Racism alive & well in Aussie Army it seems

mantis

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Klan-style photo deplorable: army chief
13:57 AEST Thu Nov 11 2004


The behaviour shown in a photograph of soldiers dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods was deplorable and intolerable, the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy said on Thursday.

General Leahy said administrative action, namely further equity and diversity training, had been taken against the soldiers.

News Ltd newspapers on Thursday printed a photograph showing Australian soldiers dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods gathered behind seated Aboriginal and other dark-skinned soldiers.

News Ltd also reported claims that a dark-skinned soldier had the armour removed from his flak jacket while serving in East Timor while others had offensive slogans written on their gear.

"On behalf of the Australian army, that photograph that appeared on the front page of a newspaper this morning is just deplorable," Lt Gen Leahy told reporters after a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

"We are appalled by the behaviour that brought this photograph about.

"We're disgusted to think that soldiers can still think that behaviour of this intolerable nature, they can get away with.

"Where have they been whilst we've been training and dealing with matters of equity and diversity?

"This, particularly on a day like today (Remembrance Day), is totally unacceptable."

General Leahy said the army believed the soldiers involved thought it was just a prank.

"The consequences, though, are very, very serious," he said.

"What we've seen from the photographer and the soldiers involved was a bit like a school photograph and they thought at the end of the formal photographs, we'll have a fun one.

"Well, this one wasn't funny. They got it wrong and the consequences, whilst unintended, have been deplorable."

He said once the incident had become known through a complaint, an investigation was held, the soldiers had been held accountable and action had been taken against them.

"But more recently there's been another complaint and there's a current investigation to look at some other matters and we'll make sure that that investigation is done thoroughly.
©AAP 2004
 

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pav_is_god

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#6
The Army is as racist, sexist and biggoted as the rest of Australia, it just stands out more because the media and the public in general put the defence force up on a pedestal.
 

mantis

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pav_is_god said:
The Army is as racist, sexist and biggoted as the rest of Australia, it just stands out more because the media and the public in general put the defence force up on a pedestal.
Excuse me, but like the Police they aren't supposed to be, they are paid to uphold law & order & be above prejudices, how can an army fight for freedom & democracy if they are bigots & racists. :eek:
 

pav_is_god

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mantis said:
Excuse me, but like the Police they aren't supposed to be, they are paid to uphold law & order & be above prejudices, how can an army fight for freedom & democracy if they are bigots & racists. :eek:
Not everyone in the Army is a racist or bigot, but like the Police forces they draw their members from the public, which has racist and biggoted people.

Also, the Army isn't paid to uphold law & order & be above prejudices, thats just the police. Its paid to defend democracy, not practice it.
 

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agitator

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geez can you imagine a pc army in times of war??

* no more 'you faqing turkish bastard!!!' at gallipoli, now replaced with..... 'i'm awfully sorry to invade your country johhnie turk, please forgive me for shooting at you'.

* going over the top at the somme 'just wait till i shove my bayonet up your filthy arse you dirty stinking huns!!!' now replaced with.....'i'm so sorry but i have orders to insert some cold steel up your kyber pass, and you did invade france after all'.

*fighting in the steaming asian jungles 'bonsai this you degenerate slanty eyed nips!!!' now replaced by......'please leave this country at once, your breaking the law'.

with this attitude we would never win a war.
 

Cap

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#15
Hardly Racism

Racism:
The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races 2: discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race

People are so quick to jump on that word (racism) - it was a stunt done in Poor taste
I agree it was wrong, but you cant just label people racist for things like that it reminds of the Hate Crimes Episode on South Park. - thats how pathetic or media is.
 
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#17
While the whole episode is in poor taste, I'll say that much, I really hate it how they've blown such things out of proportion to make us believe that racism is rife in this country. Let's face it, prejudice is unavoidable and even more so in the current climate. It's a matter of how you choose to control or act on your thoughts.
 

pav_is_god

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#18
mantis said:
There lies the problem with the world. :rolleyes:
Mate, the military just wouldn't function if it operated as a democracy. Without people giving orders and without those obeying orders, we'd be speaking Japanese - there is just no time for a democratic vote when there's rounds cracking above your head.
 
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pav_is_god said:
Mate, the military just wouldn't function if it operated as a democracy. Without people giving orders and without those obeying orders, we'd be speaking Japanese - there is just no time for a democratic vote when there's rounds cracking above your head.
No. Without people giving orders and people obeying orders there wouldn't be wars in the first place.
 

MGREG

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#21
Appleyard said:
When you draw your armed forces from the poorest and stupidest section of society you can expect nothing more. Same for police and Telstra workers.
This is pretty much true withour exception. They join up then complain when they are sent to war. Dont join you dipsticks.

I understand they have to get an IQ below 40 before they accept them.
 

Leigh Roy

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#22
agitator said:
geez can you imagine a pc army in times of war??

* no more 'you faqing turkish bastard!!!' at gallipoli, now replaced with..... 'i'm awfully sorry to invade your country johhnie turk, please forgive me for shooting at you'.

* going over the top at the somme 'just wait till i shove my bayonet up your filthy arse you dirty stinking huns!!!' now replaced with.....'i'm so sorry but i have orders to insert some cold steel up your kyber pass, and you did invade france after all'.

*fighting in the steaming asian jungles 'bonsai this you degenerate slanty eyed nips!!!' now replaced by......'please leave this country at once, your breaking the law'.

with this attitude we would never win a war.
Naughty words in a language not their own, that'll teach them. It's a great morale boost, though.

This thing happened in Townsville right? That's the most xenophobic place in the country if you believe the media....
 

lasher

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#23
that picture was a bloody disgrace and i hope those involved are heavily punished..it portrays racism in the extreme and should NOT be tolerated...

i am appalled that in 2004 a vast majority of australians are racist and non educated towards aboriginal people...we could learn so much from these people about caring for land , flora and fauna usages and learing about our natural wildlife but instead we treat them like shi# and with no respect...

those involved in that picture should ashamed of themselves and i believe kicked out of the army....they think its a big joke but the aboriginals dont so therefore it is NOT A FU##ING JOKE.........
 

SaveFeriss

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#25
MGREG said:
This is pretty much true withour exception. They join up then complain when they are sent to war. Dont join you dipsticks.

I understand they have to get an IQ below 40 before they accept them.

Ahh so that's why I wasn't accepted into the RAAF 6 months before Sept 11.

And here I was thinking it was because of my urine test :cool:
 
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