Cry "God for England and Saint George"

Every schoolboy knows that England’s patron saint slew a dragon, but what do we really know about our beloved hero? George was born into a Christian family in Turkey (probably in Bithynia) some time between 275 and 281 a.d. His father was from Cappadocia and served as a soldier in the Roman army. His mother was from Lydda (now Lod, Israel) and the young George was raised there by his mother after his father’s death.

He followed his father into the Roman army and soon proved himself an excellent soldier, becoming tribunus (tribune) and then comes (count) by his late twenties. By 303a.d., George was stationed in Nicomedia as a member of the personal guard of the Emperor Diocletian. It was now that the emperor issued an edict demanding the systematic persecution of Christians across the Empire. George was ordered to participate but, instead, confessed his own Christianity and denounced the emperor. An enraged Diocletian ordered his torture and execution and George was martyred on 23^rd April 303.

That’s all we really know for certain about St. George but truth has never been known to stand in the way of a good legend! And the legend goes something like this: a dragon made its nest at the spring that provided water for the city of "Silene" (perhaps modern Cyrene) in Libya or the city of Lydda depending on which source one believes. Consequently, the citizens had to dislodge the dragon from its nest for a time, in order to collect water. To do so, each day they offered the dragon a human sacrifice. The victim was chosen by drawing lots. One day, this happened to be the princess. The monarch begged for her life with no result. She was offered to the dragon, but now appeared the saint on his travels. He faced the dragon, slew it and rescued the princess. The grateful citizens abandoned their ancestral paganism and converted to Christianity.

George was adopted as the patron saint of soldiers after he was said to have appeared to the Crusader army at the Battle of Antioch in 1098. When Richard I was campaigning in Palestine in 1191-92 he put the army under the protection of St George. The banner of St George, the red cross of a martyr on a white background, was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers possibly in the reign of Richard I, and later became the flag of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy. When Richard II invaded Scotland in 1385, every man was ordered to wear 'a signe (sic) of the arms of St George', both before and behind, whilst death was threatened against any of the enemy's soldiers 'who do bear the same crosse or token of Saint George, even if they be prisoners'.

In 1348, George was adopted by Edward III as principal Patron of his new order of chivalry, the Knights of the Garter. The earliest records of the Order of the Garter were destroyed by fire, but it is believed that either in 1344 or in 1348 Edward proclaimed St George Patron Saint of England.

Saint George is a leading character in one of the greatest poems in the English language, Spencer's Faerie Queene (1590 and 1596). In more modern times, St George was chosen by Baden-Powell, to be patron of the Scouting Movement, and on St George's Day, scouts are bidden to remember their Promise and the Scout Law. Baden-Powell recounted in Scouting for Boys that the Knights of the Round Table 'had as their patron saint St George because he was the only one of all the saints who was a horseman. He is the patron saint of cavalry, from which the word chivalry is derived'.

St George is still venerated in a large number of places, by followers of particular occupations and sufferers from certain diseases. He is patron of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry; of farmers and field workers, Boy Scouts and butchers; of horses, riders and saddlers; and of sufferers from leprosy, plague and syphilis. George is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece; and of Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice (second to St Mark). Despite the vast number of places which lay claim to “our” saint, he will always, first and foremost, be associated with those great English institutions of Romance, Chivalry and Honour which gives special point to these famous lines from Shakespeare's Henry V, Act 3, Scene 1:

'I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry - God for Harry! England! and Saint George!’

Happy Birthday, Ma'am

April Fool's Day

"April 1st: This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three-hundred and sixty-four." — Mark Twain

The origins of April Fool's Day are uncertain but what is certain is its continuing popularity right across the world. Explanations of its origins range from the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar, which moved New Year's Day form April 1st to January 1st, to its association with the Vernal Equinox.

The top 100 April Fool's Day hoaxes include such things as the Swiss Spaghetti Harvest, Nixon's Re-election Campaign, Changes to the Value of Pi, the Derbyshire Fairy and, or course, the ever-popular U.F.O. sightings. Unfortunately not all hoaxes are funny and head of the top 10 worst hoaxes of all time is Saddam Hussein's son, Uday, who told Iraqis , in 1998, that President Clinton had lifted sanctions against Iraq and in 1999 that the food ration would be supplemented with Pepsi and chocolate. Gotta love that sense of humour!!

One of the most fun sites I could find about April Fool's Day can be found here. It contains lots of interesting history, quotes, pranks and other nonsense.

So, whether you want to announce a U.F.O., prove that George Bush really is the missing link or just paint the neighbour's cat pink, remember - play safe, have fun and, as Colette said: "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm".

Vale Dith Pran 1942 - 2008

I was saddened today to learn of the death of Dith Pran. Dith was a photographer for the New York Times and the subject of the moving and powerful film The Killing Fields (1984). It was this film which sparked my love affair with Cambodia and, more than twenty years after its release, it remains an enduring testament to one man's courage, resolve and indomitable spirit.

In 1972 Dith Pran was hired by American journalist, Sydney Schanberg, to act as journalist and interpreter during the unrest in Cambodia. When foreign journalists were expelled from the country, he was exiled to the 'killing fields' where he endured four years of starvation and torture at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. Eventually he escaped and made his way to a refugee camp on the Thai border. He migrated to America in 1980.

Several years ago I was privileged to enjoy a brief but enlightening e-mail conversation with Mr. Pran. I found him to be a man of great humour, sensitivity and generosity with little, if any, bitterness for the past.

Dith Pran died last night in New Jersey. He will be cremated in a Buddhist ceremony later this week.

St. Brian of Isaacs

Here is my wonderful father indulging in one of his favourite activities. The two older birds, named Jack and Nan, have been coming to my parents' back garden for meals for over twelve months now. The baby was born last spring. These birds are so tame they can
actually be fed by hand as the picture attests. They are also remarkably cheeky. It is not unusual for them to hop up onto the kitchen window sill and tap on the glass to let my parents know it's time for a feed!

Happy Easter

May God's light and love shine on you this Easter and always.

Photo taken in Ohio

A Close Shave

It's that time of year again. The time when the brave, the daring and the down-right insane shave and/or colour their hair to raise money for cancer research. This year the Department of Immigration and Citizenship raised almost $20,000.

James, Fiona & Enver
prepare to tough out
a Canberra winter

Here are three of my very courageous friends who between them managed to raise $1,640.00. Fiona raised $1,255.00 on her own. You go, Girl!

Mor(e)gan

Here is my lovely nephew. Only a few hours old and already doing a passable imitation of ET.

The Newest Wimborne

Morgan Foley Wimborne made his long-awaited appearance at 8:10 p.m. yesterday. Here he is at only six minutes old.

Vital statistics:
Length - 19&3/4 in,
Weight - 6lb 11oz

I haven't had a chance to talk to Meraiah yet - she is still recovering from 34hrs labour! As for baby brother, I think he's still floating several feet above the ground:)

Just Another Day At The Office

Here in the Civil Service we like to party as hard as we work - probably harder. At a recent farewell lunch, the guest of honour refused to have his picture taken but yours truly managed to sneak into the background. Working in such a culturally-diverse environment, it's a real treat when everyone decides to "bring a plate". Indian, Asian, Italian, Middle
Eastern, Bosnian,Macedonian, African. And no tomato sauce in sight!

Curly, Larry & Mo

Can America Defeat Saddam

(written 15/10/05)
This week Iraq will see the most important criminal trial in its history; that of Saddam Hussein. This would appear to be a great victory for the world’s largest democracy. America went to war to defeat a dictator who it claimed (1) was harbouring terrorists and then later (2) had weapons of mass destruction - and succeeded. The “end of major combat operations”, as somewhat unwisely claimed by President Bush after flying on to the deck of an aircraft carrier, and then the subsequent capture of Saddam, however, are not the end of the matter. They are the beginning of America’s troubles. Now that they have Saddam, combat operations have greatly intensified in an insurgency that shows no sign of abating. The question of Saddam Hussein becomes “What Now?” The obvious answer, of course, is to try, and hopefully, convict and sentence him. Unfortunately, this is only a partial solution that raises more problems than it solves. The last thing America, and the rest of the world for that matter, needs is another martyr.

Over the past few months, the name Saddam Hussein has been largely absent from the media as earthquakes, tornados and bombings have attracted the world’s attention. The next couple of weeks, however, will see his name once again given prominence in the daily news and he will no doubt become a focal point for terrorists and fanatics the world over. It is the next big Iraq issue now that the referendum on the country’s proposed constitution has taken place.


One possible solution is to hold Saddam’s trial behind closed doors but the reality is that such in camera proceedings inevitably give rise to accusations of miscarriages of justice. In order to avoid this, and the ever-popular ‘anti-Americanism’, the trial must remain open and public, thereby attracting both positive and negative consequences.

Perhaps a better answer would have been for those who originally found Saddam to have simply shot him on sight and disposed of the body. (This would be in direct conflict with America’s professed values, such as respect for the rule of law, something that appears to be less of a priority outside of US borders as numerous CIA black operations over the years attest.) Over time, however, Saddam’s name and memory would have faded from the minds of most people had he been quietly eliminated. The downside of this course of action would have been the general view that America was unable to find Saddam, and for the next few decades, this little fact would have been raised by anyone wishing to embarrass the American government. It would also have left America unable to justify its invasion of Iraq. These are things that America has to avoid at all costs. There seems to be an ingrained view in the national psyche that America must come out on top in any and every situation. There is no room for weakness, humility or compromise. It is this need to be seen as unyielding, triumphant and, above all, the ‘good guys’ that is the root of the problem.

America went into Iraq because of claims that Saddam was aiding terrorists – now shown to be false, then a claim that he still had WMD – also now shown to be false. The American government promised the Iraqi people freedom, peace and democracy. Unfortunately, these promises have not been fulfilled and many people, including Iraqis, are of the opinion that America should leave. America appears to be rapidly losing control of the situation in Iraq with an increase in kidnapping, suicide bombing and general unrest. It now finds itself in a no-win situation. It is unable to leave without losing face by abandoning those it sought to help but to stay will invite further condemnation of an already unpopular war and raise questions about America’s right to continue with its current agendum. What began as a War on Terror has resulted in a marked increase in terrorism and America now faces the prospect of another Vietnam-style humiliation. As things deteriorate, there is the possibility of resurgence in support for Saddam Hussein.

Having captured Saddam, America is faced with two options – either charge him with crimes against humanity or release him. It is obvious the issue of release can never be considered seriously. His appearance in the dock is necessary to justify the millions of dollars (and thousands of lives) expended in this exercise. It is equally obvious that his trial must be open, honest and a showcase of democracy. The Americans must be seen to afford him all the rights and civil liberties he denied his countrymen. After all, they’re the good guys. They play fair.

Despite the necessity of the trial and the need to be seen to do the right thing, there is little doubt in anyone’s mind what the verdict will be. If America is to be seen as Iraq’s liberator, it must also be seen as the power that ensured the complete and total removal of its oppressor. There can be no hope of acquittal. To do so would leave the way open for Saddam and his supporters to condemn America and expose it as weak and ineffective.

After Saddam’s inevitable conviction, there will remain the issue of sentencing. Few people would question the justification of the death penalty but this is the one option which must be avoided. To execute Saddam would elevate him to martyrdom. Even those Iraqis who welcomed his removal may well be outraged at the thought of ‘them’ murdering one of ‘ours’. This would not be some innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Rather it would be seen as the deliberate assassination of a man many still consider to be the nation’s leader.

The only realistic outcome of the trial is a sentence of life imprisonment. This sentence cannot reasonably be carried out in any country other than Iraq and there is no guarantee that an independent Iraqi judiciary will not show leniency and eventually release him. Whatever the outcome of the trial, the result will most probably be an increase in protests, riots and terrorism.

Meanwhile, it looks as if last week’s referendum will approve Iraq’s constitution, leading ultimately to a democratic federalist government. Unfortunately, for the Americans, any such government is increasingly likely to be dominated by Shiite factions who will transform the country into an Islamic religious dictatorship similar to nuclear weapons aspirant and regional Shiite power, Iran. The prospect that such an Iraq will become a haven for terrorists, the very thing America sought to prevent, is not the only worry. In such a nightmare scenario, the minority Kurds and Sunnis will surely want out and the country will disintegrate. A significant portion of the world’s oil supply will be disrupted, something again the Americans sought to prevent and something which would have profound consequences for the global economy. America sought to give the Iraqi people a democratic choice but it might not like their ultimate decision. Perhaps Americans naively believed that Iraqis would opt to embrace American values. For all of Saddam’s cruelties and inhumanity, in the near future there may be many policy makers who will look quietly back to his time in power with something approaching nostalgia. He was someone, prior to his invasion of Kuwait, with whom America could do business, as an infamous photograph of current Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Saddam demonstrates. Iraq’s first democratic election may be its last for a very long time.

America invaded Iraq claiming the noblest of motives (we shall politely avert our eyes from the issue of oil). The publicly stated intention was to free the country from the grip of tyranny and rid the world of one of its greatest despots. Once again, America embarked on its self-appointed role as the great white saviour of humanity but unfortunately failed to foresee the long-term consequences. America has backed itself into a corner and no matter which way it jumps it is unlikely to win this one.

Welcome

Welcome to my wonderful world. You are about to embark on a fantastic voyage. A wild, bumpy, sometimes schizophrenic, but always exhilarating journey down the road that is my life. This blog is like my life - a work in progress. Expected to grow on an almost daily basis. I guess it's also an ego trip but, like the song says, "ego is not a dirty word". As an aspiring journo (yeah, I know, but we all have dreams) it is also a forum for the writings, rantings and ravings I can't get published anywhere else. And who knows, maybe some editor will stumble over it and decide I have talent :). In the meantime, I would love to hear any comments, suggestions, (kind) criticisms or anything else you have to say so climb aboard, hang on and enjoy the ride.