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Subject: OA for General Petraeus
gf0012-aust    11/4/2009 3:00:25 PM
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gf0012-aust       11/4/2009 3:01:14 PM

Order of Australia for General Petraeus

By North America correspondent Lisa Millar

Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:20pm AEDT 
Updated Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:38pm AEDT

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200911/r463908_2292467.jpg" width="285" height="190" alt="John Faulkner presents the honorary Order of Australia to General David Petraeus." title="John Faulkner presents the honorary Order of Australia to General David Petraeus." style="font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; word-wrap: break-word; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: url(http://www.abc.net.au/news/img/2007/zoom_in.cur), pointer; " />

John Faulkner presents the honorary Order of Australia to General David Petraeus. (ABC News: Lisa Millar)

The American General who led coalition forces in Iraq during the surge has been presented with an honorary Order of Australia.

The head of US Central command, David Petraeus, was appointed an honorary officer of the Order of Australia at a ceremony in Washington.

The four-star general was nominated for his leadership of coalition forces in Iraq for 18 months from January 2007.

 
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sinoflex       11/4/2009 6:35:28 PM
Wow, that's quite an honor.  I wonder how the average Aussie feels about this.
 
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DropBear       11/4/2009 9:48:12 PM
This average Aussie doesn't really care one way or another. We give high awards to actors, sportsfolk and journalists. Why not a foreign soldier?
 
I think these types of awards lost credibility with many average folk years ago.
 
As they say..."whores will have their trinkets".  http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Images/emsmilep.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0" alt="" />
 
I'm sure the good General will have a warm and fuzzy moment or two.
 
 
 
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Aussiegunneragain       11/5/2009 3:55:07 AM

This average Aussie doesn't really care one way or another. We give high awards to actors, sportsfolk and journalists. Why not a foreign soldier?
 
I think these types of awards lost credibility with many average folk years ago.
 
As they say..."whores will have their trinkets".  http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Images/emsmilep.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0" />
 
I'm sure the good General will have a warm and fuzzy moment or two.

What Dropbear's comment exemplifies is the great Australian tradition of tall poppy syndrome. It is a negative aspect of our culture that many Australian "battlers" cannot stand to give credit where it is due to the successful, except perhaps to sports stars who are worshiped. I personally find it to be a purile national trait and wish that we could take the recognition of excellence as an example for all of us, rather than a reason for contemptuous jokes.
 
In that vein, congratulations to General Petreaus.

 
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sinoflex       11/5/2009 4:23:43 AM

This average Aussie doesn't really care one way or another. We give high awards to actors, sportsfolk and journalists. Why not a foreign soldier?

I think these types of awards lost credibility with many average folk years ago.

As they say..."whores will have their trinkets".  http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Images/emsmilep.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0" />

I'm sure the good General will have a warm and fuzzy moment or two.

What Dropbear's comment exemplifies is the great Australian tradition of tall poppy syndrome. It is a negative aspect of our culture that many Australian "battlers" cannot stand to give credit where it is due to the successful, except perhaps to sports stars who are worshiped. I personally find it to be a purile national trait and wish that we could take the recognition of excellence as an example for all of us, rather than a reason for contemptuous jokes.


In that vein, congratulations to General Petreaus.


I did notice, however, that Professor Chris O'Brien was given a state funeral this past June.  Quite fitting considering his years of compassionate care of cancer patients and his advocacy for them.  It was tragic that he only lived to 57. 
 
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gf0012-aust       11/5/2009 2:05:52 PM
If people don't like the process or value the spirit of intent then fine, but making pithy comments about the recipients is just boorish and unnecessary.


 
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