > >Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?" > >"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts, and her health." > > "Umm," the stranger replied, "Yeah." > >"And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife", the middle aged man went on. > > "And she's okay, too?", the other guy asked. > > "Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and for her health." > > "Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?" > > "No. It's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to > worry about." > > Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry mister." > > "So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends." "And here, the middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a >little pink ribbon. > >The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can ya help me put it on?" > > >This is breast cancer awareness month. Do regular breast self-exams and have annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age of 40. And encourage those women you love to do the same. > >Please send this on to anyone you would like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness. > > A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE. > >PLEASE KEEP THIS CANDLE GOING! > > This one I do ask that you send on. Rick.

:finger: I was prompted to start this thread after hearing a RUMOUR, i repeat, a RUMOUR, that ANZAC Day would be targeted by protestors. Now, as far as protesting is concerned, I agree wholeheartedly with you Carl. However, should any desecration be made to a Cenotaph, be it grafiti or just someone on the Cenotaph waving a banner. they will feel the full force of my right boot. Knowing you Septic Tanks to be highly patriotic, I feel certain that react in much the same way should that occur at the Viet Nam Wall. I certainly did not expect this to become another Iraqui Post. Rick.

Yes many countries are against us but as many or more stand with the US/UK in this fight. Metalman and others, Just thought I'd bring to your attention that there are soldiers operating in small groups, quite likely behind enemy lines, gathering info and knocking out the occasional enemy nest. There are also teams of underwater demolition experts clearing mines from the port to enable friendlies to dock safely. As well as that, there are fighter filots flying sorties against enemy positions. They are NOT Americans; They are NOT English. My friends, they are AUSTRALIANS. The statement SHOULD read,-------"stand with the US/Uk/AUST. in this fight" Regardless of how many other countries verbally support the war, the fact remains that there are just the THREE of us who are fighting it. Seems that I have to keep bringing this to your attention. Tisk, Tisk, Tisk. :cry: :cry: You do have SOME friends ya know. Rick.

:devious: :devious: :devious: Lachlan, Since you are a student, I have to ask, from which point of view would you be Not trying it out. LOL z kid, Mate, the way I look at it, every single one of them has the right to protest, BUT, they do NOT have the right to protest with VIOLENCE. I often wonder if any of them consider what previous generations of Australians had to endure in order for them to HAVE the right to protest. Rick.

:classic: :classic: :classic: Yes Carl, I thoroughly agree with you that this forum has been both interesting and enlightening. I have enjoyed the diverse opinions and congratulate all participants for not getting too "heavy" with each other and resorting to personal abuse. Personaly, I hope the thread continues. I find it to be the most enjoyable since I joined, second only to BOOBS. hmsports Rick, I know where you are coming from mate. While no where near as devestating as Sept. 11, the Bali bombing had much the same effect on us. Our problem is also complacency. Prime Minister Howard has made one statement that has total agreement from the Veteran community. In his speech to the nation he urged anyone with a grudge to direct their anger at him and his government and NOT at the servicemen and women who are merely diong the job that they were trained to do. At least he has learned something from the Viet Nam fiasco. By the way Rick, I too am a PROUD Viet Nam Veteran and a proud Australian. 1 Bravo 6 Rick.

:finger: I heartily agree with you Biker, it would be nice to know where people come from. Not filling in their location gives the impression that they might be ashamed of where they come from. Rick.

ROFL I thought this one was good enough to share with everyone. I just might try it out on any damn fool who tries demonstrating on ANZAC DAY. SOMETHING FOR THE HIPPIES TO THINK ABOUT. Next time someone questions our probable actions: 1) Approach an ignorant student talking about "peace" and saying "there should be no retaliation." 2) Have a brief conversation, and ask if the military force is appropriate. 3) When he says "No," ask "Why not?" 4) When he says, "because that would cause more innocent deaths, which would be awful, and we should not cause more violence." 5) Punch him hard in the face...(nose hurts more) 6) When he gets up to punch you back, point out that it would be a mistake, and contrary to his values to punch you as he would be just increasing violence. 7) When he agrees that he has pledged not to commit violence, punch him in the face again....harder this time. Repeat steps 2 through 7 until he understands that sometimes it is necessary to punch back! Rick.

:sick: :sick: :sick: Hey Biker, About the only thing I would add to your fantasy scenario would be the subject of Mikes post BOOBS. Every now and then I take a trip back there just so I can watch that T shirt go up and down. Now THAT IS what we need MORE of. Rick.

Just thought someone might be interested. www.summernats.com.au Rick.

Hey Carl, How's that for changing the subject ??????. Rick.

:tapemouth Hey there biker, We should get bean dipped to sink half a dozen fourex mate, then we'd see who talks funny. Our booze has a higher alcoholic content than their weak stuff. Rick.

:cheeky: :cheeky: :cheeky: Naaaa, Gunner rob, we don't expect that sort of thing from each other. Building a greenhouse for her tender little plants that don't like sunshine was ALL my idea. So was washing her car for her, and my doing the washing and wiping up. All my own idea. You believe me, doncha. Rick.

:tapemouth :tapemouth Hey, Lachlan, I notice that there are no Zeds in that list. Guess they didn't want to show up the others huh ???? Rick.

:love: :love: Hey CARL, I'm your fwiend, I'm your fwiend, I'm your fwiend. I'm your fwiend too Dwight. Rick.

:sick: :sick: :sick: Ain't my cuppa tea mates. I like to see 'em kept as original as poss. mmmmmmm, perhaps with the original bumper it would be O.K. However, as Graeme said, it's really up to the owner. After all, it was HIS cash. Rick.

:tapemouth :tapemouth :tapemouth Hey there Tanny, What REALLY had me plenty worried was that the worst cut was on the INSIDE of my right wrist. Not being in a position to actually SEE my wrist I was expecting to see copious amounts of blood to begin flowing down my arm. Every time I would move my hand I could feel the cut go just a little bit deeper. Not a very nice feeling to have. As I said before, what REALLY hurt was asking "She Who Can Do Three Things At Once" to help. What a blow to my superior male pride when she simply reached in with her dainty little paws, screwed it in finger tight and then added insult to injury by wielding the spanner with dextrous ease then, to top it all off, glanced at my poor lacerated wrist and walked off chuckling merrily to herself without as much as a touch of sympathy for me. Such CRUELTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As the saying goes, DEADLIER THAN THE MALE. Rick.

Hey there Bean Dipped, what to you mean WE talk funny. As far as we are concerned, EVERYONE ELSE talks funny. Rick.

Mate, believe me, I can sympathise with you. (For that matter, we ALL can). As the saying goes, "BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW" etc.(see my post AT LAST). When I think of all the blood(Literally), sweat and tears Precious has cost me, I could NEVER let her go to anyone else. I actually got my arm STUCK while refitting the rear bumper bar. You know the bolt that goes from inside the right rear wheel well to the end of the bumper bar where you have to SQUEEZE your hand between the body and the side of the fuel tank. Took me ten minutes of pain and BLOOD was flowing before I got my hand out. What hurt most was having to ask She Who Laughed Loudly to reach in with her dainty little paws. I'm sure you have had similar adventures with your Zed, so how could you POSSIBLY consider selling her ?????????? Rick.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Lachlan, I thought the Dicky Diff was bad enough but you should have heard the noises "She Who Must Be Obeyed" made. But, being a master of diplomacy and persuasion, I managed to cool things down in the best way possible. ROFL I WENT FISHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rick.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Just my luck. After refurbishing "Precious", which included sound deadening, carpets etc., I found that I could "hear" a noise that I hadn't noticed before. I was pretty sure I knew what it was but took it to the experts for confirmation. Yep, that whine was a dicky diff. So, the old tart is back in the workshop with her tail in the air. I guess that's one of the things that makes restoration so much fun. The coming of the UNKNOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rick.

:( The thought occurs to me that this is such a serious subject for this forum.################## Rick.

:stupid: :stupid: :stupid: G'Day there Carl, After reading your post I went back and re-read Sean's comment. Thanks for straightening me out on that one. Sean, my humble apologies for taking your comment out of context. Being a Viet Nam Vet I tend to go on the offensive far too readily. (It's a long story.). Are you saying that some low down S.O.B. gave you a knuckle sandwich that smelled of stale Fosters ??????????? Must have been a Victorian. Had it been a Queenslander, He would have smelled of Four Ex. Biker, Thanks for the explaination mate. You are pretty well right about Kapyong. It was 3rd Battallion, RAR who fought that rear guard action that earned them the name of The Kapyong Killers. Rick.

:finger: HEY THERE SEAN. The Aussies are not in hiding mate. The 2000 troops we have over there might not seem much when compared to America and England but, mate, AT LEAST WE ARE THERE. One thing we Aussies will ALWAYS do is meet our obligations to the best of our ability. Saddam HAS TO BE STOPPED. Personally I and most Australians would have preferred to see the Allies go in with the full support of the U.N. and that support would have been forthcoming had it not been for the power of veto. The blood of Australian and American servicemen and women has been shed and MIXED on battlefields all over the world in WW1, WW2, Korea (anyone heard of the battle of Kapyong??), and Viet Nam. We Veterans in Australia have a saying that applies. TOGETHER THEN, TOGETHER AGAIN. As I said before mate, at least WE are THERE. Rick.

:mad: :sick: Regardles of who is right and who is wrong, who did or did not do whatever in the PAST, let us concentrate on the here and now and the future. It is now 2320 hours my local time and in about one and a half hours one of the most important and far reaching decisions will be made. Let us hope that it does not escalate into WW 111. Spare a thought for the servicemen who are going to carry out the order of invasion. Let us ensure that THEY are not victimised for carrying out their orders to the best of their ability as Viet Nam Veterans were, and that the Governments take bloody good care of those who are wounded both physically and mentally. Also, spare a thought for the civilians who are going to be caught up in this mess. Bloody Iraquis some might say, but lets not lose sight of the fact that they ARE PEOPLE. Mothers, Fathers, Sons, Daughters who care for their loved ones as we do. And they BLEED as we do. Now and in the future we will all need to be on our guard. Fingers crossed. Rick.