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1Bravo6 |
20. RE: The Question
Dec 5 2008, 6:41 AM EST
Kimberly's right, that DVD is well worth watching. Samara, Has your Dad done the PTSD course?? I'd recommend it. I spent three weeks in the funny farm (Toowong Hospital) in Brisbane when I "hit the wall" and followed it up with the 6 weeks long PTSD course. The course taught me how to spot the "triggers" that send me off to my shed to hide from the world and how to manage the mood swings that sometimes rule life, from feeling depressed to being angry for no particular reason. The DVD "You're Not In The Army Now" was shown to the course a couple of times. Take my word for it, it does help. To get back to your original question, we Vets still get strange reactions from people as well. Every where I go, I wear a cap with a patch that has the boxing kangaroo on it and beares the words, "Vietnam Vet and Proud of It". (That's another thing the PTSD course teaches; not to be ashamed of what we are). I was standing in line at a checkout. The woman at the front, being served, had finger nails so long they were beginning to curl. The bloke in front of me turned to me with a smile and said something like, "She'd have trouble playing a piano wouldn't she ??". As I agreed with him, I saw his eyes go to my cap, a blank look came onto his face and he said, "Oh, you're one of them" and turned his back on me. I asked him if he had a problem with that and repeated my question when he ignored me. I dropped the subject and actually felt sorry for him because, as far as I'm concerned, he was the one with the problem, not me. I reckon that's the best way to look at it. It's not my problem, it's theirs !! Rick. 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
9RARBrat |
21. RE: The Question
Dec 5 2008, 9:15 AM EST
Amen to that mate. it is their problem. to answer your question yes dad has. he's been through the sydney version of what you'd call the funny farm and he's been there quite a few times since..... theres no reason to be ashamed. serving your country is nothing to be ashamed of. you did what you were trained to do. as dad and i say fuck 'em (excuse the french) my dad is my dad. he's the best person i know. he's honest and he's that last peron to tell me a tall tale. he's awesome. the fact that the country i grew up in is a country who to this day has no idea what to do with kids who come back from a shitty situation like a conflict disturbs me. they haven't learnt from Viet Nam. they've forgotten what has happened in the past... it's the only reason i bring it up. it's always forgotten to the point where no one learns from it. there are persons coming back who are my age just as bad as dad from afghanistan and iraq who get looked over. i pray that it not be thirty years before they get there coming home parade. these guys and girls need to be looked after. the army can train them, brain wash them even but they still don't know how to bring them back. they are working on it i've been told but still...... then there is Ken's thesis that involves the genetics of all this. there is another generation out there waiting to come along and they are going to potentially be just as confused...... that is until they discover through this site and others in the future that they are not alone. Rick i appreciate your view but please understand mine. same goes for all. history is what wiill educate the future. i'm the daughter, grand daughter and great grand daughter of veterans. i am also the grand daughter of the holocaust. the history is there to remind us, to not do it again. or do it again but different. may we all remember Do you find this valuable? |
Kimber15 |
22. RE: The Question
Dec 7 2008, 10:45 PM EST
Hi SamaraI will burn you a copy of that DVD this evening and post it off to you tomorrow. Please I urge you not to watch this alone as it will rock you to your very core. In this DVD lies a lot of the answers I think you may be looking for. I see that this issue makes you very emotional in fact correct me if I am wrong but you sound very angry about this whole situation. I would love to see you turn that anger into something positive. By this I mean - I am very passionate about this subject hence why I lend my assistance and time to Ken and his research. I am using my emotions about this in a positive way. I don't experience this problem with people looking down at me or staring and maybe that is because I don't place myself in these situation however if someone does comment on the fact that my Dad is a Vet of any type this is what I say to them "Do you like the freedom that you have by living in this Country? Do you like the fact that we live in a Democratic society that allows you freedom to do and say how you feel? You do well you have that freedom because men and women like my Dad went to war to fight for your freedom - just as they are in Afganistan and Iraq they are fighting for a free world where people can experience the freedoms we experience here. So please show some respect for these people and thank them for saving your country from becoming a Communist State. Do you find this valuable? |
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Kimber15 |
23. RE: The Question
Dec 7 2008, 10:51 PM EST
Here is a thought for you Samara - Why don't you liase with your local schools and go and teach the kids about why we celebrate ANZAC day because personally I think it is not our age group or the generation before but this generation that need to be reminded of these wars and also the Houlocaust as you mentioned (this era has been removed from the British Ciricumlam because they say it never happened!! I don't mean for this to sound harsh or anything like that I would just love to see you use that passion for the greater good! Try not to let the stares and such bother you - it there pure lack of Understand that makes people like that. Let me know if there is anything we can do from here to help you Samara please don't let this eat at you - you are still young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Yes we are what our pasts make us but what are some of the positive things you remember and I do understand that they are few and far between but you know there were some great times we had growing up that can never be replaced in the civilian world. I have a question for you - When you go to a gathering of ex -defence people do you feel right at home and when you talk to them does it feel like you have known those people for forever - that is the difference between civilian and defence we are all family because we share an experience that binds us together forever and I am talking just the fact that we are defence kids and that is all there is to it! Do you find this valuable? |
Combat_Ken |
24. RE: The Question
Dec 8 2008, 7:49 PM EST
Thanks for all your help Kim. I am pulling out my hair trying to get this PhD finished. THEN WE WILL HAVE A VALID VOICE IN ACADEMIA!!! Do you find this valuable? |
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Combat_Ken |
25. RE: The Question
Dec 8 2008, 7:51 PM EST
I cannot quote anything directly...but search for The Secrecy Act... It is what has, and still is, prohibiting Vets (past and current) from talking.....and it is hugely responsible for our situation.......
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CariStrep |
26. RE: The Question
Dec 12 2008, 2:52 AM EST
Hi Samara,I just recently joined on this website and am just hearing about this DVD. Is there any way to get a copy of it in the states? Do you find this valuable? |
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9RARBrat |
27. RE: The Question
Dec 12 2008, 3:49 AM EST
Kimber 15 has sent it to me. best person to message about it would be her. haven't had a chance to watch it yet have only just got home and looked in the mail box
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Kimber15 |
28. RE: The Question
Dec 15 2008, 8:19 PM EST
Hi Cari - I am sure that I could send you a copy but I think you guys run on a different regional zone to us. I do ask that you remember that this has been made by the Australia VVA (Victorian Branch).
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Combat_Ken |
29. RE: The Question
Dec 22 2008, 11:51 PM EST
ooooh... I found some very interesting stuff about the Australian National Secrecy Act (Menzies era) and the Security Act.....all on Google, but some sites shut down by ASIO...apparantly...
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SOLDIERBOY7 |
30. RE: The Question
Jul 24 2009, 1:02 AM EDT
"that would be good. send me an email and i will happily pass on my details. i still however hold on what i said. the past is part of who we are.I'm a tad older than 26, (x2)and still unable to figure it all out, maybe it's just the hand we're dealt with, so play those cards.......i mean i am proud of my father's entire military carreer but the icing on the top of the cake was he is a Vietnam Veteran from the Vietnam War. This means his name is immortal with history as being apart of that conflict, he is recorded in history and on the roll at his battalion. Most of all "I am proud of my father doing his duty" in the face of war, and the hate from his country. It cost him dearly in the finish and it cost our family. However i as a child i do not get such aclaim, i live among a breed who can survive (so far) the results of war......the war at home ....unless you are in this part of history then you won't understand it.......other people don't view the war that way and they certainly don't understand the war at home....soldiers were rejected for doing there duty for this country...they weren't soldiers who when they came home had families and relatives and had to after seeing Vietnam blend back into society...they were killers etc: ...i am not sure but usually knowledge brings understanding so funny looks are apart of it all, and remember Australia wasn't very fond of it's soldiers etc: at that time, i sincerely hope they are now......is all we can hope for. 40 odd years is a long journey again no offence to any Vietnam Veterans or their families or services Do you find this valuable? |
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Combat_Ken |
31. RE: The Question
Aug 3 2009, 12:00 AM EDT
Here here.My kids think their Pop is a hero....incidently so do I. Do you find this valuable? |
