The Canberra Declaration’s Post

MCM recognises the strength and resilience of First Nations Peoples and Communities; as a nation, we have much to learn from the oldest continuing Cultures on earth. MCM acknowledges that sovereignty has never been ceded. MCM recognises that 26 January marks the beginning of the colonisation of Australia that resulted in injustice, trauma, and dispossession of Country and Cultures for First Nations Peoples. Many First Nations Peoples see 26 January as a day of mourning. MCM endorses the Uluru Statement from the Heart and as a nation we have much to celebrate. We need to find a date for a National Day that unites every Australian and honours this Country and First Nations Peoples. #FirstNations #IndigenousAustralians

Today we reflect on the strength and resilience of the American spirit. Though the events of 9/11 shook our nation, we emerged more united than ever before. https://itsatechs.com/ #ITSA #911Day #PatriotDay #NeverForget #UnitedWeStand #September11

For a lot of Australians, Australia Day is a day of celebration, a day off work, Triple J's hottest 100 or simply beach and BBQs, and many don't even realise that the day marks the arrival of the first fleet of colonial settlers to Sydney's shores - not Captain Cook's "discovery". Australia day has only been acknowledged nationally since 1995, and is becoming more and more controversial as it also brings into focus the impact of colonialisation on Australia's First Nations people. FISH acknowledges that for First Nations people, today may be known as Invasion Day, Day of Mourning, Survival Day, or Aboriginal Sovereignty Day. We stand together with you, recognising the continuing challenges and disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in this country, the need for Australian's to listen, to seek to understand and to respect the different perspectives of First Nations people. Not only on this day but especially on Australia Day when the tragic and devastating aspects of Australia's history since the first settlers arrived is brought into focus. #alwayswasalwayswillbe #firstnations #aboriginalaustralia #truthtelling #australiaday #indigenousperspectives #firstnationsaustralia #togetherwecanmakeadifference #firstnationshistory

There is no formal date the British Empire began. You could argue as early as the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. More realistically, the empire as we know it began in the late 1400s when Cabot arrived in Newfoundland. Slowly the British acquired influence around the world. Eventually outpacing the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch to gain control of 24% of the landmass on earth, and 20% of its population at its peak. After almost two hundred years of empire building, only one colony found the will to throw off the shackles of the empire. A rabble of farmers and tradesmen, fathers and sons, changed the rules of engagement forever and drove the British Army, the greatest fighting force of the time, out of America. They did so while being outmanned, outgunned, and underprovisioned. By rights, it should have never happened. It then gave birth to what should be the greatest form of government the earth has ever seen. Whether we’ve squandered what the Patriots and Founders built for us can be debated, but it doesn’t diminish the feats they accomplished during perhaps the most lopsided engagement in military history. Leaving the British Empire was not easy. No people or place had done it in the almost two hundred years before 1776. It would be another 143 years before another country did it in 1919. It’s bigger than fireworks. It’s more than barbecues. The very existence of our nation is one of the most improbable events in the course of human history. Learn the history. Find your ancestors. There’s glory in the past, even if we haven’t lived the intent.

On a recent work trip to Canberra, I found myself free after a client meeting and decided to pop by the Australian War Memorial nearby. So what did I think, having not visited since the obligatory Canberra school excursion of many years ago? Well initially, I was mesmerised by the stunning dioramas conceived by historian Charles Bean. Replete with light flashes, exploding bomb-sounds and audio narratives, the large-scale mockups do a moving job in reconstructing the harrowing experiences of our servicemen and women. Then I got mad. Looking back, all the wars of the 20th century have been so senseless. Some megalomaniac got in in their heads to depose a monarchy/invade a country/annihilate a race/quash the commies or some other excuse to mobilise armies and wreak havoc. I left feeling that war memorials are pathetic gestures from the governments, to appease the families of those who were sacrificed in the chaotic wars that ensued. Look! The efforts of your child, spouse, parent or loved one were not wasted – we will remember them! But the wars raging around the world right now are a reminder that it’s not easy to stop a maniac leader in their tracks. We don't want war, but we can’t always know that a democratically elected leader will turn out to be a menace, invading neighbours or repressing freedoms. And almost half the world’s countries aren’t even democracies, making those people even more powerless to prevent war. Fast-forward to today, Anzac Day 2024 in peaceful Australia, and all we can do is remind the next generation that war is a terrible, terrible thing. Lest we forget. #anzacday #lestweforget

Every journey begins here.

On Patriot Day, we pause to honor the courage and unity that emerged from the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and spirit of a nation that came together in the face of adversity. As we reflect on the bravery of first responders and the strength of our communities, let us continue to cherish the values of compassion and solidarity. #PatriotDay #NeverForget #September11 #HonorAndRemember #UnitedWeStand #Resilience #911Tribute #September11 #PatriotDay2024

My latest blog reflects on the history and meaning of Anzac Day. https://lnkd.in/gyWQDcCB

Today, we honor and remember the courage and resilience of our nation. 🇺🇸 #NeverForget the heroes and those we lost on this day.⁠ ⁠ #NeverForget #September11 #remembranceday #nationalpatriotday #patriotday #firstresponders #neverforgotten #remembering911 #realestate #realtors #unitedwestand #beachfrontproperties

NOT SHAMEFUL TO REMEMBER Memories of war enable our society to remember the past, to express appreciation to those who sacrificed their lives and willingly served our country. At the same time we also need to acknowledge and accept that on occasions, events and happenings from the past, which would be considered unnecessary today, occurred for significant and highly acceptable reasons. Those of us today should never feel guilt nor shame for these actions, which some are constantly demanding that we do. This is why we, as Australians, come together every ANZAC Day. We do it to commemorate the ANZAC’s and their achievements: we should remember them though, not as old soldiers from a forgotten war, but as the young Australians each of them were in 1915, when they left our shores to defend Australia. Remembering moments from our history allows us as a society to learn from them and to move forward in a positive and determined manner. We cannot change history and nor should we, but we can and should learn from it. Australians young and old, will always remember them.