Analog Toys

This year marks the first Anzac Day since 1990 when I haven’t commemorated the occasion in some kind of way. While I haven't always been able to attend a dawn service, due to being deployed in an active area of operations or during Covid lockdowns or some other reasonable explanation, I have always done something to mark the significance of such an important date in Australia’s veteran calendar.

But this year felt different and while I sat at home alone all day, I’ve been pondering the reasons why…


In recent weeks many people have asked my opinion regarding the arrest of former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith (BRS) over war crimes allegedly committed during his service in Afghanistan. I’ve found that answering these questions has been a difficult and sometimes painful experience. I have seen the phenomenal outpouring of support for BRS on social media and I’m self aware enough to realise that I’m not always in lockstep with the majority of opinion being expressed across the nation, and that's a lonely place to be in.


Do I believe that every Australian, especially decorated veterans, are innocent until proven guilty?


YES


Do I believe that BRS’s very public arrest, in front of his daughters, was embarrassingly unprofessional?


YES


Do I believe that 300M of our taxpayer’s dollars could have been better spent elsewhere?


YES


Do I believe he is guilty?


I HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA & NEITHER DO YOU


Up until this point I’m sure most of you agree with me, but now comes the really difficult question… Do I believe that BRS should be tried for these alleged crimes?


YES

HOWEVER; if BRS must stand trial over these accusations then so should his commanding officers AND the politicians who sent him to Afghanistan in the first place. In fact if BRS must stand trial for allegedly murdering 5 “innocent” people in Afghanistan, then the President of the United States MUST be brought to trial for the genocide of an entire country.


When this young 17 year old enlisted in the Australian Army in 1994 he never thought, in a million years, that this great nation would spend Anzac Day scrutinizing one soldier’s actions in a war zone, but here we are. This is why I boycotted all Anzac Day commemorations this year, because it no longer felt like a day to remember fallen comrades, as it turned into a day spent discussing a national witch hunt. A witch hunt that has sadly stolen the memory of every fallen soldier, sailor and airman that has ever served this country.


What I do know is that this controversy, which is being executed by an inept, corrupt government, has (for me anyway) truly tainted the Anzac Day experience. The relentless, dogged pursuit of BRS is the worst example of "tall poppy syndrome" I have ever seen in my lifetime, and while I am immensely conflicted over the nation’s obligation to try this man in court, I can’t help but think that money could have been better spent securing housing for thousands of homeless veterans.


Or spent uncovering the Epstein files…

1 month ago | [YT] | 630

Analog Toys

When I published my recent video about the 250th Anniversary G.I. Joe Duke figure, I was concerned that people wouldn't listen properly to what I was saying. Well it turns out that some people can't see very well either, because numerous viewers have left comments saying that the figure doesn't have a flag anywhere on the uniform.

Well as you can see from the images below, the US flag is shown on both the right shoulder of the figure and on the card art.

I've also had commenters saying that "if" that is the American flag, Hasbro must have messed up because it's backwards. If you are one those people that believe this is an error, allow me to educate you...

US Army soldiers always wear the flag patch "backwards" (reversed) on their right shoulder to simulate the flag flying in the wind as they move forward, symbolising advancing rather than retreating.

So now you know, and knowing is half the battle!!!

2 months ago | [YT] | 428