Vietnam Veterans: Denied Again

Greetings,

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Vietnam veterans have been denied the right to march through their state capital as was reported on the local news (https://www.msn.com/en-au/video/sport/vietnam-veterans-denied-permission-to-march-in-brisbane/vp-BBM52OZ). So once again, these men who went to fight in a war because their government told them to. To fight in a war which was unpopular almost across the globe. To fight in a war that many of them still suffer from. The acknowledgement of their service by the public in Brisbane is being denied.

While the march may cause some traffic issues for some and thus be an inconvenience. It may also cost some tax-payer money to close the roads and have the extra police involved to close these roads and ensure that the crowds are controlled. Do these men and women who went to war because they were told to and did their jobs, and served their country not deserve it? They have already paid their dues in blood and anguish, in lost friends and family, and this is not to mention those who would march in the place of someone who did not come back. All of their service should be honoured.

The Vietnam War, or the Vietnam Conflict as some would like us to call it, was one of the most divisive wars in our history. It divided nations between those who supported the act of going to war against communism, against those who opposed the war fighting for another country. We see much of this war from the point of view of the United States and we see much of the division which happened within that country. What we do not see much of is what happened in Australia at the same time. We do not often see or hear of what the Australians did in Vietnam. Is this the reason why our veterans are so easily forgotten? Is this the reason why their march is so easily denied? Because they have not made documentaries and movies to rival their American counterparts? All veterans of all wars should be honoured, regardless of which side they fought on. Their service should be honoured.

How can it be so that such a march can be so easily denied? How many other marches have been denied? How many of the people in the marches which have been given permission have been veterans? Yes, it does make a difference if they are veterans or not. They have served their country and their service needs to be honoured. It is not the glorification of war as some might accuse, it is the acknowledgement of the service. It is the honouring of men and women who did a service to their country. These are men and women who we should be standing up and being proud of. These are men and women who we should be making every effort to ensure that their march goes ahead without a hitch rather than denying them permission. This is about showing respect to these veterans.

The Brisbane City Council simply needs to make sure that this march can happen. It needs to happen. It needs to happen to give due honour to these veterans and respect the service that they have done for this country.

Cheers,

Henry.