IN my wardrobe at home there is an Australian army uniform sporting two hard-earned stripes on the sleeves. On a shelf are my service medals and three different- coloured lanyards — one from each battalion of the Royal Australia Regiment with which I served.
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This is the same uniform that I wore as part of a guard of honour at the military funerals in Brisbane for three of the 18 young men who lost their lives for this country at the battle of Long Tan.
I wore my uniform at these funerals, not only with a heavy and solemn heart, but also with an immense pride for these young and brave Australians and for all who have served our nation in uniform in the past, as well the present and the future.
It saddens me no end today that our leaders of all services have removed the pride of wearing an Australian uniform by asking those who wear it with the respect and the pride it deserves, to now cower behind it and hide it.
I see nothing here other than a win and a strengthening morale boost for a few terrorists who will now play on this act of cowardice in the face of the enemy as a recruitment advertisement.
Desertion and cowardice in the face of the enemy were once punishable (and I believe still are) by firing squad and hiding the uniform because some might take offence towards it can only be described as cowardice.
Destroy the pride service people have in wearing a uniform and you will destroy their will to serve.
Is this truly what our leaders are after or is it that they simply fail in the field of tactics?
— ANGUS MACKAY,
Nabawa, WA
